After posting a shutout win in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals last night, Tim “The Tank” Thomas became the oldest player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy, awarded to the most valuable post-season player. Thomas made 37 saves in the victory, silencing the sold-out Vancouver crowd. Though Thomas was the fourth goaltender to finish Game 7 of the finals with a shutout, he was the first goalie to do so on the road. The University of Vermont grad posted a save percentage of .967 in the finals, blocking 238 of the Vancouver’s 246 shots in the last seven games.
Backing up Thomas offensively was center Patrice Bergeron and rookie Brad Marchand, who each scored two goals in the win. Bergeron scored his first goal of the night — and the eventual game-winner — just five minutes into the first period, with Marchand grabbing the assist. After both Bergeron and Marchand netted one in the second period, the rookie put the nail in the Canucks’ coffin with an empty-netter with less than three minutes left to play.
This marks the Bruins’ first Stanley Cup victory in 39 years, the last of the Boston major franchises to win a title within the last 10 years (with the Red Sox in 2004 and 2007, the Patriots in 2001, 2003 and 2004, and the Celtics in 2008).
To read more about Tim Thomas game click here.
