Oct 3, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Florida Panthers goalie Tim Thomas (34) warms up before the game against the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

It looks as if Florida Panthers goaltender Tim Thomas is ready to make his return to the ice. NHL.com is reporting that the former Bruins goaltender is set to get the nod to start between the pipes for the Panthers when the Boston Bruins come to town on Thursday night.

As most of you know, Tim Thomas has been sidelined since October 8th when he was forced to leave the game against the Philadelphia Flyers due to a groin injury. Prior to leaving the game, he allowed 2 goals on just 5 shots.

Clearly, this had something to do with the injury to his groin, as this is not the usual level of play that one can expect from a goaltender like Thomas.

Thomas started skating with the team once again this week.

This will be an interesting showdown between a goaltender and his former teammates. The time that he spent with the Bruins should serve him well. When you spend such a long time defending the same group of guys, you start to learn their tricks and how each player takes it to the net.

This should provide Thomas with every opportunity to get in front of the puck and ward the Bruins offense off.

However, things always progress over time. In the year that Thomas decided to take off, I am sure that people like Milan Lucic and Patrice Bergeron have learned a few new tricks that they’ll be able to unload on their former netminder.

Thomas was able to backstop the Bruins to a Stanley Cup Championship in 2011. He also won both the Vezina and Conn Smythe trophies that same season.