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Bruins excited to face their former goalie Tim Thomas

Boston Bruins v Carolina Hurricanes

RALEIGH, NC - JANUARY 14: Goalkeeper Tim Thomas #30 of the Boston Bruins walks between teammates Tuukka Rask #40 and Milan Lucic #17 as he takes the ice to begin a game against the Carolina Hurricanes at the RBC Center on January 14, 2012 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)

Grant Halverson

It seemed inevitable that when Tim Thomas signed with the Florida Panthers, he’d eventually face his old team, the Boston Bruins.

On Wednesday, it was made official: Thomas, the 39-year-old puck stopper, will start for Panthers when they face the Bruins on Thursday.

The evening event, previous in doubt when Thomas was recently felled by a groin injury, is sure to bring back fond memories for both sides.

Thomas was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner in 2011, when he backstopped the Bruins to their Stanley Cup championship over the Vancouver Canucks in a seven-game series.

“As a teammate he was everything you would want as far as coming to play every night, and bringing that competitive edge all the time,” Bruins forward Milan Lucic told CSNNE.com.

“I won’t say anything bad about him. I got to spend five years with him and got to see the best level that any goalie played at in those five years. That’s the most you could ask from your goaltender. He was a big part of us winning.”

For his part, Thomas will not speak to the media until after Thursday’s game.

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