Tim Thomas, Bruins Goaltender

This is where the state of the National Hockey League he has you can be the winning goaltender. In a twelve to eleven game in a shoot out. And you can play great. At 1211 win and a shootout Tim Thomas did just that on Sunday he joins us on the line right now hey -- I had a lot. At -- are played great and you want while the lefty chewed out.

88 when Palin and get that out there. That -- he had it was a while that that that the way out there you -- but I I think it ended up pretty exciting in. Now we've just lose is deducted for the game.

They Tim what did you think initially when Claude Julien said the year yet. -- Manny Fernandez are going to be my my two headed goaltender. Not necessarily one guy but too well where you on board available what we thought.

you know whatever -- that bad explicitly clear. And you know or like. You know you get your game. Maybe your teams in his game in and -- out all the with that in the beginning the year. As a goalie in artists that are are at stake in the attitude you've you've played when you play when you told the play. And we need to -- can't wait to play good.

Are you are you yet at the point where you're sick of having to prove how good -- goaltender you are because let's be honest. Since you arrived in a Bruins uniform it seems like Cuban having to prove to people something.

but. You know. I didn't have anything approve -- ticket be uncomfortable that point. And I think I a lot of I hope that the majority of people are convinced but I I'd like the over under a few doubters just but I have --

what that did it ever than ever bother you you'd Tim. -- That that day as -- said -- that -- last year and this year you work on the All-Star ballot -- All-Star an All-Star I mean did you ever get to him.

Well it. Yes it is of course of bothers you but you can't let buddy too much and what you just turn and turn right around and you turn it into motivation. And that have that of making you either anger. But feel sorry for yourself. You'd you'd turn it around the news of motivation.

You think there's anything you're doing now. That you didn't do three or four years ago in terms of technique in terms of conditioning whatever it is. That is that is helping you haven't to have a successful season Cameron now.

Everything evolves so. You know technique. Probably has gotten a little bit better. -- I had an 84 game schedule in the NHL but in lot of energy -- the -- in the -- in NATO though. I don't I don't probably no matter who we are what age did you keep it. Third -- in in the NHL it is an adjustment though. Probably got used to they amount of energy he would explain -- in 82 game schedule in the NHL. And that. And that it that it got involved overall missing and it helped raise your conditioning but obviously the last two Summers to Ivins worked with John Whiteside from you know. You know the project think conditioning coach and probably -- Overall level of conditioning -- has been raised -- also.

As you guys kick off the unofficial second half of the season tonight you lead the National Hockey League in goals against. Other than superior goaltending how's that happening for.

The team is the team that -- great this year you know we. I think we. We which showed Spain growth broke all of last year capping off for the great play up front and back. And we were able to not just pick up where we left off last year but to actually. Raise that rate -- a couple more level based that a new additions and and young kids coming of agent and veterans. Stepping up a little bit of everything and though. At the goal is the most Independent. Opposition. On the day. And for example the -- game. There's twelve to eleven music I was polices are very good at and it now that the and I think that is where I absolutely worked a benefit.

The one thing -- jumped out at me watching your team this year and Zdeno Chara is kind of hard to miss that 69 off skates anyway but. He's been better than I've ever seen him in his career he's he he's made more plays it looks like he's played more minutes he's meant everything. Is it possible that his game has gotten better at this late stage of his career.

I think so I think. But not really at least they give very easily if there is there anyone right.

I don't mean cities over buddy he's not a kid anymore plan either.

No he's not by is that is that destitute -- I mean. I think when he first came into the organization anybody. Maybe -- needed to do too much and that. Maybe at that time actually that -- to but this year is. I think he's been a better job of doing everything exactly -- Duke but conserving energy while doing now. And he's just been great I think is the I think -- At this point of the year that it is better right now I think you should -- won it in the hour and it. Is is done everything in. One of if not the most physical player on our team. -- or school the key times if they're penalty kill specialist is our our way. I around the top I'm not power play are the quarterback so to speak along with the hour epic there and he he does everything.

You pointed out ten that your position. Is dependent on the team and its success. I remember when when Dave Lewis was the coach here at the beginning of the season guys and make basically throughout this season. Eight goals. Couple games he gave up ten goals 97 a lot of that you don't see that anymore from where you sit. What is the biggest difference in the defensive scheme now as opposed to three years ago.

Well at the -- it's a whole different mind that it. Well first well we have a little bit different player personnel. There wasn't that many games that if --

On solid actually and it can't.

