BY MIKE BROPHY
sportsnet.ca
Gary Bettman: "The winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy is, Tim Thomas."
The hockey world: Duh!
Like there was anybody else? As Sportsnet.ca has been saying for the past couple of weeks, the playoff MVP award was Timmy's to lose. He didn't lose the award, or the Cup. In this case, there was no doubting Thomas. The 37-year-old Michigan native, whose professional hockey travels have taken him from the lowest of minor leagues and through Europe, was the runaway winner of the prestigious award that has been won by the likes of Jean Beliveau, Glenn Hall, Bobby Orr, Guy Lafleur, Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Mario Lemieux.
In the bedlam that is the on-ice celebration of the Stanley Cup post-game celebration, Thomas was shocked when Canucks fans cheered the fact he was honored.
"I really appreciate that," he said, with a big smile.
His modesty is impressive. So was his play.
Thomas set an NHL record for most saves in the playoffs. His 238 saves in the final broke Johnny Bower's mark of 233 set in 1964. He allowed a mere eight goals in the final, another record. Also, his shutout in Game 7 was the first by a visiting goalie in Game 7 of the final.
Bruins president Cam Nelly, a tough guy to please, gushed about is team's stopper:
"The way he brought his game up, not only in this series, but all year, I don't think you'll see it again," Neely said.
Who knows about that? The sentiment though, is sincere.
Thomas has been remarkable all year. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2008-09, lost his job as the Bruins starter the following season, then led his team to the championship this year. Nice rebound, huh?
Thomas was the NHL's most dominant goaltender in the regular season and is the odds-on favorite to win his second Vezina. In the playoffs he was the most outstanding individual by a long shot, leading all stoppers in goals-against average (1.98), save percentage (.940), wins, obviously (16) and tied for first in shutouts (4).
"I remember saying to him, when he didn't get a nomination for the Hart Trophy (as regular season MVP), 'Go win the Conn Smythe Trophy; that's the player everybody remembers in the end,' " said Vancouver native Milan Lucic.
Lucic was right.
Asked about the losing team, and his rival at the other end of the ice, Thomas was cordial saying: "I respect the Vancouver Canucks…and I respect Roberto Luongo."
There were some great competitors in this year's Stanley Cup playoffs. Some might say the best individual, prior to the final, was Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. Even though his team was defeated in the second round, Datsyuk finished 16th in playoff scoring with four goals and 15 points in 11 games. Martin St. Louis of the Tampa Bay Lightning was also spectacular. He finished tied for third in scoring with 10 goals and 20 points in 18 games.
In the end, though, Thomas was the deserving winner. His combative spirit and infectious desire to win may have been the most important ingredients in the Bruins championship year. And his smile provided the most lasting impression of the 2011 NHL playoffs.
So much for the theory nice guys finish last.
