Slide over, Pekka Rinne. We now have a new best save of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs courtesy of Boston's Tim Thomas, who robbed Tampa Bay's Steve Downie with a sprawling paddle save in the third period Monday. That "lucky" save helped the Bruins secure a 3-2 series lead in the Eastern Conference finals.
After a shot from the point missed the net and caromed off the end boards toward the crease, the Bruins' All-Star goalie dove back from the top of his paint and rejected Downie's point-blank shot. "With the way the new boards are nowadays in all the arenas," Thomas told FOXSports.com after Boston's 3-1 win, "you got to be on your toes with the big bounces. And the big bounce came out and, you know, it was just a reaction and a desperation and I'll admit I got a little bit lucky there."
So was it better than the beaut of a save Rinne, who plays between the pipes for the Predators, made against the Canucks last round? I would give the nod to Thomas. Judge for yourself.