AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > April > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHeartbeat gets stronger
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
One goal came from a rookie who says he fired a “no-look shot.” Another came from a veteran who missed the puck with his stick, but fortunately had his skate there as a backup. Two other goals came from a defenseman who is of no relation to Bobby Orr.
These are times when you don’t try to make sense of anything.
You just go with it.
The Thrashers won again. They didn’t look great doing it. They barely beat a Boston team that ended its season with 11 straight road losses and won two of its final 14 games. They were sloppy.
But art went out the window a long time ago. At this point, a team doesn’t care how it gets to the finish line: Glide. Stumble. Follow Monty Python’s Ministry of Funny Walks. Just get there.
A 4-3 win over Boston on Saturday meant there was still hope in catching Tampa Bay for the final playoff spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, and hope had an increasingly strong heartbeat.
The Thrashers’ playoff chances now stand at “62 1/2 percent.” That, according to the renowned mathematician Don Waddell. It was a guess. But then, so are BCS rankings. So go with it.
Two weeks ago, the Thrashers lost a game at Tampa Bay 4-3 to fall seven points behind the Lightning. Rookie Jim Slater was a minus-2 that night and decided to take drastic grooming measures. He buzzed his hair.
“We had 10 games left, and everybody was like, ‘We have to go on a 10-0 run,’ ” Slater said. “So I buzzed the head to see what it would do.”
Weird things started to happen — both to the team and Slater’s facial hair. His attempts at growing a beard had always failed in the past.
“The beard always grew in patches,” he said. “But after I buzzed the hair, the beard just started growing. Now the guys are calling me Abe Lincoln or Leprechaun. The beard just fell into place.”
The beard and the season, the second belatedly. After Slater’s follicle metamorphosis, the Thrashers beat Carolina. They are 6-1-1 since. Make that 8-1-1 and Slater may get a clipper endorsement.
The 23-year-old has been one of the team’s best players of late, playing wing on its most effective line (with Scott Mellanby and Bobby Holik). Slater had a goal and an assist Saturday. He tied the game, 2-2, in the first when he skated in on a two-on-one and fired a shot between the pads of goalie Tim Thomas. Only it really wasn’t that clear-cut. Slater initially focused on a camera attached to the back of the net.
“The camera was staring me right in the face on the 5-hole [between goalie Tim Thomas’s leg pads],” he said. “Then I looked down. It was one of those great, no-look shots. Put the head down and rip it.”
With the Thrashers trailing the Bruins again, 3-2 in the third, Slater set up Mellanby on another two-on-one. Mellanby couldn’t get his stick on the puck, but it ricocheted off his skate into the net for the tying goal.
Three minutes later, defenseman Andy Sutton scored his second goal of the game to give the Thrashers their first lead. It was Sutton’s second two-goal game in three games. We’re talking about somebody who has never scored more than eight in a season.
But this is what this season has become. The Thrashers went into the Olympic break a .500 team with a recent seven-game losing streak. They are 15-6-1 since. They officially broke the franchise record for “must-win” games long ago.
“I don’t know how we continue to get this done, night after night,” Holik said. “We’re making mistakes and we’re getting away with it, but … whew.”
As is tradition for the final home game of the regular season, the Thrashers gave away their jerseys to selected fans after the game.
Two weeks ago, nobody figured that they might need them back.
Permalink | Comments (17) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Thrashers / NHL
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By LAC
April 15, 2006 10:53 PM | Link to this
Two wins now a MUST.
MTL is our target now… We hold the tiebraker on them, not TB who LUCKED out an won in OT tonight… I expect Carolina to fade FAST in the playoffs…
MTL has NJ and TB Wash… We Shall See…
Now “THAT” 7-5 loss at Pittsburgh when we lead 4-0… Remember that one… Could it be… these two road games will NOT BE EASY… Let’s hope for a better start than today…But we ALL Will take the same results !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Coop
April 16, 2006 12:12 AM | Link to this
Not sure why losing to a desperate Tampa team on the road in overtime justifies that the ‘Canes are due for an early exit, especially when the ‘Canes have a much more proven goalie than any team they’ll be facing in the first round, but whatever. Also, Thrashers fans really need to cheer for New Jersey tomorrow against Philly. If the Devils win, they will have a great chance to win the division when they take the ice on Tuesday in Montreal. If they lose in regulation, they are locked into the 6th seed and will have nothing to play for.
