Thrashers

By R. Stroz

November 21, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this

GO THRASHERS

By R. Stroz

November 21, 2007 2:39 PM | Link to this

Craig - Have A Great Thanksgiving and thanks for engaging us this year!

For what its worth (very little), I predicted the Thrashers would go 6-1-1 over the eight game division stretch. I hope I’m wrong and they go 7-1-0.

Shoot! Shoot!

By kracker

November 21, 2007 2:41 PM | Link to this

I was hoping Caps would beat the Cats Monday night. They are really hungry for two points.

By J

November 21, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

So Glen Hanlon is really a nice guy? All I remember was that game from last year with the tons of fighting in the last minute and Hanlon sending his goons on the ice and all but challenging Hartley to a fight, giving him the chicken dance. That’s all I know about Hanlon, so I’m not a fan. I was at that game on Monday, so I’ll take credit for helping kill the penalty :) Also, while I think Pavelec should get a start here, I also think Haydar needs to get back in the lineup, bench Slater already! But, again, why fix what ain’t broke…I know…I know…

By Craig Custance

November 21, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

R. Stroz — Thanks and same to you. I’m even skipping Thrashers practice on Thanksgiving to be with the family (not to mention to watch the HUGE Lions-Packers game). So if any of you go to practice on Thanksgiving, feel free to post a practice report.

By Craig Custance

November 21, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

J - You would break up that fourth line? I think right now, each line has formed an identity and they all know their roles. Haydar deserves a shot somewhere, but where would you put him?

By puckjunque

November 21, 2007 2:59 PM | Link to this

Craig, Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for writing such a great column. It’s a pleasure reading you.

By Hip Czech

November 21, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this

I thought Pavelec might get the nod tonight as well. Definitely he will play either Friday or Saturday.

Nice to hear from the bench that the players respond to the crowd. Monday was a great crowd, not huge, but definitely vocal in the last 10 minutes.

We’re back in the thick of the playoff chase - 3 points out of the #5 spot. Let’s hope there isn’t an extended slump anytime soon.

Nice article on the Thrashers by Wes Goldstein at CBSSports:

[http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10486217}(http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10486217)

By Hip Czech

November 21, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this

OK…one more time:

http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10486217

By ThrasherDawg

November 21, 2007 3:17 PM | Link to this

GO THRASH!! 7-1!!

By Buzilla Baby Blues

November 21, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

I can’t stand it when people yell “shoot”. Drives me nuts…

I’ve always complained about refs calling a dive penalty and also calling a tripping penalty. I finally get my wish and they only call the dive…but it was..well…you know.

It was a bunk call. I was hoarse so I will take full credit for the penalty kill

By Craig Custance

November 21, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this

Hip - Yeah, I think it’s safe to say we’ll see Pavs this weekend.

By kracker

November 21, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

I saw the Hanlon “Chicken” dance too and despised him for it. But everybody says he’s a good guy, former player, a players coach, etc. so I’ll go with that and forgive him. Even though he sent out Brashear and Erskine, I think it was, to jump Hossa and Vishnevski, man Vish really got pounded….bloody stuff. But hey it’s hockey and if it’s only a one time deal or so, just let it go.

By Brendan

November 21, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

Craig, I’m late getting here, but let me add the Happy Thanksgiving wishes. I’ve lost count of the games Pavelec has played in, but we’re starting to creep up on losing a year of his RFA eligibility. So, maybe it is good to start Moose a little more.

So … Wes Goldstein finally says something “nice” about the Thrashers. He still managed to get that “jab” in there, embarrassingly swept out of the playoffs. Remember folks, Goldstein declared Atlanta to be his personal choice for “most disappointing team” for 2007-08.

By kracker

November 21, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

Everybody yell “SHOOT” at the next home game for Buzilla. Heck, do it tonight in front of the tube. It’s Cap Holik approved, sort of.

