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Home > Jeff Schultz > Archives > 2008 > October > 10 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USIt’s only one win for Thrashers, but …
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Playoff berths aren’t clinched on opening night. Even guessing direction can be risky.
So what did the Thrashers really want Friday night? Signs.
Something to suggest the offense will not be overly dependent on the one star, Ilya Kovalchuk. Something to suggest the goalie, Kari Lehtonen, can make the difference. Something to suggest one of the NHL’s lowest-payrolls and coast-to-coast projections of doom might be slightly overstated.
All three: check. What does one win mean? We’ll find out over the next 81 games. But the fact the Thrashers opened the season with a 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals counts for two points and a second-look.
They scored seven goals — none by Kovalchuk. They blew a 3-0 lead but Lehtonen kept them in it, even stopping Alex Ovechkin on a penalty shot, after Washington rallied to even things at 4-4.
And they won — something they had done only twice in eight previous season openers. Also something they didn’t do until game seven last season.
“Last year we had a bad start and it just kind of sat around in our heads,” said Bryan
Little, who scored twice after having only six goals in 48 games last season. “You win a game like this — now we believe we can have a good season.”
“Look at the way we played,” Colby Armstrong said. “Look at the character we showed coming back after they tied the game. That’s going to be the mentality of this team. Things are changing around here. That’s how we’re going to play this year. We’re going to battle. We’re going to be a tough team to play against.”
That would be a change. They started 0-6 last season. They fired a coach and finished 28th out of 30 teams. They missed the playoffs for the seventh time in eight years. They allowed the most goals in the league. They traded their second-best player (Marian Hossa) at the trade deadline. They entered the season with one of the league’s lowest payrolls.
How many ominous signs can one team start the season with?
But Friday they won, with John Anderson standing behind an NHL bench for the first time as a head coach. They won, beating Washington, generally believed to be one of the up-and-coming teams in the league.
So that’s one. Was it perfect? Hardly. They led 3-0 — and everybody looked around to see if they were in the right building.
They never actually looked as dominating as 3-0. It’s more like the game was being played at 78 speed and Capitals goalie Jose Theodore was at 331/3. (He was finally pulled for backup Brent Johnson after Atlanta’s fourth goal.) But given that early 3-0 leads have been a rarity for the franchise, Anderson wasn’t going to complain.
Problem was, the Thrashers’ play never caught up to the score and it didn’t take long for things to unravel. The Capitals scored four of the next five goals to tie it, 4-4, heading into the third period.
One Washington goal came short-handed when the Thrashers got caught in a line change. Two others came within a span of 52 seconds on a power play after Marty Reasoner — who was signed to kill penalties, not take them — was given a double-minor for high-sticking the Caps’ Tom Poti.
The Thrashers’ hope was that the preseason wouldn’t qualify as foreshadowing. They went 1-5. They allowed 27 goals in five straight losses. What happened Friday seemed to indicate that wasn’t an aberration.
But then Lehtonen stopped Ovechkin on a penalty shot. He stopped 26 of 30 shots through two periods and 39 of 43 in the game. Little broke the tie with 6:03 left. Two more goals followed.
“We competed, we battled,” Little said. “We never got down.”
They won. A sign.
Permalink | Comments (30) | Post your comment | Categories: Thrashers/NHL
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By Sean
October 10, 2008 11:50 PM | Link to this
A good coach, a good system, a good backline and a good goalie can make up for the loss of a superstar. It is just one game, but we showed we can score goals. This team will be fun to watch, which is important for putting butts in seats. With Anderson’s system, we can do a lot with good, young players … something like the Buffalo Sabres did a few years back. One down, 82 to go. Go Thrash go!
By DungeonK
October 11, 2008 12:15 AM | Link to this
Schultz, I’m proud of you- you might be too eager to dish it before hand, but when the Thrashers come out and get the job done you were willing to admit it this time. :)
By Midfield
October 11, 2008 12:37 AM | Link to this
It was a wild one - real fun to watch. They really looked like they skated with purpose, and Kari finally showed some signs of mental presence all the way till the final siren. However, they are still not all up and up on what needs to be done, it seems; they still get boxed in their own zone for shifts on end; and they still allowed over 40 shots on goal against. So, they’re not out of the woods by any stretch. They kind of got lucky that Theodore was jet lagging or something. I guess, we’ll take it.
