AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThrashers can’t afford to coast
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I tell you what, the Thrashers don’t seem to handle success well. They absolutely coasted through the game against the Blue Jackets tonight. I know they come right back to play Florida on Thursday and I know you’re going to lose games over the course of the season, but this team can’t afford to play games like they did tonight.
It was weird, they were lifeless out there. Columbus only scored twice, but I think the post finished with at least four saves that I could count. Mix in the fact that Peca and Nash sat this one out and it could have been a lot worse than it was. I don’t know how you solve this recurring issue of showing up flat when things are going well. Bobby Holik puts it this way: At times, the Thrashers think they’re better than they are. Especially after a couple wins.
I don’t want to harp on it, and I won’t. Especially since Carroll Rogers is picking up coverage for a couple days so I can get a Ford Explorer full of presents, luggage, a wife, a kid, my brother, a labrador and a golden retriever back from Detroit to Atlanta. And most of the time, I appreciate Don Waddell’s positive nature. It seems to work with this team. He said he was going to quickly forget this game and move on. And he mentioned that he thought the team played better in the third period after a slow start. That’s fine. Me? I would have ripped the team. I would have called them out for sleepwalking in the middle of a winning streak. The Thrashers 0-6 start means they can’t afford to mail in games. But they did and I would have publicly let the team know that it isn’t acceptable. Like Niclas Havelid did and Bobby Holik did. Okay, now you can insert your “But Craig, Don is 18-12-1 as head coach, he knows what he’s doing.” That’s fine, I’m just saying.
Sounds like Kari Lehtonen will get the start again against Florida, although Don said they hadn’t finalized anything. But based on a quick conversation, I sensed he was leaning that way. And it also sounded like they’ll consider getting Mark Popovic some action. But again, that hadn’t been decided after the game.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Jameson
December 26, 2007 11:18 PM | Link to this
I hope they give Popovic another shot tomorrow. He seemed like the only one who could help Zhitnik to even or plus games when he went down.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 12:33 AM | Link to this
Hi Craig. God bless. Happy New Year! Boy, am I peeved at the Thrashers. Losses with effort can be tolerated. But THIS debacle? Talk about mailing one in! To get shut out by an untalented team without its best player is totally unacceptable. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES! The two soft (YES MARSHMALLOW) goals allowed by KL did not help. But, to be fair, Thrashers refused to take shots on net. Some kind of post Christmas religious thing? First goal drained every drop of energy from Thrashers. Starting goaltender must carry mates some nights. KL will never ever be able to live up to that role. PURE GARBAGE! Keep it up guys. May have opportunity to get that regular season shutout record yet! Whatever it is. Pure puke. Things will get better. Can not get much worse than this fiasco! SQUA TRONT!
By GSU-Lee
December 27, 2007 12:35 AM | Link to this
Wow Craig, that’s as harsh as I think you have ever been on the blog about the Thrashers. deservedly so though. Ifr the Thrashers win tomorrow, and forget this game just like DW wants to, then they can get past this with no big deal. But…if they lose tomorrow….then things could get ugly all over again. Tomorrow is a pivotal game, I think, for this team. They need to prove that they are not going to be streaky all season and win a few games after a loss, you know, avoid the losing streak followed by a winning streak followed by a losing streak thing. They need to win tomorrow and I love the fact that Kari is getting so much ice time. I think that if this team is going to make a little noise come spring time, it will be largely because of how he plays.
By Tim
December 27, 2007 2:47 AM | Link to this
I can’t believe people blame the goalie when the team score NIL. And to reply to stendec, well KL ccarry the team past 4 games. He didnt have a great game tonight but that kind of performance is normally enough to earn him a win. Only marshmallow I saw tonight was on the 1st goal and even then it was a good shot on goal. Can’t really blame him on the second one when there is no one clearing the crease and left him alone to defend his onw fort. And if not for him, tonight score would probably be 5-0 instead of 2-0. Tonight losses ist’s a team losses, period.
Oh and if letting in a goal drain every once of energy from his teammate, then maybe we should consider to change the whole team.