By Craig Custance

November 21, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

Buzilla - I couldn’t agree with you more and that was kind of the consensus around the Thrashers lockerroom. It was good that a dive was called without the usual accompanied trip. But not good that it came against Hossa.

By Hip Czech

November 21, 2007 3:49 PM | Link to this

He may have to put out a new revised edition of “most disappointing team”…I would think Pittsburgh moves to the top of that list, at least for now.

We’re not out of the woods yet as Holik stated…right now we are on pace for 82 points. But, barring any more 0-6 streaks we HOPEFULLY pick that pace up to remain in contention for at least a 5-6-7 seed, if not the 3 (or 2) seed for winning the SE.

But let’s get a few games over .500 first.

By Buzilla's fiance

November 21, 2007 4:05 PM | Link to this

Shoot!Shoot!Shoot!

But, you’re not going to score.

By Tony C.

November 21, 2007 5:33 PM | Link to this

Ol’ Carrot Hanlon is a good coach-think about it from his side (re:chicken dance game)-your team is totally outclassed, but your effort has kept it closer than it should’ve been….the opposition has been getting away with tacky little stuff all night (and kids if you don’t think Havelid isn’t very accomplished with the underarm spear, I suggest you watch him closely tonight), but you can’t let you team just give up. I can’t condone sending a heavyweight after Metro, but that is on the player…he did look ridiculous doing the chicken dance. He threw down the physical gauntlet and Hartley didn’t have the bruisers to respond with.

But that’s in the past. Now, I think we do have more guys willing to drop ‘em (still nobody in the heavyweight class, but those guys are grwoing more and more rare), so tonight should be an entertaining game.

Would’ve liked to see Ondrej in between the pipes tonight…still the room seems to want to win for Moose, so ride it out.

GO BLUE !!!

By GSU-Lee

November 21, 2007 6:10 PM | Link to this

Happy Thanksgiving to all, be safe. Craig, how is Sterling doing since he was sent to Chi-town?

By Waffleboy

November 21, 2007 6:41 PM | Link to this

This is crap! Kovalchuk’s 7th in All-Star voting. You guys need to be out there voting every day. Here’s the link.

By kracker

November 21, 2007 7:31 PM | Link to this

You think yelling SHOOT will give them an idea?

By Hooky Bob

November 21, 2007 9:36 PM | Link to this

I’ve been calling for Darren Elliot to relieved of his job. However, tonight I think he deserves a raise. “Kovy & Co” is the best line I have heard in the Thrasher’s history.

Great period 2 & 3 tonight. Capitals look “fragile”. Bring back memories?

By russian

November 21, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this

It was just Simple Beatiful Game. Everything worked like should be. PP and PK were greate. I just sit and injoyed a game. Best present to me for Thanksgiving!!! ;-)

By Tony C.

November 21, 2007 10:44 PM | Link to this

Now that our boys BELIEVE…seems like they’re learning how to be winners!!!

Tonight’s game looked pretty good-nice to see that even though we’re smurfy, the team’s getting a little bit more physical…I like the fact that X is thinking a bit more O-fensively, but there was one sequence where it almost cost us. Moose looke real good tonight, he was the difference for the 1st half of the game. What can you say about Kovy & Co.??? When I saw Hoss cycle the puck back to the corner and the Caps defender went with Hoss, I said out loud “You’re a moron!” my buddy sitting next to me looked hurt for a second-then the beauty pass and his answer said it all: “Ooohhhh-yeah He shoulda never left Kovy alone like that”

Good win, enjoy the holiday yall!

GO BLUE !!! #17 OWNS YOU

By dj

November 21, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this

17

By stendec

November 21, 2007 11:12 PM | Link to this

NOW THAT WAS A WIN TO GIVE THANKS FOR! Moose surrendered shaky goal them closed the door entirely. Thrasher offense hitting on all cylinders. From 1-0 deficit to 5-1 victory. Who cares if it was the Caps? What a rush. HAPPY THANKSGVING Craig and fellow Thrasher fans. Be careful out there.

