AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2005 > December > 23
Friday, December 23, 2005
Shooting blanks
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Thrashers continue to play their best hockey of the season, earning a point on Thursday to earn a point in their sixth straight game, a franchise-record.
Nonetheless, the Thrashers surrendered five goals to the team that ranked last in the Eastern Conference in the 6-5 shootout loss. In three of the past six games, they have played well defensively, allowing two goals or less. In the others, they have given up too many power plays, which is their Achilles’ heel.
But now to the point. The shootout loss was their fourth of the season against no wins and their second, in particular, to Washington. In 13 attempts, they have only scored twice. Steve Shields was in goal for one, Mike Dunham for one and Michael Garnett for two.
Coach Bob Hartley always says in the shootouts the advantage goes to the goaltender. The Thrashers have lost three of those shootouts to top goaltenders: Olaf Kolzig, Jose Theodore and Nikolai Khabibulin. But on Thursday, they lost to Brent Johnson.
What do you make of the Thrashers’ inability to win the shootout and do you think this loss of points will hurt them come playoff time? (They drew within four points of Toronto on Thursday.)
