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DEL.ICIO.USLive game blog: Thrashers vs. Red Wings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
TRAVERSE CITY — They’re about to drop the puck here in TC, and there’s actually a standing room only crowd for tonight’s game between the Thrashers and Red Wings. The games are played in a great setup here about ten minutes from the Bay in an arena called Center I.C.E.
For those keeping track, this is also the home of the Traverse City North Stars, of which league they’re affiliated with, I’m not sure. Here are your Thrashers lines:
Holzapfel - Little - Pospisil
Painchaud - Hamilton - Machacek
Dubuc - Fox - Alphonso
Anderson - Duchesndeau - Stoesz
Denny - Kelly
Kulda - Lewis
Lehman - Enstrom
Ondrej Pavelec is starting in goal.
EDIT: 8:08 P.M. — After one period of play, the Red Wings are leading the Thrashers 1-0 on a fluky goal that was eerily reminiscent of Sean Avery’s goal on Johan Hedberg in Game 2 of the first round of the playoffs. I don’t have to remind you what happened on that goal, but on this one, one of the Red Wings sent a puck around the boards and Pavelec went behind the goal to play it. Once again it took a funny hop off the boards and this time barely crossed the line. If you take away that goal it was a evenly played first period. Pavelec looked solid in goal, making a great kick save on a Red Wings short-handed rush early on. The Wings took advantage of a Grant Lewis turnover at the blueline for that rush during a pretty ugly Thrashers power play.
As far as scoring chances go, it was pretty quiet for the Thrashers in the first period. Bryan Little snapped a wrister that sailed just wide, and it took a nice save from Detroit’s Vicari to prevent a Painchaud goal midway through the period. Stoesz was the most physical player on the ice. His gloves went flying at the 14:10 mark and nearly got in another fight in the waning seconds for the period. More to come during the next intermission…
EDIT 8:56 p.m. — Red Wings 2, Thrashers 1 — This afternoon Don Waddell talked about Riley Holzapfel’s hockey sense and his feel for the game. He showed a little bit of Waddell was talking about, setting up the Thrashers only goal of the game so far. Somehow he spotted Spencer Machacek camping out just to the right of Vicari and snapped a pass across the ice right on his tape for an easy goal. Later in the period the Red Wings answered to retake the lead on what looked like a soft goal on Pavelec. I’m on the other side of the ice and don’t know if he was screened on the slapshot, but regardless, he didn’t make the save. It’s been pretty even - Bryan Little picked up his play in that period, showing his playmaking skills. Right now, the Thrashers are outshooting the Wings 18-17.
At the 9:10 mark there was a fight, and not surprisingly it was Stoesz dropping the gloves against Detroit’s David Jarram. Both got their licks in pretty good, Stoesz landing a bunch of rights, then he finally wrestled Jarram to the ice. More to come after the game…
EDIT 10:15 p.m. — Thrashers 3, Red Wings 2 (final) — A great finish for the Thrashers who got two third-period goals from Bryan Little to start the tournament off with a win. They had to kill a 6-on-3 for the final 1:12 to hold on to the win. The Thrashers picked up the pace offensively in the final period with Little, Holzapfel and Chad Painchaud all getting quality looks.
“We were down a goal, our motivation was to come back and win it,” said Little who said nerves played a big part in the choppy play in the first period.
In the wild final minute, as six Red Wings tried to tie it up, Pavelec made two nice saves to preserve the lead.
“Pavelec was awesome,” Little said. “Those last 30 seconds felt like five minutes. We were just srambling around.”
The Thrashers are back at it on Saturday afternoon with a 3:30 p.m. game against the Rangers. I’ll be back online then with updates.
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Comments
By Simple_Man
September 7, 2007 7:59 PM | Link to this
Thanks Craig,
I look forward to hearing how the kids do in the tourny.
By Liberation
September 7, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
I’m really hoping that Enstrom does well!
By LAC
September 7, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks Craig, Look forward again this season to your Great Reporting !!!
By The Falconer
September 7, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the game updates.
I know it much be a HUGE sacrifice to be up in Traverse City in early September…yes, I’m jealous as all get out right now.
By Craig Custance
September 7, 2007 10:29 PM | Link to this
Falconer — If it makes you feel any better, it rained today.
By Simple_Man
September 7, 2007 10:33 PM | Link to this
Thanks Craig, it sounds like it was an exciting third period finish. And it’s good to hear the boys came back and held on to win.
By Brendan
September 7, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Although it’s a meaningless game, I’m glad we won. And that Little did so well. Many think Little won’t make the Thrashers this year. But, you never know. We’re so thin at Center, the job is up for grabs for the guy who wants it the most.
Is there any word on Rucchin’s injury status?
By Rawhide
September 7, 2007 11:06 PM | Link to this
Hey,….where is ‘ol Pucks n Snot?
He must be sucking his thumb under the bed right now :o)
I can’t wait ‘til we smack the Dead Wings in the season!
It’s HOCKEY TIME!!!! Hoo-RAH!
By Liberation
September 7, 2007 11:10 PM | Link to this
Very glad to hear we won. Little could very well make the Thrashers this year. Craig, what did you think of Enstrom?
By R. Stroz
September 8, 2007 2:44 AM | Link to this
Pucks n Snot - Come out of hiding and take your beating you pansy a$$. Our prosoects, which you regarded as a bunch of AHL caliber midgets, beat your beloved Dead Wings prospects. HA.HA.HA.
I hope you lost all of your savings on the game! HA.HA.HA. I know it’s only five dollars; but, it’s the thought that counts.
That’s right, P&S has the Traverse City blues.
What a way to start the season!
By Bobby Orr
September 8, 2007 5:59 AM | Link to this
The Traverse City North Stars are in the North American Hockey League (amateur,Junior A) http://www.traversecitynorthstars.com/
By LAC
September 8, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this
Great news from the UP… A gritty preformance,and beating the Wings to boot !!!!!
Sounds like we have some SOLID prospects and VERY happy to see Little did so good, Also this goalie sounds like a real Keeper… Thanks Craig !!!!!
By wink wilson
September 8, 2007 10:55 AM | Link to this
HI THERE! Check out the 3rd line centre-Jordy Fox. Awesome on forecheck-hits,big on draws,drives to net. What a prospect! Watch for more this aft!
By wink wilson
September 8, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
Check out #64-Jordy Fox to-day. What a super hockey skills package! Forecheck-hits face-offs,play-making. Could be a sleeper. WW
By Aaron
September 8, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
Did the prospects team have a captain out there yesterday? If so, who was it?
By Troy
September 8, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Little is the Captain, Jeff Pyle says he’s really stepped into the role well.
Craig, any impressions of Michael Dubuc? His numbers in the Q were quite impressive, I’m curious to see how he does here.
By Chris
September 10, 2007 5:04 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the game comments Craig. The Traverse City North Star play in the NAHL (North American Hockey League). It is Junior A hockey just like the USHL. I am a Traverse City area resident but have been following the Trashers because my hometown Flint Generals of the minor league AA IHL have two prospects playing in your prospects camp. They are C Jordan Fox who has had his moments and not looked out of place playing on the 3rd line and also C Douchesenau who has been playing on the 4th line and not seen a whole lot of time. These players were inivited because of Don W’s close relationship with Flint owner Bob Perani.