It has been five years since a goalie won the Conn Smythe Trophy, the longest drought for the position since 1982. But that streak could come to an end with two of the league’s best veteran netminders playing for the Stanley Cup — although both have had an adventurous playoff run.
Boston’s Tim Thomas set the single-season NHL record for save percentage and recorded two shutouts in the conference finals against Tampa Bay, including the Bruins’ 1-0 victory in Game 7. But Thomas struggled at times vs. the Lightning, allowing four goals or more in four games.
Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo led Canada to a gold medal in Vancouver in 2010 and had 54 saves in the series-clinching Game 6 victory against the Sharks in the conference finals. But Luongo was benched in the first round after allowing 10 goals in a 65-minute span against the Blackhawks before bouncing back to earn a win in Game 7.
Both have had their ups-and-downs this postseason, but a Stanley Cup win may come with additional hardware for either of these goalies.
