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DEL.ICIO.USLive game blog: Thrashers vs. Lightning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Traverse City — Here we are for tonight my final game of the NHL Prospects Tournament. The Thrashers will play one more game on Tuesday, the opponent depends on the records of all the teams. But I fly out of Flint in the morning to get ready for the big training camp, so this is it for me and the live blogs. Tonight, it’s division rival Tampa Bay. Three things to watch:
1. Ondrej Pavelec is back in goal, will he impress the folks from Chicago?
2. Can Bryan Little keep up his goal-scoring pace (three goals in the first two games)?
3. Who will emerge as another scorer (Chad Painchaud perhaps) besides Little?
Alright, more after the first intermission…
EDIT: 7:13 p.m.: Thrashers 2, Lightning 2 (first intermission) - The Thrashers jumped out to a fast start, taking an early 2-0 lead. Riley Holzapfel started things off, converting a Chad Denny pass. Holzapfel has had a solid tournament, but that was his first goal of the tourney. He had a great assist in the first game against the Red Wings, although the official boxscore gave it to Enstrom. Spencer Machacek scored the second goal, from nearly the identical spot in front of the net that he scored against the Red Wings. Right now Machacek joins Little as the only Thrashers player with more than one goal.
EDIT 7:54 PM — Lightning 4, Thrashers 3 (second intermission) - Rough one for the Thrashers. Lightning get a pair of goals just a few seconds apart to erase a 3-2 Thrashers lead in the period. The Thrashers goal came when Mike Hamilton knocked in a rebound on a Tobias Enstrom one-timer. Here’s what I like about Enstrom on the power play — his shot from the point isn’t overwhelming, but it’s always on net. For those who watched Kovalchuk’s one-timer sail over the net too often on the Thrashers power play, you realize the importance of getting an accurate shot from the point, and getting those second chances. Hamilton, who now has two goals in the tournament, was a Thrashers draft pick in ‘03 but wasn’t signed and is a free agent.
EDIT 9:02 PM — Thrashers 6, Lightning 4 (final) — Thrashers pick up their second win of the tournament, battling back to beat the Lightning. Machacek briefly tied Bryan Little for the team lead with three goals, knocking down a puck in mid-air with his glove, then smacking it past the Tampa goalie. I say briefly because shortly after that Little got his fourth goal of the tournament, a one-timer on the power play. Maybe that longshot chance to make the NHL out of camp isn’t so long anymore. Little has been pretty impressive. He’s showing great hands, good skating and he’s finishing. Scott Lehman scored an empty-netter to ice it. Also, don’t be surprised to see Hamilton get an invite to Thrashers camp.
Comments
By George23
September 10, 2007 6:49 PM | Link to this
What are the line ups tonight?
By wink wilson
September 10, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
HELLO CRAIG—Just wanted tosay thanks for your blog coverage of the Thrashers Prospects games.I was following #64-FOXY & his dream to play in NHL someday.Maybe BOB H. will like his skills too!. Best wishes for a good season. PROFESSOR WINK
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 10, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
I may sound like a little girl but after work I went to the Kroger near my house and who do I see in the produce section but our own Kari Lehts!!!!
In the past two season I have seen Bobby Holik in the Publix near my house and now Kari.
I just thought that was cool.
Summer over yet?
By Brendan
September 10, 2007 9:47 PM | Link to this
I’d be happy if Little could make the team. Cap-wise, it’s sure a lot better than reaching out into Free Agency! That’s the power of good drafting.
By GSU-Lee
September 10, 2007 11:55 PM | Link to this
Anytime the Thrashers beat the Lightning, my day gets just a little bit better.
By LAC
September 11, 2007 1:08 AM | Link to this
Watched clips on Thrashers site of Little/Denny… These guys look ready to suit up 10/5.
Little wore the C and looked every bit the part, his view ofthe ice is outstanding from what I saw.
Chad Denny looks big and Quick a factor we need on defense…
I would be MORE surprised if one of these two Did NOT make the Thrashers They both looked ready or very, very close… Nice to See !!!!
