The Hurricanes moved to 41 points with the victory and are still in contention in the top six but have just one more game remaining in the regular season. The Crusaders moved to 42 with a bonus point for finishing within seven.
Hurricanes flyhalf Beauden Barrett kicked two penalties while Thomson also scored a first half try, before he beat Crusaders fullback Tom Taylor to a speculative kick by Cory Jane and spectacularly raced away untouched for the match winner in the 71st minute.
Colin Slade slotted three penalties for the visitors before he was replaced early in the second half by All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter, who was making his return to top-flight rugby after a six-month sabbatical.
(Reporting by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