By BuzzEng
December 27, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
My comment - and I don’t get to watch these games, so I follow the stats on Real Time - is SHOOT THE PUCK! It’s frustrating to see single-digit shots on goal every period. I think that was a key stat against Ottawa: LOTS of shots. Take shots, pound rebounds. The few games I get to watch, it seems like there is a lot of effort to set up a Kovy shot. That’s OK, but needs to be balanced with shots from other players. I think Kovy had one SOG last night? More shots from more players will open up Kovy for more and better shots. Go Thrashers! Beat Florida!
By LAC
December 27, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
The defense has allowed 2 goals in each of the last five games…
But where were the forwards last night ?
You could sense they were flat after about the first five minutes.
We need to replace Slater with someone who can score, Jim is a nice guy… but 0 goals from a third year pro is not cutting it… worse he is not even putting himself in position to score.
Last night was just like Nashville/Philadelphia/Toronto and so on… There is NO excuse to be shutout a LEAGUE leading 7 games… That is NOT acceptable !
waddell better wake up and get in people who can score and ship out those who cannot… Pretty easy to see.
By J
December 27, 2007 10:05 AM | Link to this
It’s one thing for us to try and forget about it a game, but i think it’s absolutely unacceptable for Waddell to say that!!!! 7 shutouts. Has he just forgotten about each and every one of them???? Don, we have a problem here. I wonder what our average SOG has been in those shutouts. My guess…20? Shoot the puck!!!!
As a coach, he should see a problem here. And it seems like he’s just hoping the problem goes away on its own. It’s not! 7 shutouts!!!!
By Andy S
December 27, 2007 11:31 AM | Link to this
stendec You can’t blame Kari. He wasn’t overly challenged, he got beat by a perfect shot on the first goal, and he played excellently in the 3rd. He kept giving the team an opportunity to come back by keeping it at two goals. In other words, he did his job.
The forwards dropped the ball, and CBJ did a great job of keeping Ilya away from the net. (ok, I can’t keep up with the formatting anymore…)Of course, every team tries to shut down Ilya, so I’m blaming him. Hossa and Kozlov are still sleep-walking out there, although Hoss played better than Ilya. Even Enstrom was in a funk which I haven’t seen at all this year. He was making bad decisions all night. Ah well, I’m guessing that they’ll wake up for tonight’s game.
By Jsmooth
December 27, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this
Wow! Scathing remarks from our fearless beat writer…and deservedly so. The Thrashers’ collective effort (or lack thereof) was absolutely disgraceful. Again, where is the effort and determination knowing that you are in position to catch a struggling Carolina team? Skate hard and scrap for a win against a banged up CBJ team so you can come home and play your style against a team you’ve owned over the last several years. Why is this team such an enigma? As I’ve said before, I can handle losing, but not in this fashion. I hope DW was just sugar-coating things in the press before he ripped into them on the plane back to ATL.
By Snow Bird
December 27, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
What a disgusting team to watch. No consistency at all. Sloppy passing, too much dumping the puck, passing too much on the power play. Relying too much on Kovy, Enstrom should shoot more from the point as should the other D’s. Charge the net, shoot the puck to get rebounds if nothing. Finally, Don, should concentrate the team on playing defensively, they just don’t have enough talent to play a high energy game, they just make too many mistakes like turnovers and not knowing how to position themselves adequately offensively or defensively. They definetely need another good D as well as a playmaking forward.
By Eileen
December 27, 2007 12:02 PM | Link to this
How many times have we heard “we didn’t show up”. Is anyone counting? I think it was Nic Havelid who said it this time. I agree with Jsmooth, I hope DW let them know it is unacceptable not to show up.
By Thrasher Ryan
December 27, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
my suggestions:
Kovalchuk-Perrin-Recchi
Kozlov-White-Hossa
Boulton-Holik-Thorburn
Sterling-Slater-Dupuis
Havelid-Enstrom
Exelby-McCarthy
Popovic-Klee
Lehtonen
Scratches: Larsen/Zhitnik
By Brian
December 27, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Let’s see how they play tonight before making any judgements.
By kevin
December 27, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
Stendec you lose all credibility with your comments blaming KL. Over the last five games he has allowed only two goals per game and made several excellent stops to keep us in games. His goaltending has carried us on this winning streak, a streak except for the Tampa game where we haven’t been scoring many goals. This team will continue to go as far as KL will take them, offensively they have to shoot the puck more and drive the net looking for rebounds, take exactly the same approach as they did in the Ottawa game.