By Harold
April 16, 2006 12:51 AM | Link to this
The math is — Two Thrashers wins and EITHER a loss by Tampa Bay in regulation to Washington or a regulation loss by Montreal to New Jersey and they are in — Buffalo has the number 4 slot locked — No one else knows where they will be come Wednesday morning — A Jersey win over Philadelphia tomorrow means they could finish first in their division by beating Montreal on Tuesday night — Montreal better pray that we lose, because they are not going to beat Jersey under those conditions — As for the Panthers great goal tending, we destroyed one on April 1 and the other on April 8 — GO THRASHERS
By JMar
April 16, 2006 01:13 AM | Link to this
Jersey beating Philly is of huge importance in keeping them interested in that final game against Montreal. Problem with TB is not only are they playing a weak Washington team, at home, but also one that will have just played us the night before. Not great odds of a bad team winning on the road on the second night of a back-to-back.
By David
April 16, 2006 09:08 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why everyone is writing off the tampa vs washington game. If you people would look and see how washington played tampa in previous games. You would see that all games except one were close and most of them went into OT. Yes, I understand this is more important to tampa than the caps. Or maybe ovechkin will have a breakout game to help his bud and fellow countryman Kovi out. Many here were saying the Boston game should be easy. But, if one was to look at past games we played them you would have seen that each game they played us extremely tough. So, looking at past history of games does matter. Yes the NJ game looks more realistic. I just wanted to point out a few things for those who just look at washington’s record and throw away that chance. But first things first, lets beat washington (a team we always do well against) and fight our way past bright side for the future florida team. Go Thrashers!
By David
April 16, 2006 09:09 AM | Link to this
I don’t understand why everyone is writing off the tampa vs washington game. If you people would look and see how washington played tampa in previous games. You would see that all games except one were close and most of them went into OT. Yes, I understand this is more important to tampa than the caps. Or maybe ovechkin will have a breakout game to help his bud and fellow countryman Kovi out. Many here were saying the Boston game should be easy. But, if one was to look at past games we played them you would have seen that each game they played us extremely tough. So, looking at past history of games does matter. Yes the NJ game looks more realistic. I just wanted to point out a few things for those who just look at washington’s record and throw away that chance. But first things first, lets beat washington (a team we always do well against) and fight our way past bright side for the future florida team. Go Thrashers!
By thrashersfan
April 16, 2006 10:09 AM | Link to this
History flies out the window when it comes to a game like this - Tampa is clearly the better team and they will beat Washington. Did you see them last night against the Canes? Sure they had lapses at times but in general they owned most of that game. Their defensive play was superb and they appeared one of the best 2-way teams in the league.
It’s over with them. Montreal is our last hope. We win two and they lose one we’re in. NJ should beat them becasue their peaking and Montreal is slipping. As expected our last two games are “must wins”, as all of our recent games have been. The problem is both will be difficult. “If” the Thrashers take care of their games the odds improve monumentally.
Go Devils! Go Thrashers!
By Dave
April 16, 2006 12:45 PM | Link to this
Everyone is basically right on target except the guy that thinks Carolina is fading fast. What??? The Lightning did take 3 out of 4 points in the two nights vs the Canes but is anyone really surprised? They have played very well down the stretch except for one game out of 3 against the Thrashers, and the 3rd period blowup in FL last Sunday. Montreal has always been the target for Thrashers fans, and NJ is so hot right now that they should easily handle the Canadiens. Guess what? We might just see both Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the playoffs. Fun stuff! By the way, nice to see ‘super coach’Pat Quinn and the Mighty Leafs out of it. No wonder Team Canada lost in the Olympics.
By thrashersfan
April 16, 2006 02:17 PM | Link to this
I love that the Leafs are out. It’s only a personal opinion because of Pat Quinn. Some of you may recall when he was a defenseman for the Atlanta Flames. Here was this huge defenseman who rarely used his size or hit players. What a big SISSY… and he wasn’t even from Europe!
By yort
April 17, 2006 11:19 AM | Link to this
your an idoit
By Brendan
April 17, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this
It starts with a win tonight. If we get it, we’ve really got a shot. I like NJ’s odds of defeating Montreal, since a win might mean the Devils win the Atlantic Division. Six weeks ago, the Devils were headed out of the playoffs. They could now wind up seeded 3rd. Lou Lamoriello, ladies and gents, Head Coach and GM of NJ. When the guy who writes the checks is also the “bench boss,” the results can change dramatically.