They and you can't say it'll never happen because we have one even last year when we're playing pretty -- and over there at the one game -- that watching. It was scored articles Patriots are trying to go to at their 6 -- this year that it still happens but I. You know the person now but our whole overall -- or coaching staff has. And landed it basically a totally different that the system. Indeed -- and a everybody working together and -- the defense well.

We saw Bruins team that I thought was kind of just sort of limping to the All-Star break you've had so many injuries and so many issues to try to overcome. Well not only idiot did you get the All-Star break for some of you. But you look on the ice tonight Milan Lucci is back for tonight's game Andrew Ference is back for tonight's game. Patrice Bergeron is back for tonight's game. -- lot of members of the cavalry coming over the --

Yet it it's great to have those guys back I think we did a good job of not using that as an excuse when we did have injuries but. Having said that it's it's nice news to get those guys back of their personality --

Parents was a guy who I thought was was under rated by many fans the way he was playing when he went down. I mean I I just think that his his puck moving ability was was key to the way you guys played early on and he's been out since November.

Yeah I think I think this is not. Before he got hurt Francis in the -- that are simply too and you know on awfully cute it back into that -- number 30% before he got injured. Awfully. Might not happen exactly right away behind the -- but you know we're going to need him.

It's and we were talking yesterday about All-Star games. And -- says -- crazy about the games themselves. I was saying it must be a pretty good experience if you're an All-Star. Penetrate secrets with with -- some of the best players in the game how do you view the All-Star experience not necessarily the game but just being there for that weekend.

Well it's it's great it's great to know the guys a little bit you don't get to the moment much you'd think it did because that there's so much media around that pretty much help at him. It don't you don't have any time in the locker where it's just the players. It's definitely it's definitely a thrill to get to know those guys a little bit but. It -- it's almost better to.

Now here's the problem playing in an All-Star game in Montreal. They don't like too much up there anyway right. Your coaches behind the bench for the Eastern Conference teams don't like him very much. Your teammate Marc Savard is participating in this shootout challenge. Any high -- the after score against yet you just know the Montreal fans are gonna get up in arms about that one.

While I I'd also traded for -- That's true you don't you did and back. You know and then that this thing with -- Even at even during the All-Star game there on out and some boos and chants. I think we're so used different planet so many times over the past couple years that the feeling comfortable there are like that.

Now you did point out though you did trade for Kovalev that you were trying to. To get rid of a Russian and all they give you back is a Russian right.

Yet that semi true that site that for the Mets yeah on the radio. They want to kind of rivalry.

But whatever works warrior right yeah yeah. I mean what was that whole thing was Saturday night even more on the Sunday night 'cause -- I enjoy watching Saturday night more.

I added it was fun but I think Sunday because of dispatched take game went to overtime there was a little bit of drama I think it was if we're. Off -- games overall and I think that dominated -- more reform.

Tim what do what do you think of the fans' ability to. Pretty much stacked the All-Star rosters the way they wanted to and specifically the Montreal fans it is voted for all their guys.

Well. You know like it can it can throw things out of -- a little bit you know but. On one hand but then on the other hand if he got them where they're going to put in the and a vote on the nobody. Gaming the system. Then. Then I guess the company got to let it happen that the fans responsibilities -- Opposing teams do to match that.

I gotta ask yet because you know I I I think people. And as they watch this team in the way you played day they wonder about this -- Barry Melrose. On ESPN Sunday night. Saying that the Bruins. Will lose out in the second half of the season to the Washington Capitals because you haven't been able to beat the capitals. You lost the game 21 you lost the game three -- one with an empty net goal and yet somehow and Barry's mind you haven't been able to beat the capitals. Is that more that disrespect card that we talked about being played.

I don't know I didn't hear it at the news media. That both of those guys' job -- you a predictions -- You know you. If you look at the amount of predictions and how many of them that they -- right -- probably. Not to ever percentage. Though I don't I don't think it. I don't. Think it's too early to be -- up like that.

Did you soften up overmatched in this weekend and so we will try so hard tonight.

I doubt it. It is the type player that's right at every game every game that I watch and that's why it's one of the -- guys let's in the NHL and it -- and then go home and I want a lot if there's -- games and TV. A lot of times such as that who watched that Washington apples because now.

Back to back All-Star appearances a spectacular first half of the season. Your team first place in the east tied for first in the NHL congratulations on how it's gone so far best of luck to you the rest of the way. Take an attempt to see you that is Tim Thomas -- starting goaltender.