By lilibeter
December 27, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
I am a fan who is new to hockey. I don’t profess to know a whole lot about the game yet, but I do know this - the Thrashers have GOT to shoot the puck if they want to win. It seems to the uninitiated as though the Thrashers keep waiting for that perfect shot before they will put the puck on goal. They have got to stop doing that if they want to win games. Based on my limited knowledge of hockey and the limited number of games I have been able to watch in my lifetime, I have noticed that things start happening when you shoot the puck at the net. How can your teammate pop in that loose rebound for a goal if you never shoot the puck to create said rebound? How can you draw the stupid, silly penalties against the opposing team if you’re not creating some pressure in the crease? So what if you don’t have the perfect shot lined up? Stop waiting for it and shoot the puck! Create some action that your teammates can potentially capitalize on. While I am sure that there are all sorts of other things the Thrasher’s could do to improve their play, it just seems to me as though this one small change could make the largest impact in the number of games that the Thrashers are winning.
By Jsmooth
December 27, 2007 2:33 PM | Link to this
lilibeter is right; perfection is unobtainable so shoot the darn puck more often and create second chances in the crease. I promise that guys like Recchi, Perrin and Dupuis will crash the net with reckless abandon in the opportunity presents itself. I would like to see Dupuis back on the 4th line with Slater and Thorburn. I know the Greek God line was having success but having a guy like Pascal (who can finish plays) is so important. Thorburn will create space Slates and Dupuis need and you wouldn’t need to worry about Holik and Larsen lagging far behind.
By LAC
December 27, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
Our defense has been quite good during the last two weeks…
KL do ok last night, first one however was stoppable… but when you get shutout what difference does it make ?
We simply have to get a couple more people who WILL put the puck in the net.
It is awful watching Holik/Slater/Larsen, to name a few, simply NOT score goals.
We have to get some more scoring punch, we could have tied Carolina with a win last night and one tonight… But everyone saw the coast game…
Guys you are smarter than this… Get it done against FL.
By Russian
December 27, 2007 3:11 PM | Link to this
I hope we will get 2 points today, but it will be OT or SO. We are not going to win this game in regular time.
By Nate
December 27, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
Craig - I agree with you. The team should’ve been ripped a new one for that effort.
By Tim
December 27, 2007 4:49 PM | Link to this
Russian I don’t know, I have a feeling Lehtonen will surprise us with a shutout. He is due and historically, he “Owned” the Panthers! ;)
By Jim
December 27, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
Ilya tried to make things happen but he got no help from the rest of the guys. Holik and Larsen are worthless at best. YA GOTTA SHOOT THE DANG PUCK to score goals. Have a safe trip back to Atlanta, Craig.
By Russ
December 27, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this
I’m thinking the Thrashers will need a minimum of 56 points in their remaining 45 games to reach the playoffs. That’s a pretty tough pace to keep up, like Craig said they can’t afford to sleepwalk through games like last night. Sometimes this team seems to think they can turn the switch on and dominate whenever they want…I’m not sure they are talented enough to have that attitude. Hopefully they decide to turn it on tonight and dominate the Panthers.
GO THRASHERS!!!!!
By billy shears
December 27, 2007 6:14 PM | Link to this
You Thrasher fans shouldn’t have been so surprised by last night’s result…road teams have a notoriously bad record when playing on Dec 26th! But watch out tonight too…Atlanta is 1-6 (0-4 after a loss) in back-to-back games this season! One hopeful note…Florida are 0-11 in their last 11 visits. However, they have had 4 days rest, so they’ll be fresh and have won 3 of their last 4 road trips, only losing in Detroit. I think that record will be 1-11 after tonight’s game!
By stendec
December 27, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this
Hi all KL apologists and worshippers! How many goals should Letemin be allowed to whiff in before pulling his sorry SOB A++ out? Way to go Waddell. You stupid A++hole! This was a no-brain Moose start. Yo everyone but your ignorant A++! Enjoy another defeat. Maybe another shutout. Has all earmarks of one! Happy New Year! Back to debacle.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this
KL was strong? Way to go announcers! How much eggnog did you guys consume in December? A 2-0 deficit on home ice in a critical must-win game is hardly “strong”. How about that second goal. What a gem. Grandma could have stopped that one! Thoroughly disgusting. I know KL apologists, put the B+++++D in the Hall Of Fame! Two more periods of lackluster uneffort. When did Thrashers trade uniforms with Falcons? Just wondering.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
Midway through fiasco. Thrashers lack will to try. Thanks KL! Pray that SOMEBODY in a BLUE jersey scores. No more back-to-back goose eggs. Beyond contempt. From champs to chumps. NO EXCUSES! AT LEAST LOSE LIKE MEN.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
Announcers crying about schedule! Oh well. Any excuse… Losers have a million of them! Still 2-0 late in second period. Florida has let up on KL or it WOULD be worse! Thrashers have more shots. KL save percentage SUCKS!
