Tweet VOORHEES, N. Tyler Bozak Jersey .J. -- Veteran defenseman Chris Pronger believes theres always a few subtle surprises every playoff season.   When the Philadelphia Flyers square off against the Boston Bruins in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semifinal beginning Saturday at Wells Fargo Center (3 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS), Pronger knows theres going to be a pretty significant change in the opposing net.   That would be 2011 Vezina Trophy nominee Tim Thomas.   "Obviously, the biggest difference is going to be between the pipes," Pronger said. "Last year, we faced (Tuukka) Rask. This year, (Tim) Thomas. Its a completely different element in that atmosphere."   Call Thomas what you want -- unorthodox, acrobatic or over-the-hill. One things for sure, hes certainly been a brick wall for the Bruins in 2010-11.   Tim Thomas Goalie - BOS RECORD: 4-3-0 GAA: 2.25 | SVP: 0.926 One season removed from earning his first Vezina Trophy as the Leagues top goalie in 2008-09, Thomas rode the bench last spring as Rask led the Bruins to within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals -- coming up short against the Flyers in seven games.   Thomas would undergo hip surgery last May to repair a torn labrum, which ultimately forced him to adopt a one-legged butterfly style. This year, not only did the 37-year-old Thomas return with a vengeance, posting a scintillating 35-11-9 record, 2.00 goals-against average, .938 save percentage and 9 shutouts in 57 games for the Bruins, but he competed in the Bridgestone NHL Fastest Skater competition during All-Star Weekend in Raleigh, N.C.   The zone he was in during the regular season has carried over into the postseason as well. In Bostons seven-game series triumph over the Montreal Canadiens, Thomas sported a 2.25 GAA and. 926 save percentage. During his first Stanley Cup playoff experience last season, Rask finished 7-6 with a 2.61 GAA and .912 save percentage in 13 starts for the Bruins.   The Flyers are well aware of Thomas and his ability to steal a few games in this series.   "Its a completely different style goalie that we played in the first round (Buffalos Ryan Miller)," forward Danny Briere said. "Miller is big and always in good position; it is what it is with Ryan Miller.   "Thomas is a smaller guy and never stops competing on any puck. He can be all over the place. Also, hes tough to read because you dont know what hes going to do. Hes skillful, so its a completely different style that we had to face in the first round."   Thomas record-setting bounce back season included the highest save percentage (.938) in NHL history, eclipsing Dominik Haseks .937 with Buffalo in 1998-99 as the best since the statistic was introduced in 1976-77.   "Hes a competitor," Briere said. "He gets fired up. Im not a goalie coach (so) I dont know if its good or bad, but he is very animated and doesnt like to be scored on."   Thomas won his first eight decisions this season, breaking the club record set by Tiny Thompson in 1937-38, and won his first nine road games to become the first NHL goalie to do so since Chicagos Glenn Hall in 1965-66. He also led all goalies in goals-against average and ranked second in shutouts.   "Hes a great goaltender and is a little bit unorthodox," Flyers captain Mike Richards said. "Its tough to watch video on him and try to see some of his tendencies, but were going to do the same thing this series as we did against Ryan Miller last series. Were going to try to get the puck to the net as much as possible and try to get tips and deflections. Were going to shoot to score, because at any point he can come flying across.   "Until that puck crosses the line, Tim is going to battle."   He also knows that Thomas wears his heart on his sleeve and has a tendency to become overly emotional and animated.   "He gets emotional and he gets mad," Richards said. "Hes a competitor and thats obviously something you want in a goaltender and a hockey player. Hes going to do everything he can to keep it out, no matter how out of position he gets or what he tries to do. We cant take anything for granted; when we get an opportunity, were going to try and get it through the net."   One player hoping to make life miserable for Thomas will be Flyers agitator Daniel Carcillo.   "It seems like when he gets into the game more, he plays even better so theres a fine line you have to walk," Carcillo said. "Ill go to the net hard, be around the net and stop right in his face any time I can. And Ill be there for rebounds and the hard goals. Thats what I do."   Flyers coach Peter Laviolette knows his team has its work cut out for them in search of ways to generate good chances against Thomas.   "You dont get to the playoffs and you certainly dont get to the second round without good goaltending," Laviolette said. "He has had a good year for them, hes a competitive guy. I think any time youre facing a good goaltender in net, it presents some challenges for your offense."   Follow Mike Morreale on Twitter at: @mike_morreale Tracy Porter Jersey . 