Thrashers

By michael

February 22, 2007 03:59 PM | Link to this

Opening night was one of the biggest games of the year. We played Tampa and lost in OT. They got 2 we got 1. Tonight will be huge for momentum. The last game of the season, april 7th against Tampa will be the biggest game of the year.

By Buzilla Baby Blues

February 22, 2007 04:00 PM | Link to this

It needs to be won.

Kill’em all and let god sort them out.

By B. Thenet

February 22, 2007 04:10 PM | Link to this

Due to the circumstances, the Dunham meltdown game vs. the Caps last year was the biggest game in Thrashers history.

This is a big one though.

Not the best time of year to have a flu outbreak :(

By porky

February 22, 2007 04:12 PM | Link to this

It’s hard to say April 7 will be the biggest when we don’t know what will happen between now and then. Depending on how we/they play, it could be meaningless. Right now, tonight is the biggest game of the year, but I think the playoffs for the Thrashers have already started, making every game from here on out absolutely huge.

By Russ

February 22, 2007 04:15 PM | Link to this

Obviously, this is a huge game, but with 19 games remaining after it I wouldn’t say it’s the biggest game ever. I think the second to last game of the season last year vs. Washington would probably have to be the biggest considering it was that close to the end of the season and it was basically a must win to keep playoff hopes alive. Let’s hope the Thrashers fare better in this big game than they did in that one…one eerie similarity is they are playing this game with their back-up goalie just like they had to last year because Lehtonen was hurt.

In my opinion Tampa seems to be the toughest match-up for the Thrashers. Most games the Thrashers can’t handle their aggressive forecheck and that leads to the Lightning significantly out-shooting and out-chancing Atlanta. The Thrashers have beaten Tampa twice this season and in those games Lehtonen stopped 58 of 59 shots. So obviously Atlanta either needs to have their goalie stand on his head or figure out a way to not have the ice slanted in Tampa’s favor all night. The last time they played the Thrashers finally outshot the Lightning 29-25, so hopefully they finally figured out how to play this team.

GO THRASHERS!!!!!

By Gene

February 22, 2007 04:25 PM | Link to this

The biggest game ever is the one that clinches a playoff.

By GaVaHokie

February 22, 2007 05:06 PM | Link to this

The fact that Tampa still has the West Coast road trip ahead doesn’t put too much importance on this game… if we lose, we can easily gain ground again; plenty of time.

Last years stretch run had much more important games… like the 3 games at the end of the year against Tampa that we lost… THOSE were important games.

By Ted

February 22, 2007 05:08 PM | Link to this

This may truly be the biggest game ever, but it only one game. We turn around and play Carolina again the next game. If WADDELL does not go out and get a Bill Guerin, Ryan Smith or Keith Tkachuk the Thrashers are going to fall far from where they have a chance to go. This team needs one or two more EXPERIENCED players who know how to WIN…The Thrashers have as good a chance as any team in the East to go to the Stanley Cup Finals, IF WADDELL will get another Winger/Center who can PLAY hockey. Let us NOT settle for just making the playoffs for the first time…LET US GO FORTH AND WIN THE CUP THIS YEAR!!! Are you reading/listening Waddell? Or are you off picking up another has been for because of budget restraints? (Wait, budget restraints? sorry, that is Schuerholtz who lets all of the good players leave without getting anything in return for the sake of the BRAVES SALARY CAP.)

By LAC

February 22, 2007 05:41 PM | Link to this

Ted, 110% Correct !!!!!!

EMD needs defense, so give Colburn to them, he is not very good. Remember… The higher the finish the lower the draft pick, this year is not going to be a “Highlight Reel” draft, so pack the pick and get some scoring HELP !

Did we have 20 shots on goal in Carolina ? This is our most telling problem, we cannot sustain the attack. It is into thezone, get one shot then maybe a rebound, then out they go and we are done.

We need more grit… I hope HOLIK is listening…His play recently is worth about minimum wage compared to what (3.5 Million) he makes, he had NOT BEEN EFFECTIVE and is another wasted sign by the WORST GM in pro sports.

I agree with Ted, we need two or three new guys if we plan to advance in the playoffs… do nothing and 50/50 we DO NOT make the playoffs…

By Paul

February 22, 2007 05:56 PM | Link to this

I spotted this trade rumor:

Thrashers eyeing Smolinski?

The Atlanta Thrashers are in the market for a top-six forward and might be setting their sights on Blackhawks center Bryan Smolinski.

According to the Chicago Daily Herald, the Thrashers are among a handful of teams (namely Montreal and Vancouver), believed to be interested in Smolinski.

The paper claims the 35-year-old will almost certainly be with another team come Tuesday’s trade deadline.