By stendec
December 27, 2007 8:46 PM | Link to this
Second period history. Thrasher shutout still intact. No fire. No desire. No jump. No energy. No heart. No hope. That happens when a team falls behind by two goals early on home ice. Think A++hole Waddell will put in Moose call for next outing? Doubt it. Moose should be between pipes tonight! May be scoreless. At worst it would be 1-0 Florida! Waddell a F+++++G moron! HAPPY NEW YEAR! On to the last agonizing 20 minutes. Guess goal too much to expect.
By The Other Bob
December 27, 2007 8:54 PM | Link to this
sneaking into CC’s blog room….real quiet on tippy-toes…..quietly making way over to kitchen utensil drawer…..slowly slipping out all knives and sharp object….sneaking back out before Stendec sees me….
By stendec
December 27, 2007 9:07 PM | Link to this
Thrashers work A+++S off to pull within 2-1. Guess what? Letemin allows another marshmallow goal. Forget comeback. Forget any points. Forget rally. What a worthless pile of crap KL is! Any momentum disappeared with that third goal! Am I right or wrong apologists? Back to disaster! Boy am I peeved.
By Waffleboy
December 27, 2007 9:15 PM | Link to this
stendec-Give it a rest, man. You’re gonna give yourself a coronary.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this
Way to go KL! Thrashers scrap within 3-2 then wham-o! Another super soft goal from good ole Letemin. Less than seven minutes of agony to endure! How many more will choker between pipes allow? Not playing Moose cost team two critical points! Take a bow Waddell! How about it KL aplogists? Stuff it! So F+++++G aggravated and upset. Losers with a capital L!
By The Other Bob
December 27, 2007 9:25 PM | Link to this
Yeah, stendic probably thinks Kari should have had that last one that deflected in off Enstrom’s skate, too…
By The Other Bob
December 27, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
Stendec - You are now officially a TOOL! That last goal deflected in off Enstrom’s skate…nothing he could do about that!
GET BENT!
You are now to be referred to as P&S-lite!
By The Other Bob
December 27, 2007 9:38 PM | Link to this
Empty net goal…is that Kari’s fault too???
By stendec
December 27, 2007 9:45 PM | Link to this
Damn Sori Letemin. Punchless Thrashers have no answer for totally inept netminder. Use all the damn exuses you want apologists! Off skates. Off glass. Off netting. Off refs. Off Thrasher emblem. Monkey pucks. Panther goalie did not rely on excuses. JUST MADE DAMN SAVES! Another pitiful display. Send KL back for groin rehab. Let him give up soft goals for some other team!
By Brian
December 27, 2007 9:51 PM | Link to this
Stendec - so did you think that Kovy’s 2 goals tonight were soft goals??? How about Recchi, are you surprised that his soft goal even found the back of the net? Should we thank Jacques Martin for playing that horrible goalie?
The Other Bob - I think you are on to something. Although I think something more creative, like pucksnstendec could be used. I think Russ came up with a real good one before, maybe we can recruit him for this one…
By B. Thenet
December 27, 2007 9:55 PM | Link to this
Franchise goalies make the big saves when the team is humming, they don’t give up soft/”flukey” goal every time the team battles back to make it a game.
It would be refreshing for Lehtonen to man up for once and accept responsibility for letting the team down, but I am sure we will get some quotes blaming mystery pucks magically appearing behind him in the net.
Tonight was a big game, and Lehtonen once again folded under the pressure of it.
By stendec
December 27, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
Heard Thrasher post game comments. Excuses, excuses and more excuses. No excuse for THIS! Feel sorry for IK but he should rocket shot off mask of Sori Letemin for pathetic four-goal swan dive! No excuse for such gut-killing home uneffort. Do not blame KL for empty netter. Only one he DID NOT ole’ away! Deflections my A++!
