What is wrong with Tim Thomas this year? To me, the Bruins star net minder just doesn’t seem to be the same. Definitely the team seems to play differently in front of him this year as well and Thomas himself doesn’t seem to be having as much fun as he used to.

Is it the pressure of being the reigning Vezina winner? Or that big contract he signed last year? Maybe the excellent play of Tuuka Rask, who many think will be THE Bruins goaltender of the future is getting to him.

I don’t think for one minute that is it, though. Thomas is too much of a professional to coast now that he has the safety of a contract.

Both of his parents have had significant health concerns over the past year. Thomas is extremely close to them – perhaps that is what’s weighing on his mind.

Late November is usually a time all Americans are thinking about turkeys. But for Thomas, it was like groundhogs were plaguing him instead. For two games in a row, he let a puck behind him in the final minute of play, resulting in a tie game both times. And it seems like nearly every game he plays in goes to OT or a shootout.

Thomas, to his credit, always acknowledges when he screws up. That’s always been the way he’s acted. Confident and proud when he knows he did well, but always the first to admit when he could have been better.

Of course, many in the Bruins fan base, who think they know best, have been going crazy on internet boards with many excoriating Thomas and screaming for Rask to take over the top spot.

But I think that idea is wrong, wrong, wrong. Rask is still very young and needs more time to mature. Some say “who cares how young he is? Marc-Andre Fleury and Cam Ward are two young goaltenders who helped lead their teams to Stanley Cups”. Ok, maybe, but Fleury also had the benefit of Sydney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on his team. And yes, Ward, did win the Conn Smythe as MVP in 2006 but he had a lot of help in front of him, too, such as Eric Staal.

Goal tending is definitely crucial to any team winning, of course, but you need someone to score too. The Bs’ goal scoring is so sporadic. Too many games there’s only 1 or 2 goals being scored. And their defense, well, let’s just say they don’t seem to work overtime to help their goalies on many occasions.

Thomas is a top notch goalie now having a so-so season. Why is this? Bruins fans all want to know but perhaps no one more than Thomas himself.

I predict that his innate toughness and competitiveness will come through once again. Actually I hope he reads some of those internet message boards. Maybe that will anger him enough that he will realize that he must prove himself to the doubters again and that he is worthy of the title of all star goalie.