Okay, Thrashers in, Habs out. I can live with that. But, I’d rather see the Bolts lose to the Caps and the Thrashers win out, preferably with a Habs’ loss vs. the Devils.
Then, Atlanta gets the #7 spot, and the Habs get #8. And the Bolts go home. Tampa Bay has squandered this season like few defending champs before them. I guess the Devils missed in 1996, after winning the Cup in 95.
I’ll mention this one last time. In 2003, the Capitals were eliminated by the Lightning after blowing a 2-0 series lead. I would think that Caps fans who remember that would ESPECIALLY love to get some “payback” on the Bolts. They can get their wish. By losing to the Thrashers and defeating the Lightning, it opens the door to Atlanta’s potentially eliminating the Lightning with a win at Florida.
Lastly, I want to talk “crazy” for a minute. If the Icebirds get in, I want Ottawa. While I certainly recognize Carolina as a divisional rival, and perhaps our “better chance to advance” into the 2nd round, but the “Dany Heatley saga” will surely generate the Most interest for fans in Atlanta.
Honestly now. Wouldn’t eliminating the Senators be the crowning jewel of this season, even if the Thrashers didn’t win the Cup? What if Hossa or deVries scored the Game Seven overtime winner that stunned the world??? The “experts” have been picking the Senators to hoist the Cup since mid-November. To deny Heatley and the Senators their in the type of season that they’ve had … would be sweet.
And what’s more, even if the Thrashers lose, it allows Don Waddell to make the dubious claim, “Hey, if we hadn’t drawn Ottawa, the eventual Cup-winner, in the opening round, who knows how FAR we would have gone.” That claim could sell tickets.
Crazy. I said it was crazy. But it’s fun to speculate.
By JB
April 17, 2006 12:56 PM | Link to this
I think the Thrashers win tonight and set up an interesting last day of the season…………The game against Fla worries me. Luongo has shut us down in the past. The Panthers will be loose and can take chances that they normally wouldn`t take..First things first. We have to shut down Ovechkin……no small task……GO BIRDS
By Veni Veti Vigier
April 17, 2006 03:20 PM | Link to this
Let us go back to the final day of the 1996 season. The defending cup champ Devils only had to defeat the worst team in the league, the Senators, to make the playoffs. They lost that game and it enabled the Tampa Bay Lightning to make their first ever playoff appearance. Now ten years later, the defending cup champ Lightning only have to defeat the lowly Capitals to make the playoffs, with the Thrashers looking to make the playoffs for the first time ever. Hmmm, that sound I hear is history repeating itself.
By David
April 17, 2006 03:25 PM | Link to this
Haha! I love that stat Veni. Our goal for tonight, shut down the wonder kid and hope that tampa or montreal loses. Woooooo I love playoff season. Lets just hope that tomorrow’s game, that wont be televised because the braves are playing on TS and the idiots didnt think to put the thrashers on Pax aka I channel, will be an important game. Wooo go Thrashers!
By Ryan
April 17, 2006 04:02 PM | Link to this
It could only be the biggest game of the season and I’ll have to listen to it on-line audio what the Hell is that.
By Michael
April 17, 2006 04:45 PM | Link to this
First things first. If the Thrashers slip up and lose tonight, then all of these if and maybe scenarios with Tampa & Montreal don’t matter. Win the first one, then think about the possibilities.
By Brendan
April 17, 2006 05:27 PM | Link to this
I cannot even entertain the notion of a loss tonight. The Caps are out of it. They’ve made whatever points about next year’s roster that they are going to make with their management.
Now, it’s a matter of THROTTLING a non-playoff bound opponent, in our march to the playoffs. And let’s just stay out of a shootout situation.
REally, the Caps aren’t good against the SE division. They are 9-14-7 within the division. Straight up, that’s 9-21, with two (2) left to play.
Ideally, we Thrashers fans want the Caps to finish 10-22 vs. the Division, with the 10th win coming against Tampa!!
John Manasso touched on the 1988 Devils in his blog today. That team had to win its last five (5) games of the season to make the playoffs. And they did it!!
From there, they went all the way to Game Seven of the modern-day equivalent of the Eastern Conference Finals. (IT was called “Prince of Wales” Conference in those days.) They lost game 7 to Boston.
Not bad for a team just tryin’ to make the big dance.
Hopefully, the Thrashers can write a similar tale.