By LAC
December 27, 2007 10:16 PM | Link to this
Another game we needed to WIN !
TB lost and Washington got a point in Pitt, so I believe TB is now in LAST place in the SE.
You can bet their GM will wait no longer to pull a BIG trade… What will ours do ?
Where has Todd White been the past several games, and No Goals Slater another 0 game and effort…
We have to get some scoring help and NOW not at the trade deadline !
Lastly sorry to see BRIAN back to name calling again, esp here during the holiday’s !!!
By The Other Bob
December 27, 2007 10:17 PM | Link to this
Brian….on second thought, maybe comparing stendick to Pucks-n-Snot ain’t so good after all.
I mean, as big a jerk ‘ol Snotty can be, at least he knows SOMETHING about ice hockey….
By stendec
December 27, 2007 10:34 PM | Link to this
Stanley Cup caliber goaltenders excel in game-winning saves not excuses! Although the monkey puck will always be my favorite. Love and kisses KL apologists. Happy New Year!
By stendec
December 27, 2007 10:41 PM | Link to this
Hi Craig. I value your friendship and opinion. Of the four goals KL surrendered (EN not his, of course) how many would you personally consider stoppable? In this corner I witnessed three soft goals (grudgingly providing benefit of doubt on one). Since I think KL is inexperienced punk in LaLa Land my view may be somewhat jaded how many do YOU consider legit? Happy New Year!
By Jim
December 28, 2007 7:29 AM | Link to this
Stendec- I don’t think that he even saw three of the goals. The D. wasn’t picking up their man and White cleanly lost the draw that led to a screened goal. Fact is that an NHL team cannot win with only 2 lines. The Holik and Slater lines add zero-zilch-nothing to the team- no scoring, no energy, no shutdown of top lines. What ever happened to the supposeded infustion of youth? Dupuis is a pest but we could clean house with the rest of the third and fourth lines- Holik, Larsen, Slater, Boulton and Thorburn and not lose a thing. Let’s see Sterling, Little, Lavalee and others back up here. They’re burning the nets in Chicago.
By Brian
December 28, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
stendec - you never answered my question? Were any of Kovy’s goals last night soft goals? What percentage of Kovy’s league leading goals total would you consider soft goals?
By Ron
December 28, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
I have a question - During the game Bobby Holik took 20 faceoffs and won 16 of them. Todd White took 20 faceoffs and won 9. Why was White on the ice with a minute left taking faceoffs? He lost BOTH critical faceoffs. The last leading to the game ending empty netter. Mr. Wadell, your strategy was…?
By Midfield
December 28, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
I agree with the Lehtonen bashers here. You don’t want this city boy to be your franchize goalie. What really p** me off is the fact that Kovy singlehandedly turned the game momentum around and made everybody move their feet, while the sleeping beauty kept starring at the empty space far and away. This is unacceptable. We’re better off sending him down to Chicago for the remainder of his wasted contract. bring in Pavelec and have him develop up here. This guy - however not perfect technically just yet - looked like a fighter.
By john
December 28, 2007 11:41 AM | Link to this
It is hard to understand why hite is the center on the top line he lost two big face offs that resulted in goals and his numbers are bad he is 52nd among centers in points 54th in assist, and 188th in+/- this is only in centers that means most teams have at least 2 centers that are better and he is our top centerman can’t be moved glued to kovy guy White is a second line center at best and until they pick up a first line center that can keep up they can only win in streaks
By ranallo10
December 28, 2007 11:49 AM | Link to this
stendec — What’s your solution in goal? I know your disdain for Lehtonen, and continually read your complaints about “soft” goals (though your implied definition fits EVERY goal), but I fail to see what your solution for the problem is.
Right now this team has Lehtonen (a number one goalie who appears to have issues with focusing, and needs a better defense to fully excel), Hedberg (a number 2 goalie who has hot streaks, but is no more than a backup goalie), and Pavelec (a rookie “unproven” goaltender who is in his first season of professional hockey, now in the AHL).
Beyond continual complaining, what’s your solution?
