is this even allowed?  It looks like it should be a penalty to me,  If it is illegal for a player to do that to a goalie, it should be the same for a goalie.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 01/21/09 at 10:38 PM ET

Seemed legal to me. leafs still suck, B’s are still in first. Get over it .

Posted by jdog71 on 01/21/09 at 11:07 PM ET

I can’t stand this Thomas character, he has serious temper management problems; can you say AVERY?

also, on the topic of goalies going crazy…remember when Calgary swapped goalies near the end of a game against Detroit, and the replacement goalie waked the Detroit player in the neck?

Not only did Miikka Kiprusoff have to come back and play (if you remember, they swapped because they didn’t want Kiprusoff getting hurt), but that other goalie got suspended or fined or whatever.

Posted by Trent from Vancouver, Washington on 01/21/09 at 11:45 PM ET

what made u think im a leafs fan? was it my name? i highly doubt it.  why dont u take ur head out of your @ss.  it looked cheap to me, thats why i asked.  You are right about one thing though, the leaf’s do suck, not as bad as ottawa though.

Posted by Luongo-is-my-hero on 01/22/09 at 12:08 AM ET

Why can’t the goalie check the puck carrier?

Posted by Tapeleg on 01/22/09 at 01:52 AM ET

As a goalie, I am biased, but that looked clean to me.  He made the save and in unique fashion, all the power to him!

Posted by Matt from San Jose on 01/22/09 at 02:19 AM ET

Why can’t the goalie check the puck carrier?

Because a player can’t check a goalie when he is playing the puck. If the refs are now allowing that stuff, why not allow a player to check the goalie who is playing the puck behind the net?

Posted by UMFan from Colorado on 01/22/09 at 02:43 AM ET

Because a player can’t check a goalie when he is playing the puck. If the refs are now allowing that stuff, why not allow a player to check the goalie who is playing the puck behind the net?

OK, that’s nice and all, but really, why not?  All’s fail in love and war doesn’t quite cut it here. 

If the puck carrier is allowed to be checked by other skaters, why not the goalie?  I have seen a goalie check a guy without the puck in the minors (AHL) and get called for interference.  The fact that he checked the guy wasn’t the problem, it was the fact that the skater didn’t have possession of the puck.  Goalies can check, it just isn’t recommended, since it takes them out of position for the save.

But every player out there is going to remember that this happened, and think about it skating in on the guy.

And BTW, if it’s legal for a skater to slam into a goalie while scoring a goal (and it is, night after night, just watch the highlights on NHL Network), why can’t a goalie initiate contact?

Posted by Tapeleg on 01/22/09 at 02:53 AM ET

Thomas is balsy. He is what the Bruins have needed for 20 years. Blake is an a-hole. He always looks like he’s a tough guy. Maybe its just the way he looks but I enjoy watching him get his butt kicked.

Posted by kevin from boston on 01/22/09 at 09:02 AM ET

Ok, being a goalie, here’s why you can’t check the goalie, it has to do with his equipment, specifically, the lack of support on the back and shoulders. Goalies do not have the protection on the back itself like players do from their shoulder pads as the chest protector has nothing but straps. Unless you are Garth Snow, you don’t have the shoulder protection either, they’re designed to deflect pucks, not protect the joint from a hit. The helmets are designed with very little protection in the back also, instead making sure the front is fully protected to absorb puck shots. So, if you want to able to check goalies while playing the puck, let them where the same size shoulder pads as everyone else (I’m think Garth Snow-like).

As for this instance, I don’t see anything wrong with it, other than Thomas really doesn’t try to play the puck, he takes the man. If it were a D-man, it’d be a great play, but because it’s a goalie, it’s a “controversial” play. Most goalies don’t do this because they’re concentrating on making a save or playing the pass. What I’d like to see more goalies do is lay a shoulder into someone as they go through the crease, that drives me nuts.

Posted by phillyd from New Jersey on 01/22/09 at 09:08 AM ET

I can’t stand this Thomas character, he has serious temper management problems; can you say AVERY?

Can you say watch more Bruins games?  Your view of Tim Thomas clearly shows that you don’t know him at all.  Comparing Thomas to Avery couldn’t be more wrong.  Whatever “serious temper management problems” you have seen from Thomas is what fans call passion for the game.  I would say Manny Fernandez has temper management problems before Thomas.

But Avery and Thomas are nothing alike and should never be in the same sentence again… unless Thomas makes a save on him during a game.

As for the “save” on Blake, it’s no secret that Thomas plays an unorthodox style that even some Bruins fans don’t like.  This just adds to his unique style of goaltending.

Posted by Jaci from Boston on 01/22/09 at 06:09 PM ET