By Brian

November 21, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this

Tony C - can’t believe you are talking about X too. I watched the game with some other friends tonight and all I heard was X did this and X did that…

What a game. Can’t believe we are above .500 before Thanksgiving. With our win coupled with the Isles & Bolts losing tonight, we entered into a 4-way tie for 6th place in the playoff chase.

By Tony C.

November 21, 2007 11:57 PM | Link to this

Brian- I just saw him all over the ice, joining rushes, keeping play alive in the O-fensive zone…definitely a new wrinkle to his game from X.

By Brian

November 22, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this

Tony C. - I’m not complaining, I took it as a good sign that I kept hearing X this and X that tonight. Now that I think about it, after it was said I responded positively so much that another guy told me to turn it down a notch…

By Sara

November 22, 2007 12:24 AM | Link to this

WWWEEEEEEEE!!!! Games like that are so much fun. Especially when Kovy gets his Ovechkin thing going (anything you can do I can do better). This team has become so amazing to watch.

Couple of random thoughts while watching the game:

• Anyone besides me think Levenson started celebrating the holiday a wee bit early?

• Anyone besides me think the 0-6 start might be the best thing to ever happen to this team? They’ve had to work so hard to just get back to .500 and I think that lesson is really going to ingrain upon them what it takes to win and be successful consistently.

• Have the Caps re-upped Alexander the Great yet? Cause, uh, I’m thinking he might be willing to relocate at this point. Talk about no supporting cast, sheesh. They could at least pretend to be trying.

• Oh, Craig what was that final unsportsmanlike all about?

Gobble gobble folks!

By Simple_Man

November 22, 2007 7:30 AM | Link to this

Great game by Kovalchuk, Hedberg, Enstrom, Hossa and company again. Kovalchuk is having an amazing season, he’d be the NHL MVP if the season ended today.

Quoting the Blueland blog: “Goaltender Johan Hedberg made his fourth-consecutive start for the Thrashers and made 31 saves on 32 shots for his eighth win of the season … Hedberg has a personal six-game winning streak over his last seven starts and has posted a 2.10 goals-against average and a .925 save percentage in that span dating back to Oct. 27. … Hedberg has allowed only four goals in his last three games combined.”

I think the above information proves what I’ve stated a number of times in the past. Moose is still a number one calibre goalie, he just needed a fair chance to play regularly to prove it. Those who said that he couldn’t play effective or win more than two games in a row have been proven wrong yet again. As the Blueland blog notes, Moose is now 6-0 with “a 2.10 goals-against average and a .925 SV% dating back to Oct. 27.”

That said, it’s good to see the team back in a playoff spot. I really didn’t expect them to turn it around this fast. But thanks mostly to clutch scoring and clutch goaltending we’ve done so. I still have some concerns about our overall team defense, mostly on the blueline and regarding the PK, but we’re winning right now so I’ll leave it at that for now.

Lastly, I knew Enstrom would be a top four NHL d-man in the future. But I didn’t expect him to come along this fast. He’s been very good, and I don’t know where we’d be without him, esp. given how Zhitnik and McCarthy have faired this season.

By PJ

November 22, 2007 7:35 AM | Link to this

Craig I hope you don’t mind me using your blog for this, but everyone needs to read the article in the ajc about Carroll Rogers running the marathon today. Who knew she was struggling with so much dispair. Carroll dear, you and your family are in my prayers, remember you’re not alone in the race. Good luck. PJ

By Brendan

November 22, 2007 11:01 AM | Link to this

Ya know, I haven’t heard anyone other than Darren Eliot say it, so I’ll use his quote, “Isn’t it nice to have Nic Havelid back.” Okay, perhaps that’s a bit premature. But Havelid had a goal, an assist, and was a +2, in 19:42 of action. A couple more games like that, and we’ll see it.