By Mitch
December 28, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this
It is easy to blame all of the thrashers problems on the goalie and to the novice hockey fan I sure it seems like they just keep letting them in. But when you look at the numbers the truth (if you are to see it) is clear. Last year the thrashers goal tender faced 2582 shots thats 25th worst in the league This year the thrashers have already allowed 1219 the worst in the league. The defense is the worst in the league and to hang it all on the goal tending is stupid and uninformed. With only one center this year that can help out on the defense this only adds to the problem. If you realy want a better team pick up 2 real defense men and a real NHL caliber center or two. Every one else in the league knows this why don’t you.
By Boulton's Bruisers
December 28, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
White needs to be bumped down to Hossa/Kozlov line. Let Perrin play with Recchi/Kovalchuk. I wish we could get Bryan Little back down here, but right now Jimmy “Can’t Finish” Slater is taking his spot; not to mention Brad Larsen taking Brett Sterling’s spot. Simple changes, simple solutions, but yet, no changes. How many more losses before Waddell realizes this?
By John
December 28, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
This team need another scoring line the talent is there in chicago but it would mean that some of these guys here not pulling their wait would need to go. but I expect Don to trade Sterlig and Haydar two proven scores for a defenseman. All three guys in chcago have proven that they can play at the nhl level but thornburn bolton and larsen would need to go to put them on the team it is more of leave the best talent in chicago Don and bring in some guys who can’t keep up in Atlanta. When they trade Hossa away this team is in big trouble no major player will want to come here.
By Thorburn's Thugs
December 28, 2007 1:26 PM | Link to this
Thrashers work A+++S off to pull within 2-1. Guess what? Letemin allows another marshmallow goal. Forget comeback. Forget any points. Forget rally. What a worthless pile of crap KL is! Any momentum disappeared with that third goal!
Yeah, you are right. KL killed any chance of a rally. Letting in that one was the knife in our chest.
Way to go KL! Thrashers scrap within 3-2 then wham-o! Another super soft goal from good ole Letemin.
stendec—Again, you are right. We actually start to rally and KL kills the momentum.
Use all the damn exuses you want apologists! Off skates. Off glass. Off netting. Off refs. Off Thrasher emblem. Monkey pucks. Panther goalie did not rely on excuses. JUST MADE DAMN SAVES!
Yeah stendec, I too am getting tired of the excuses. It’s like theres always some PR excuse about bad bounces, etc. but the truth is, KL gives up too many rebounds. Make the save on the 1st try and you don’t have these problems.
Feel sorry for IK but he should rocket shot off mask of Sori Letemin for pathetic four-goal swan dive! No excuse for such gut-killing home uneffort.
Finally, I just gotta say that that was probably the funniest thing i’ve ever heard you say. Each night I look forward to your play-by-play analysis. Cheers!
By ranallo10
December 28, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Thorburn’s Thugs — I’d say that rebounds are the nature of any good goalie, but rebound control is paramount. Lehtonen is improving that control, but having an inept defender on the ice who can’t clear the rebound (Zhitnik, Klee, etc) doesn’t help a goalie at all.
I don’t know if you can view it on YouTube, but watch Andrew Brunette’s recent goal against Luongo and you’ll see what I mean. Brunette was given almost 3 seconds (an eternity) while standing (not skating) in front of Luongo…of course he put it in the net. Luongo is a great goalie, but without proper defense even great ones can be made to look like chumps.
An above average goalie cannot make up for every flaw of their defenders. A great goalie can. Nobody is arguing Lehtonen’s greatness, but some of us are defending his obvious abilities.
John — Though I love to watch their intensity, I agree that several of the lower line players on this team could use a stint in the pressbox, or on another team. I’d rather watch Sterling-Little-Haydar for 10+ minutes a game than watch two lines (Holik’s and Slater’s) that cannot be EXPECTED to score every time they touch the ice. I can’t remember how many times I had to tell my girlfriend not to get excited when Holik or Larsen had the puck because “they’re a defensive line”.
Every time Kovalchuk hits the ice the crowd anticipates a goal. Usually it’s the same with Hossa. If only this team could create that third line of scoring depth and only have one line of passionate intensity players. If it’s at the expense of Thorburn/Larsen/Boulton, I can deal with it personally.
By Jas
December 28, 2007 5:30 PM | Link to this
Very well said I hope some one is listening. And KL is a good goalie with bad defense in front 3 scoring lines and a even an average D would make all the deference in the world.