By Brendan
October 11, 2008 1:06 AM | Link to this
Jeff, had the Thrashers lost this game, after leading 3-0, particularly if the loss came in regulation-time, it really would have been a deflating debut, and a “tone setter.” Instead, the resurrected win seems to be an energizer for this team.
Kari had 39 saves. On one hand, YAY!! On the other hand, that’s too many shots on goal, not to mention a bad trend that hasn’t stopped from last season, and preseason.
Goals from Hainsey, Reasoner, Kozlov, White, Armstrong, and two (2) from Bryan Little, show some “balanced scoring.” Be honest, we all thought this season would be the “Ilya Kovalchuk Show,” and if the other team shut him down, it’s over. Tonight gives me hope, a sign, that Kovy might not have be to the Messiah this year for Atlanta to have any kind of chance. So far, I like John Anderson’s system.
By Scottbravesfan
October 11, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this
Great game tonight really fun to watch. Hey Jeff, what did you guys in the press box think of Brashear jumping the rookie Begrosian? I thought it was kind of class less. Brash has been around long enough to know not to go after a rookie who’s 18 years old.
By LLTM
October 11, 2008 1:22 AM | Link to this
O.K., who are you, and what have you done with Shultz? Shultz is always trying to rip apart the Thrashers. He’s always looking at the glass half empty. Two stories in a row, that are good; what is the world coming to?
By BigMomma
October 11, 2008 1:25 AM | Link to this
Mr. Schultz,
Thank for your thoughts. The game was great and it is awesome to hear the guys thinking positively about this season! And your piece on Lehtonen was also terrific - what a game he had tonight!
By s-man
October 11, 2008 1:31 AM | Link to this
I am thrilled to see positive articles about the Thrashers. The team played great tonight and has shown very great potential. I’m excited about this season and am thrilled about the season opener victory!
By Brian R.
October 11, 2008 1:37 AM | Link to this
Mr. Schultz,
This is the kind of stuff I love to read. It’s VERY realistic, but shows that there is hope for the team. When even you’re views on the Thrashers are showing light, that’s a good sign for the team, IMO.
Every hockey analyst, columnist, blogger in the nation is predicting the Thrashers close to last if not last in the league. I hope writings like this will wake up Burnside at ESPN, or TSN, Yahoo!, and THN or Atlanta can prove them all wrong. That’s my vision and even though it was one game, I saw signs that it may happen.
The Stanley Cup is pretty far fetched, but I think going to the playoffs is looking a little more probable. A lot of fans feel this way, and I hope you can feel the same as the season progresses.
The players are positive. The fans are positive. John Anderson’s positive. Get the press positive and we’ll have a hell of a season. Again, good work on this post.
Brian
By Brian R.
October 11, 2008 1:41 AM | Link to this
Excuse the typos on “you’re” and other places I didn’t notice.
By Brendan
October 11, 2008 1:44 AM | Link to this
What if Jeff Schultz doesn’t have some agenda? What if, when the team does well, he writes about the good things that happened? What if, when the team does poorly, he writes about what went wrong? What if this team really doesn’t have some stellar, exempliary history about it? And from time to time, Jeff has to point that out? Especially to those who want to disavow the results of eight prior seasons.
In NY, Boston, Chicago, LA, Detroit or Philly, the Thrashers, their ownership and their management, would be ripped to shreds by now.
Now, I agree with those who say the Thrashers could benefit from some positive press about them. But doesn’t positive press depend on positive results? I think the answer is yes. But I’d agree also agree … that a new season, with a new coach, and many new players, ought to be met with at least a positive “wait-n-see” attitude.
So far, I think this has been Jeff Schultz’s position on the 2008-09 Thrashers.
By sape
October 11, 2008 3:01 AM | Link to this
What if copies from all analysts predicting Thrashers being the worst team in the league will give them quite a lot to prove that they ar wrong will give quite a lot of energy to show that everybody has been wrong?