I love that Kovy showed up Ovechkin in his barn. Kovalchuk had two goals (how many multi-goal games is that now, Mark Bradley?), two helpers, four (4) points and was a +3, logging 21:20. Ovechkin was a -2, with a goal, and played 26:27.

Enstrom logged 23:34, most among the Thrashers, with 0 goals and 3 assists for 3-points, and was a +2. Hossa logged 20:10, and was a +1, which included two helpers. Perrin logged 14:19, with a goal and an assist, and was +1. This is a great road game, especially for surrendering the first goal. I haven’t checked, so correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t the Thrashers enjoying a better record on the road than at home this year? A strong road team is a sign of a good team.

So, that’s 7-1-0, or 14 of 16 points, taken from within the division. I can’t recall if the Thrashers are 8-2-0 or 9-1-0 in their last 10, but we’ve got to be close to being the hottest team in the NHL right now.

Umm, did anyone miss Kari Lehtonen? Before you say, “No!!,” Kari will get more starts than Moose once he returns. Whenever that will be. Kari may do the conditioning duty down in Chicago for a while. Are the Wolves excited about that? Or are they counting the days, in Chicago, until Pavelec returns?

I like Moose. The team likes Moose. Judging by all the “Moose calls,” the fans like Moose. But, honestly, I don’t think Moose can/could start 55-60 games in a season. Based on that, I don’t really think of him as a #1 goalie. And at 33/34 years of age, he’s not longer a “spring chicken.” I hope we can re-sign him this Summer. But if you were Hedberg, do you really want to bounce between Chicago and Atlanta, or be a “healthy scratch” up in the pressbox next season? That’s why I think we’ll lose Moose to free agency this Summer. At the trade deadline, Waddell has a tough decision. Assuming all is well in Blueland, I believe he will hold on to Moose, as “playoff-tested” insurance. If things are what they are now, one-game over .500 at the trade deadline, then Waddell may “rent” him to a team having “desperate need” of a netminder. But that’s negative thinking. Nonetheless, it is “smart” thinking for a GM to snare a quality pick for a player he’ll likely lose to free agency a few weeks later. Nothing prevents him from trying to put liens on Moose’s “rental.” As in, “If you re-sign him, it costs you a 2nd round pick.” If that Western Conference team needs a goalie badly enough, (LA Kings, I’m looking at you,) they’ll agree, and won’t re-sign him over the Summer, allowing Waddell a “shot” at reclaiming him. Though, I think we’re looking at a “1-2 punch” of Kari and Ondrej. And what’s wrong with that?

Okay, who just screamed, “If Waddell overpays for Kari, it’ll be a problem.” Yes, I agree. But I doubt Waddell will overpay for Kari, since he can point to all these recurring injuries and missed games throughout his career as mitigating factors to any ridiculous contract. And if Kevin Lowe swoops in to offer $5-7 million-a-year for 4-5 years, Waddell lets him go, takes the draft picks, re-signs Moose, and Pavelec will be our #1 guy in net.

Discuss.

By Brian

November 22, 2007 11:29 AM | Link to this

Simple_Man - great post, but I disagree with you on 1 point (sort of). You said that Enstrom “would be a top four NHL d-man”. I understand that was a prediction, but let’s just call him for what he is. He is a #1 d-man in this league right now, there is plenty to back that up and very little to go against that school of thought.

By Thrashers27

November 22, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

I wasn’t able to see it, but great job boys! You even got Hanlon fired. Hows that for a payback of him sicking his goons on us last year.

WOOHOO!!!

By Brendan

November 22, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

I want to throw this Dave Reid fellow (I think that’s his name) into the lake. From the “Only the Fly” Show, Reid said, “Sometimes Ilya Kovalchuk doesn’t want to give his best all the time, so he’s much more comfortable with Don Waddell in charge. Kovalchuk definitely prefers Waddell over Bob Hartley.”