Smolinski has collected 13 goals and 22 assists in 60 games with the Blackhawks this season.

The Globe and Mail also suggests the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in Smolinski.

Here’s the link: http://www.thefourthperiod.com/news/atl070222.html

By ranallo10

February 22, 2007 05:59 PM | Link to this

Ted — What makes Ryan Smith and Keith Tkachuk “EXPERIENCED players who know how to WIN”? Compared to Scott Mellanby, Bobby Holik, Slava Kozlov, Steve Rucchin, Niclas Havelid, Greg de Vries, and all of the other “tenured” players on the Thrashers roster, there is nothing pointing to support your argument. Of the three players you mentioned, only one has won a Stanley Cup — Bill Guerin with NJ. So why do you think those three are the type of player the Thrashers “need”? The Thrashers have plenty of playoff experience on this roster, with most of those players having extended playoff runs at least once in their career.

The Thrashers don’t need another aged veteran to take up space in the cap and on the ice. Let Waddell work the phones, maybe he’ll pull something off, or maybe he wont. In my opinion, as long as Hartley continues to adjust his strategies they will still make the playoffs no matter what move Waddell does(‘nt) make.

Also, 14 straight division titles in any sport is much more respectable, in my opinion, than a one-and-done franchise. If Don Waddell were the hockey equivalent of John Scheurholz, nobody on these boards would have a legitimate reason to ever complain about the man. Give me one Stanley Cup over a 15 year span, with playoff appearances guaranteed, and I’d be pretty content.

By thefan

February 22, 2007 08:26 PM | Link to this

so far turnover and its 3-2 for thrashers

By Brian

February 22, 2007 08:44 PM | Link to this

Intermission here, just checking in. This is by no means the biggest game ever, it’s just one of a series of games coming up, whatever is next is bigger than tonight. Not to use a football analogy, but it’s like all those who said the Michigan-Ohio State game was the biggest of the year, then Florida wins the BCS and all of a sudden that Mich-OSU game didn’t mean anything at all. Wait until we see what happens next.

The Buffalo game earlier this year was easily the biggest. We ended a huge chance for them to get into the record books, it was the best two teams going at it, and it put us on the map as a true contender finally.

By pondscum

February 22, 2007 08:59 PM | Link to this

C’mon guys,alright Hossa!!!!! 4-3 Thrash,lock it down guys!!!!!!!!

By pondscum

February 22, 2007 09:06 PM | Link to this

Well I be damn,we can’t hold a lead tonight.

But it does look like Belanger’s chemistry is getting better with the guys.

By Brian

February 22, 2007 09:43 PM | Link to this

Ok, there is no goalie controversy. How many of those shots did the Moose get a clean look at?

On a side item, I agree with pondscum that Belanger is starting to look like a good pickup.

By Russ

February 22, 2007 09:57 PM | Link to this

Well, that was fun!!! I hope this little game where Hedberg gets to temporarily be the #1 goalie after one good game can end now. Good call, coach!!!

By B. Thenet

February 22, 2007 09:58 PM | Link to this

Hedberg earned the start, and he has now earned a spot on the bench. A poor performance by him under the spotlight. It looks like Lehtonen will get the start on his bobblehead/statue day after all.

The Thrashers played a pretty good game overall. Havelid with a awful turnover which really changes the entire game, then Sim puts a little too much into a Tampa penalty and gets called.

It is pretty absurd that Ilya has to play with grinders like Sim and Slater…granted those two don’t think they are grinders, but the lack of talent is a dead giveaway.

Tampa is clearly has more talent than Atlanta, except at goal. The Thrashers inability to finish is killing them.

A point is better than nothing, but to give 2 away to Tampa at home is pretty bad.

By Brendan

February 22, 2007 09:59 PM | Link to this

Moose didn’t look good on the OT winner. But really, I don’t want to pin the loss on him. Not exclusively. Atlanta blew two-goal leads not once, but twice. The Thrashers did not put them away. Kovy had a nice look in that OT. So did DeVries. Oh well. At least it’s a point closer towards the playoffs. Twenty-three (23) more points to go!

Carolina won, in OT, over the Flyers.

I don’t think Waddell got fleeced on the Vishnevski trade. I suspect it’s a trade that will work out for both teams. If Nashville wins the Cup, it’ll probably have more to do with the Forsberg acquisition than the Vishnevski one. Vish was not setting the world on fire here. But you can also argue the the Belanger acquisition is not a major trade.

So, Kari starts vs. the ‘Canes?