And what if Shneider will pick up his game as well and what if X will be replaced with somebody who can play?
Brashear, welcome back to Philips for doing it with a guy who is in the same league with you, not with the 18 year old kid (who show thta he can also protect himself).
This was only game 1 but hopefuly this season replicate 06-07 season when we had good start and decent finish in regular season as well. Welcome also to John Anderson, which could be better gift that giving a win for you in your first game in NHL.
By tbone
October 11, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
Good win. Can’t have 40 shots a game and win many. Can we please move X to the booth and give someone else a chance. He looks out of place and confused.
By Mike
October 11, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this
Jeff,
i think your articles have been accurate reflections of what you think of this franchise’s performance to date. Just keep writing it as you see it.
tbone, half the women of Atlanta would no longer be Thrashers fans if they let X go (including my wife!).
I was disturbed by the 43 shots, but agree that Kari came up big in the 3rd when the game was on the line. Think the team’s mood might have changed if Ovechkin had cashed in that penalty shot? But somehow, I don’t think we played that badly on defense watching the game. I dunno, maybe I am just a dumb redneck who doesn’t understand hockey well enough!
By Matt
October 11, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
Great start but my favorite was at the end when Bogonisian got jumped by Brasher. The Thrashers answered right away on the next shift. That is how hockey is supposed to be played, that is how a team builds unity and that goes a longer way than most realize.
It won’t be the end either, Brasher will answer himself next game. Hopefully on the 1st shift. That too me means more than anything, the team last year wouldn’t have done a thing. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come. Great to see in game 1.
By bob
October 11, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Good win, nice article, celebrate at: atlantathrashers.wetpaint.com.
By stendec
October 11, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this
Why wait? Put bust of Sori Letemin in the Hall Of Fame now! What would have happened if offense evaporated after 3-0 lead dissolved into 4-3 deficit? Why, a 4-3 defeat! Penalty shot stop balances scale for shorthanded tally allowed. Penalty shot would not have occurred had teammate not acted quickly to save certain goal after netminder was on LaLa Land excursion! But what the Hell. Send the untalented Finn to the HofF. Just make damn sure he has a ticket. It is the ONLY way he will ever get in!
By stendec
October 11, 2008 7:52 PM | Link to this
Thrashers took early lead on road. Sori Letemin quickly wasted it! Score knotted after a period. Sure hope offense comes through. AGAIN!
By Monkey Puck
October 11, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
Shut down #17 and you shut down the Thrashers. Get used to it. It will be a long season of teams double and triple teaming #17. Offense must be found elsewhere.
By stendec
October 11, 2008 11:45 PM | Link to this
Hi Jeff. If you would prefer I not ctiticize the sainted Sori Letemin, uh, forgive me, Kari Lehtonen, I will vanish from this blog too. It is just that fans like myself have endured decades of professional sports ineptitude for so long. Blogs allow us to fight back. In a small way. Oh well. Cheers. Peace.
By ROBO
October 12, 2008 4:20 AM | Link to this
SAME OLD CRAP FROM LETEMIN……..GOALS SECONDS INTO PERIODS……..GAME TYING GOALS DEFLATING MOMENTUM OF GO AHEAD GOALS………TERRIBLE REBOUND CONTROL PROVEN COSTLY ONCE AGAIN……….SAME OLD CRAP………..ROFL…..
By Brian R.
October 12, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this
ROBO,
I’m convinced
a.) Your caps lock is broken b.) Your spilled maple syrup under your period key c.) You know absolutely nothing about hockey goaltending. Kari had a fantastic night.
By Brendan
October 12, 2008 10:19 PM | Link to this
Thrashers are .750 to start the season. I’m not complaining. It has a whole different look and feel about this season. I sense re-newed energy. Many of last year’s underachievers are gone. It’s a new day. It’s still a “build year,” but it’s a new day.
If the Thrashers keep getting points in games, Jeff Schultz will reporting about how the Thrashers keep getting points in games. If they don’t, and falter badly, then don’t expect Jeff Schultz to ignore that. He’s got to report on the actual results. So far, the results have been good.
