Goaltending Showdown – Both starting backstops – Washington’s Cristobal Huet and Boston’s Tim Thomas – came into Monday’s game on the heels of strong recent performances. Huet blanked the New Jersey Devils on 18 shots last Friday in his Capitals debut, and Thomas came in with a 3-0 record, a .960 save pct. a shutout and an 0.97 goals against average in his previous three starts.
Both netminders also came in with a history of dominance over their opponent.
Huet came in with an 8-2-0 record, a 1.93 goals-against average, a .940 save percentage and three shutouts in 11 career games against the Bruins, all over the last three seasons.
Thomas entered the game with a record of 8-0-1 with a 1.82 goals-against average, .940 save percentage and one shutout in nine career games against the Capitals, including wins in his last five games versus Washington. Thomas had allowed as many as three goals in only one of his nine games against the Caps (a 4-3 shootout win last March).
The Caps surpassed the three-goal mark on Thomas at 8:29 of the first period in this one. Boston coach Claude Julien changed netminders like he would change defensemen in this one, going back and forth between Thomas and Alex Auld a few times. Thomas was dented for seven goals on 24 shots and Auld three on 10.
Huet left the game with back spasms after 40 minutes, but still skated off with his ninth career win over the Bruins. The only other goaltenders with eight-or-more wins versus Boston over the last three seasons are Buffalo’s Ryan Miller (9) and Philadelphia’s Martin Biron (8).
NHL.com comparing Alex Ovechkin’s scoring draught to Tim Thomas’ struggles on Monday night. Thomas keeps and even keel….
…. “Just like Boston’s Tim Thomas is a good goaltender, although the All-Star probably didn’t sleep very well after being pulled twice during a loss that at the time must have felt more embarrassing than the Godzilla remake.”
''It's really tough to take,'' Thomas said. ''It was embarrassing. On the other hand, what's the difference? If you lost 3-2 or you lost like that, we're still in the playoffs as of now. You definitely should learn from it, but you can't get too far down.''
Nick Backstrom slips a breakaway by Tim Thomas. Headfirst postion is very poor technique and is an indicator of "giving" on the play.3/3/2008 Highlights
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