What a load of bunk!! While I’m sure Hartley rubbed people the wrong way at times, I doubt it made Kovalchuk stop trying. Kovy’s efforts from Day One have been tops on the team. He even scored three goals in those six games. That’s not horrendous results, ya know?

By Nate

November 22, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this

Brendan - I saw that too and agree with you 100%. I wanted to jump through the screen, smack the guy in the face, and say, “You haven’t watched Ilya and the Thrashers from Day One so shut the eff up!”

By MB

November 22, 2007 1:43 PM | Link to this

Brendan, good catch on the quote from Elliot. And yes, it would be great to have Nic playing at his peak again…it’s been sorely missed.

If I recall correctly, it was around this time last year that his mother passed away. The first anniversary seems to be a tough one for most people, so hopefully he can pull through it well and continue elevating his play.

He seems like one of the good guys out there on the ice.

By Tony C.

November 22, 2007 7:12 PM | Link to this

Brendan-

I couldn’t agree more! I almost woke up my daughter cursing at douchebag-b-team-NHLOTF-guy.

Did he not watch any games during the first two weeks? Clearly he did not, and also he is clearly not a prepared talking head as the press-book knock of #17 being petulant has been revised as of the birth of his daughter-remember when everyone was gushing about “remarkable maturation under the tutleage of Bob Hartley”???

That guy just sucks and should probably stick to shining the Leaf’s pole.

GO BLUE !!! #17 OWNS YOU

P.S. good lookin on Moose’s numbers-I knew he was doing the job, but I didn’t realize just how proficiently-he definitely kept us in the game last night til the O-fense got out of 2nd.

By Brendan

November 22, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this

Just got back from Columbus, GA for Turkey Day. Hope yours was tremendous, too. I was just reviewing the “call” of the Caps-Thrashers game from the other broadcast crew.

Ovechkin SCOOOORES!!!! Fanfare, dramatics, the world’s being set on fire. Then … “Kovalchuk in … wrist shot … scores. (Yawn.) “A dart.” Thrashers PP, shot in … rebound … (yawn) score. Bobby Holik.” (Wind falling out of sails for Joe Michaletti.) “Havelid … score.” No yelling. No screaming. “Beautiful passing play.” (Ohhhh, no. Thrashers up by two.) In a monotone … “Booming shot, score. A rocket. Kovalchuk.” (Heavy sigh … when will Ovechkin score again?) “Kovalchuk, nice give, to Perrin. Right in. He scores.” Geez Louise. It was as if someone shot his dog. Where went the passion from the Ovechkin goal?

Then this “On the Fly” analyst, Reid, says of Kovalchuk, “It must have been that bad under Hartley. He only had three (3) goals.” Then, Reid continues, “Don Waddell steps in. Now he’s more comfortable. He’s got 19 goals. Everything’s ‘peachy and rosey right now’ - he seems to be getting lots of ice time. He’s lighting the lamp.” Then Reid dropped the bomb, which I present here, “word-for-word”:

“Maybe he’s not getting as much pressure to worry about the defensive zone, which a lot of players DON’T LIKE. When they’re pushed to play defense, sometimes they rebel. Ilya Kovalchuk is definitely an OFFENSIVE PLAYER. He allows someone ELSE to do the defensive work. So, absolutely, certain players will flourish under certain coaches. And other coaches sometimes put a little more pressure on them. But they (offensive-minded players) don’t like that, they have a tendency to fold. Ilya definitely prefers Don Waddell over Bob Hartley.”

Ummn, Kovalchuk was a +3 in the game. Obviously, that’s something which eluded Reid. And I believe he’s a +2 or +3 on the season. I would hardly characterize that as … “allowing someone ELSE to worry about the defensive zone.” When Kovy was -19, yeah. You could say that. But when we’re 21 games in … and the guy is on the plus-side of the ledger … he’s no longer a defensive liability. No one is crazy-enough to suggest #17 will win the plus-minus award, but c’mon. Reid has no idea what he’s talking about here.