By luckydog

February 22, 2007 10:04 PM | Link to this

well that certainly sucked. crappy diving call on sim, but to me the real killer was that awful havelid turnover on their second goal. from there on you kind of knew we weren’t going to pull away.

on the bright side…if we play the next 19 the way we’ve played the last two against quality opponents, we should do ok.

BUT….can we break the Sat nite sellout jinx???

Go Blue

By luckydog

February 22, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this

I agree with others that Bellanger looks good so far….not a big-timer but he seems to give us a little shot in the middle.

One other thought: if Dan Boyle is like the 5th or 6th best guy on your team, you’re pretty loaded. what a guy like that wouldn’t do for us…

I think it’s unfair to put this on Moose. The way to stop a lineup like TB’s is to not let St.Louis, Lecavalier, Richards get a lot of shots, and we didn’t do that. Vinnie had 8 on goal. Hard to win that way.

By Russ

February 22, 2007 10:20 PM | Link to this

I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt us, but basically the Thrashers gave Tampa a 3 point swing in the standings tonight because they didn’t want to play their #1 goalie with first place in the division on the line…very questionable decision by Hartley.

By pondscum

February 22, 2007 11:20 PM | Link to this

Well, with Sutton and Havelid being on the ice for all 5 Bolt goals tonight,and looking at the last few games with this pairing……I guess Devo just got off the “whipping boy” list and these 2 are neck in neck now.

Mosse did good to keep us in it,but the defensive gaffes cost him and us the other point.

I’d let Lehtonen start Saturday and have a chance to answer the call by coach earlier this week.And it is his statue night anyways. I think he’ll answer quiet well as long as Sutton and Havelid get some of their icetime taken away for the bad play lately.

By R. Stroz

February 22, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this

It might be a good idea in the future to call line changes when we have actually cleared the puck past center ice. Two goals were the result of poor line changes and one one goal on a excellent pass by Havelid, to the Bolts.

By michael

February 23, 2007 12:51 AM | Link to this

I put this loss completely on Havelid. We had a 3- 1 lead and the idiot passes the puck right to st. louis and they score.

By Pucks n Snot

February 23, 2007 12:53 AM | Link to this

Nothing new with the Thrashers. Big win, followed by bigger loss. Inability to string ANYTHING together of ANY signifigance. Inconsitency reigns as always - bloggers spend the first half of the day bowing up and the rest of the night listening to the whistle of air coming out of their collective balloons…..I read where Belanger said the Bolts have just been “lucky” lately. No, you two-bit drive-thru trainee, a team like Atlanta with its moron goalie switching coach, clueless GM and laughing stock ownership group heading up a roster chock full of castoffs and draft disappointments but somehow holding a division lead for half a season is what’s lucky - you see, when you put together a disciplined, balanced squad that actually caters to your offensive performers rather than stifling them, they can and will eventually overcome any early season slumbers and start playing like the team they really are when it counts the most - because that’s what good teams, like Tampa, do. Bad teams (or pretenders if you will) like Atlanta on the other hand, well lets just say a piece of crap will inevitibly find its way to the bottom of the bowl if left floating long enough. And nice to see Mr. Waddell has gone to such incredible lengths to right his latest sinking ship….Do any of you really think Smolinski or Bill Guerin would be enough to turn THAT wretched bunch around now? What are they going to do, park their gold plated Hummers in front of the Atlanta net? Where’s the defensive help, Don? Your team can’t STOP anybody and oh, by the way - it’s been that way SINCE THE DAY YOU TOOK THE JOB, MORON! Atlanta fans - look at a drooling retard like Coburn being offered up - would you want him in trade if you were St. Louis or Chicago? And you wonder why Waddell doesn’t deal? No one wants anything to do with this guys rotten merchandise! YOU CAN RAH RAH ALL YOU WANT ATLANTA BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO MAKE IT!!!!

By Bob

February 23, 2007 01:44 AM | Link to this

It was so energizing to see Waddell make the big move to bring us the much needed help at center, Err, I mean defense, Err, I mean, uh, err, uh,

Biggest games we have and we go into this week hamstrung by a lame GM.

Nice job, Fiddler.

3-1 and we lose, at home. Nice.

By bartdunwoody

February 23, 2007 08:35 AM | Link to this

This was not the biggest game ever. But, it was an opportunity to send a message that the team could step up and that they are a legit contender. Didn’t happen. Neither goalie can carry the team every game, they need a team in front of them. Again a 40 - 50 minute effort wasted at the end. If the team can’t play the last 10 minutes of the games the rest of the season looks bleak.

