Florida Panthers goaltender Tim Thomas will start against his former team, the Boston Bruins, on Thursday night, the team announced Wednesday afternoon.
Thomas sustained a groin injury against the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 8, which has kept him out of the lineup. Despite returning to practice on Monday, Thomas did not travel with the team to Nashville for its game against the Predators on Tuesday night.
Head coach Kevin Dineen stated on Monday that Thomas was questionable for Thursday night's game against Boston, via the Miami Herald:
"Timmy - I haven't gotten the report on him - but he was fine out there in practice," Dineen said. "His first skate with the group in a week. He looked fine. I'm sure that's the report on him - that he's making good progress. Another skate on Wednesday and I'll make a decision on what we'll do against his old team on Thursday."
Thomas spent eight seasons with the Bruins and backed the team to a Stanley Cup championship in 2011. In addition, he collected two Vezina Trophies as the league's top goaltender and won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP during the Cup run.
Off-ice issues hovered over Thomas' final year with the club, which culminated in his taking a sabbatical to focus on his personal life.
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