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 11, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this
I know I am going to sound like a teenage girl but I don’t care. After work I went to the Kroger by my apt. and who do I see in the produce section but Kari. Last year around this time I was in a Publix near my apt. and I met Bobby Holik.
I just thought that was cool.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
September 11, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this
sorry for the double post. Now I really sound like a teenage girl
By Adam
September 11, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Brendan, In response to your last post in the other blog.
If that hypothetical Detroit RFA offer went through wouldn’t we be able to go after someone else’s RFA and use the Detroit pick as the throw away while still having our original pick?
I know this sounds like it could become quite a vicious circle but in concept I think would still fit under the CBA, right?
By Bob
September 11, 2007 9:37 AM | Link to this
Excellent news. If it was Norm Maracle, you wouldn’t have spotted him over in the pastry section loading up on donuts. Kari’s shopping for brussel sprouts. Excellent news, indeed.
That is nice to hear about Little, man do we need him at center. I highly doubt Hartley would play him, but if we get the ownership situation settled (what is up with that anyway, no news still?) mabye a move could be made at Coach if they flounder coming out of the gate and we get a guy in here that can develop young players.
By Midfield
September 11, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
Am I beating the dead horse here? The guys who develop young players don’t coach the NHL teams.
By GaVaHokie
September 11, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this
Hey Craig… you’ve said Machachek a couple of times this weekend without giving a real opinion on his play… what do you think? I think three goals warrants some attention. :)
Looking at the clips on the official site, Riley Holzapfel looks like he has the energy Hartley likes.
By Bob
September 11, 2007 10:22 AM | Link to this
Midfield, develop young players is a job at juniors and AHL. I guess a better way to say would be, if we can get a coach in here that would play young players and give them ice time, Little et al would have a chance to improve. Coach Hartley like him some vets, thats for sure.
By Tony C.
September 11, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this
My only concern with Little (moreso w/Sterling) and some of our other prospects @ forward is their size. I know that they can’t all be Mats Sundin-size guys, but doesn’t it seem we’re getting a little *too smurfy???
How big is White? 5’10”??? Yes we have Big Bobby, but he’s definitely waning in prowess-Rucchin? don’t get me started…somebody once said s/he wouldn’t mind seeing us get Stefan(ie) back. At this point, it doesn’t seem like such a bad idea-his last season here was solid (although not what you are looking for from a #1 overall pick), and he even had some sparkling moments…I’m not exactly sold on the prospects coming up and being productive all season. No one would like to see Little make that huge jump more than I would, but let’s be realistic-he hasn’t even played a full season @ the AHL level!
Now everything (and I mean everything) in the stat books as well as scout profiles/word-of-mouth says this guy is the real deal (speaking of Little). His numbers show continual improvement, and his leadership abilities also seem to be a definite plus. Still, it’s a big step from OHL-stud to AHL bad@ss…it’s a HUGE leap to go from OHL to the NHL and be a standout player…not trying to be negative, but realistic.
GO BLUE !!!
P.S. Haydar is NHL-only this year right? So what’s the word on that???
By Brendan
September 11, 2007 1:05 PM | Link to this
Adam, I really don’t know which draft pick would have to be surrendered, if Atlanta made an RFA offer sheet that wasn’t matched by the rights-holding team. My “feeling” is … it would be the best of the available Atlanta draft picks. Again, that’s an “impression,” not a “fact.” The “spirit” behind compensatory draft picks is to give the team you just stole from (okay, “stole” is not the right word, but it’s the way I feel about it,) the best possible chance of recouping what they lost.
Now, let’s say I’m wrong about that. And the, sayyyy, #29 overall pick via Detroit, is able to be dished else, in an RFA “raid” of our own, then that’s precisely what Atlanta would do. A 29th overall pick is not a quality 1st round pick. If the Thrashers were slotted to draft, sayy, 20th overall, and successfully pulled off the RFA “theft,” ANNND Atlanta got to “choose” which 1st rounder to sacrifice … there’d be little doubt as to which pick Atlanta would give up. But it’s my feeling that the 20th overall pick is what the other team would get in compensation. Likewise, for the next three years. There has to be serious “cost” involved with RFA stealing, otherwise there is no “teeth” to the deterrent. As always, “what comes around, goes around.”