By Dave

February 23, 2007 09:41 AM | Link to this

That Belanger comment of ‘lucky’ is really weak. What a lame excuse. Boulton’s goal was what?? Poor team D and poor goaltending are the reasons for the loss, not luck. Kovalchuk continues his ZERO goal streak against the Lightning for the seventh straight game. Nice! You see St Louis, Lecavalier, Richards going seven games with a ZERO against Atlanta? Even Roy got a goal. Bad!

By Jsmooth

February 23, 2007 09:51 AM | Link to this

Disgraceful!! How much worse can our defense play?? Havelid and Sutton need to be split apart. Hell, Sutton might make a better wing than D-man since he loves to skate hard into the offensive fray but shies away from contact despite his intimidating 6’ 6” frame. How do you not knock the crap out of St. Louis every time you get near him in the corner if you’re Sutton? Time to put Hnidy and Havelid back together, make Devo and Ex your # 1 tandem and let Coburn come back to play with Mac until Sutton decides he wants to play a more physical brand of hockey. And by the way Bob, you need to spread your minutes more evenly to win. Riding your favorite horses is not getting it done…take a look at the standings!! Time to trust ALL of your players and reward the players who actually play well!!

By CJ

February 23, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this

It’s obvious the frustrations the Thrashers are feeling right now are with themselves and excuses are flowing left and right. Eric Belanger commented on the game with the Lightning saying “They’re just lucky right now” and “(If) We play like we did in the first period, I don’t think there are many team that are better.” Andy Sutton also said “Everything they got, we gave them.” All I have to say is what my father always told me… Don’t mistake hard work for luck. Yes, if you play like you did in the first period than you would have won but across three periods and overtime (it’s called a full game) the Lightning out played you and were the better team… for the fifth time against the Thrashers. Stop making excuses, work harder, and you won’t be the team whose year is diminishing faster than any other team in the NHL. That attitude and effort cost you first place and maybe even a playoff spot.

GO LIGHTNING!!!

By Chris

February 23, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this

Even by Sutton’s standards, last night was a poor effort. The error to ice time ratio was up there.

I don’t mind Belanger’s comments. He’s upset. Sure it’s not accurate - the Lightning were clearly the better team the last two periods. But at least he’s got a pulse. Next time I’d like to see him also threaten to take his stick and go home.

By Russ

February 23, 2007 01:26 PM | Link to this

Wow! The Hurricanes just acquired Anson Carter from Columbus and only had to give up a fifth round pick. That seems like an awfully low price to pay for a proven scorer at the NHL level. I guess we know why MacLean rivals Waddell with what he has accomplished as an NHL GM.

By Russ

February 23, 2007 01:39 PM | Link to this

By the way, regarding the trade deadline: If the rumors about the Thrashers are true and they acquire someone like Tkachuk, Guerin, or Smolinski and don’t also get a top four d-man Waddell is the biggest retard on the planet. A blueliner has to be the top priority (preferrably one that can or already is signed for a few more years)…and I’m not talking someone like Bryan Berard that acts more like a fourth forward out there…they need a resposible defenseman that can clear out traffic in front of the net. After they do this, if they can still get a center then that’s all the better, but the d-man has to be #1 on the priority list. If the Thrashers go down the stretch drive with the same group of defensemen they currently have it is an absolute joke.

By Brian

February 23, 2007 02:25 PM | Link to this

Russ - I was making that same point when someone brought up Souray from the Habs. I want a “stay at home” defenseman. But who is out there that is on the block? I think the reason the rumors focus on the forwards so much more is because they are out there to be had.

By Russ

February 23, 2007 02:51 PM | Link to this

Brian - I have seen Boynton from Phoenix name being thrown out as someone who might be available. He is a good defenseman signed for 2 more years at $2.9 mil. per season. On another blog I had suggested maybe Coburn for Boynton.

By Brendan

February 23, 2007 04:09 PM | Link to this

In the beginning of the season, our GAA was under 2.0 per game. And guess what? We won. A lot. Cut down on the goals against, and you’ll see the wins start to stockpile. At least, potentially. This is why Russ is right that a recognizeable name, like maybe Brewer, is the ticket for this trade deadline.

By Brendan

February 23, 2007 04:10 PM | Link to this

Russ, I watched Boynton last night on Center Ice. He looked good. Is $2.9 million a good price for him, though?

By Russ

February 23, 2007 04:30 PM | Link to this

Brendan, $2.9 mil. is probably a little high, but not completely unreasonable…and to be honest as few and far between as legitimate NHL blueliners have graced the Thrashers roster I would like to have one tied up for the next few years even if he is slightly overpaid.

By Brendan

February 23, 2007 04:46 PM | Link to this

I hear ya, buddy. Wouldn’t it have been great if Ilya Nikulin (2nd round pick from wayy back when) had materialized into a mainstay on the club?