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Despite missing two games, in which Pittsburgh went 1-1, Polamalu became the sixth Steeler to win the award. Texas Rangers Ian Kinsler Jersey . In a battle between two of the young guns in the sport, second seed Nadal fought tooth-and-nail to down Murray 6-7 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-1. Spains Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray of Britain embrace after their match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne January 23, 2007. Jay Cutler Jersey . - Randy Smith, a blindingly fast all-star with the Buffalo Braves in the 1970s who once held the NBA record for consecutive games, died while working out on a treadmill. VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) -The Vancouver Canucks know exactly how the Los Angeles Kings feel after blowing a late lead and a great opportunity. Vancouver was within 3 minutes of taking a 3-1 series lead against Chicago in the second round of last years playoffs, but after a late goal they lost Game 4 in overtime. They also lost their momentum, their composure, and two games later, the series. Now, after overcoming a third-period deficit to win Game 4 in Los Angeles on Wednesday and tie this years best-of-seven series 2-2, the Canucks go into Game 5 on Friday hoping the Kings feel the same way they did about being so close. Its still tough looking back, Henrik Sedin, who scored the winner with 2:52 left Wednesday, said of last seasons loss to Chicago. We were 2-2 last year too, but they had all the momentum. We were so close to being up 3-1 and to blow that lead was really tough for us to handle. The Canucks learned from that experience, and say its paying off in a more even-keel approach to this series, not panicking when theyre behind or forcing things against the tight-checking Kings. Were different this year, Sedin said. We could have easily been down 3-1, but we battled back and got momentum again so we have a different feeling in here this year for sure. They also say part of that playoff learning curve is not counting on the young Kings coming apart and making it easy the rest of the way. Momentum may be on Vancouvers side after outscoring Los Angeles 4-1 in the third period on Wednesday. However, momentum has been fleeting throughout a series that has seen the team scoring first lose each of the first four games. They were up at home and could have made it 3-1 so Im sure it stings a little today, goalie Roberto Luongo said. But its the playoffs and theres no reason for us to believe they are going to just lean over and give us the series. Theyre going to come here to take a game. To do that, the Kings are counting on a veteran group that includes four Stanley Cup winners to help several key players experiencing the emotional roller-coaster of the postseason for the first time. Captain Dustin Brown, leading scorer Anze Kopitar, top defensemen Drew Doughty and Jack Johnson, and No. Replica Jerome Harrison Jersey. 1 goalie Jonathan Quick are all in their first NHL playoff series. With a young group of guys, you could really sense it when I walked into the locker room last night, coach Terry Murray said before flying to Vancouver on Thursday. It was a very difficult one to deal with. But as a team you have to go through it together. Veteran players need to step up and say a few things. The leadership group is a part of this thing. They have all been through a lot of these battles before. Its an important time for them to be part of it. There are several positives for the veterans to point out to the sixth-seeded Kings. Their power play has converted nine of 16 chances, including six straight midway through Game 4. Their 5-on-5 play was better the first two periods of Game 4 than at any other point in the series. And theyve been one of the NHLs top road teams all season, winning Game 2 in Vancouver against a team that dominated on home ice all year. We knew it was going to be a long series, veteran Ryan Smyth said. This is what the playoffs are all about. You ride a big wave, at times you go through ups and downs, but you cant ride them too high or too low. Weve got older guys who can settle things down and we have younger guys who have energy and want to create things at another level. I think well handle it real well. The Kings power play may get more opportunities after Vancouver defenseman Nolan Baumgartner was hurt in Game 4. That means Andrew Alberts, who took five penalties including a major for boarding in the first two games before being benched, will get back in Friday. The Canucks, who gave Henrik and Daniel Sedin regular penalty-killing shifts for the first time in four years Wednesday, hope to have momentum from killing off the last two disadvantages. Were on a roll baby, Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault said with a long laugh after canceling practice Thursday afternoon. Ive never seen a situation like that, six power-play goals in a row. A lot of times the pendulum swings, and things have a way of going back to normal. ' ' '