By Bob
October 13, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Yep, where are the bedwetters crying over Jeff picking on their poor Thrashers?
If the club stinks, they deserve to get ripped. If they play well, they deserve the type of column typed out above. Reality. What a concept.
By NASCAR Dave
October 13, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this
Congratulations to COACH ANDERSON on his first NHL win!!! I’m glad ANDERSON finally has a shot to show he can hang with the big boys…
I’m also glad KOZLOV is scoring, because KOVALCHUK has been a Non-Factor all of Pre-Season and through these first 2 games… Looks like teams have caught on that if you take him out of the mix, you can beat the Thrashers…
EXELBY still looks putrid out there… ENSTROM might need to sit in the Pressbox a few games also…
I see we’re still getting OUTSHOT late in games again… Uh-Oh - Don’t keep that trend up…
I think LITTLE needs to Center KOVY’s line still… WHITE seems to be a bit off pace with KOVY at times…
I wish we had some “Real” goons on this squad… The WIMPS were back again… Did you see how they all just sat around and watched as BRASHEAR pummelled the crap out of 18 year old BOGOSIANS face??? BOULTON and THORBURN both leave much to be desired… This team was not TOUGH enough last year, and I hope things can change this year, but so far it looks like the same old wimps… I’m ready for BORIS VALABIK to come back and add some GRIT…
GO THRASHERS!!!
By stendec
October 13, 2008 10:20 PM | Link to this
It is sickening to see Maryann Hossa on Sports Illustrated cover. Hope there is really something to this cover jinx thing. I despise this guy as much as I do the Thrasher goaltender. Sorry. Forgot that is blasphemy here. Hossa bailed on Atlanta effort-wise while still under contract. Completely unacceptable. Wish Thrashers well this week. Please score a bunch of goals. All of them will damn sure be needed!
By stendec
October 13, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
I feel compelled to respond to post by Stendec Is A Bum. First, I am over 35. Right there. Past middle age actually. On my own. Leave my mother and rest of my family out when attacking me. Have followed sports, most Georgia college and professional teams, all my life. Love ice hockey. From Flames to Knights to Thrashers. My wife and I are both disabled. Are raising our beloved granddaughter in single bedroom public housing unit. We survive. Will continue to criticize highly salaried athletes when I feel such criticism is warranted. No matter what you or anyone else thinks about it. I wish another columnist well but will have deep sympathy for him when his hero worship of a certain Thrasher proves totally baseless. It will. Fans should not silently condone incompetent displays by professionals. I have seen too damn much of that in the last four plus decades! Good evening all. God bless.
By LAC.
October 14, 2008 7:56 AM | Link to this
I totally agree with Bob, If they play well, then praise is well deserved. If in turn they play like crap, then it is fair game as well.
It is called reality, something a large number of bloggers seem to forget.
I want the Thrashers to win The Stanley Cup, make us all proud, but I still want don waddell fired replaced etc…
So far 3 of 4 points, not bad, a good game tonight and we lead the division…
Be sure to rip Holik thursday night, now there’s one we never should have had here ! He, along with Hossa last season, were a cancer on the entire team.
We win tonight in a shootout 3-2 !
Are WE recruiting Gabork following this game, Like detroit said they did Hossa last season !? Where is Gary Bettman on that issue ? It’s called TAMPERING !
A first rounder and Fillippa in return for their tampering Mr.Commissioner ?
By Brendan
October 14, 2008 6:07 PM | Link to this
If Detroit’s “recruiting” was done by Ken Holland phoning Don Waddell to discuss trade scenarios, then there is no impropriety on the part of the Red Wings, in their attempts to acquire Hossa.
By TRON
October 14, 2008 9:47 PM | Link to this
REGARDLESS……OF WHAT THE APOLOGISTS WILL SAY……DECIDING 2 GOALS……ALL ON LETEMIN…….FACE THE FACTS…….ANOTHER MONUMENTAL COLLAPSE……..SHODDY REBOUND CONTROL…….BRAIN FARTS……MONKEY PUCKS…….WHATEVER……….ALL ON WONDERBOY………LMAO…..LMAO……LMAO……..