By stendec
December 29, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Forgive delay in responding. Difficult to explain soft goal to novices. Breakaway rocket launches not soft. Odd-man breaks generally not soft although there are exceptions. Deflections (within inches of goal) not soft. Unscreened shots from outside face-off circles soft. Goals from center ice soft. Goals from opponent end of ice soft (more of these go in than one would imagine). P++++S me off to consistently see Thrashers with more goals against than any other team! Moose has been no world-beater of late but KL deserves majority of credit for that distasteful scenario. True or not? Hope Thrashers get one in “W” column tonight. Not confident with KL in net.
By Brian
December 29, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
stendec - are you going to answer the question or what? And since when did you become a class above all the “novices” here?
By Tony C.
December 29, 2007 6:39 PM | Link to this
I love stendec’s position on The Kid-you guys may be entirely right about his development being consistent with “the curve” but….uh KL is a #4 overall pick-guys that go in the Top 5 are expected to have a much shorter curve-and that’s why guys like stendec & myself (albeit way less) expect more than “NHL Average” from The Kid
GO BLUE !!!
By stendec
December 29, 2007 10:14 PM | Link to this
Thanks Tony C. I just want best for Thrashers. Tonight that was KL with A LOT of offensive support. Happy New Year. Congratulations KL! A SHUTOUT. It does not get any better than that for netminder. Not only does it do wonders to ease memory of last outing but it pushes that goals against average down! No goals. Soft or otherwise! WOW. Exceptional rebound effort. Maintain that focus! That is all anyone, including myself, can expect. Just want Thrashers to win. SQUA TRONT!
By 12345
December 29, 2007 10:45 PM | Link to this
Tampa is now DEAD LAST in the Eastern Confrence.
Boston TV team confirmed Bob Hartley… That’s right our old Bob, was spotted with Jay Feaster at game there in TB today… Hummmmmmmmm???
Tough next two on road Boston/Carolina… who got beat AGAIN tonight by Columbus…
Go figure this division… Just a couple players,a scoring center or wing anda top tier Dman and we could make a good run at it.
Stuart looked real good tonight…
By Denny
December 30, 2007 10:27 AM | Link to this
Craig In watching the game last night it’s apparant Stuart was not called up for his speed at Left Wing. Exactly why did DW select him over other talent on the Wolves?
By ranallo10
December 30, 2007 1:24 PM | Link to this
Tony C — Since 2000 there have only been 3 goalies ` picked in the top 5 of a draft:
2000 — DiPietro (1) NYI
2002 — Lehtonen (2) ATL
2003 — Fleury (1) PIT
Their career GAA and SV% are:
DiPietro (2.73, .907)
Lehtonen (2.81, .910)
Fleury (3.07, .901)
It’s up for argument which goalie faced the biggest obstacle during their developmental year (due to poor defense, bad team overall, etc), but it’s quite obvious Lehtonen is producing on par with his top 5 pick piers.
` — Carey Price was pick 5 in 2005, but was removed from this due to his lack of on ice time to fairly evaluate his NHL ability.
As for first round picks, since 2000 only Cam Ward, Pascal Leclaire and the aforementioned three goalies have actually held a starters role for an NHL club (Toivonen has a few starts, as did Blackburn).
By Brian
December 30, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this
Denny - since Stuart is only being called up for 1 game or 2 at most because Slater is under the weather, I can understand if DW doesn’t want to call up someone like Sterling or Little and risk a year of RFA status being lost because they played more than the max games allowed. As well, since they are going to be sent down immediately, why get their hopes up of making it big? Being sent back down immediately can hurt their pshyche and do more harm than good. Finally, let them continue to gel in Chicago, don’t break up something down there just because Slater is under the weather for a few days. We needed a grinder to play with Holik, not a finesse player to play with Kovy. Stuart makes sense in that manner also.
Now if Stuart stays up here, that’s a whole different story, but again he will be sent down by next week.
By Tim
December 30, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
Denny I read somewhere that Stuart has been recalled because he play the same role as Slater in the AHL and therefore easier to adapt. Slater is there to provide energy, draw penaly and some PK time which is where Stuart excel at. Now if he keep playing that way, can definitively see him taking Larsen spot next season.
Stendec I can’t see how you can say that Lehtonen cause a disastrous scenario for the Thrashers. Since he coming back from injury he is 7-4-0 and have been playing better then average hockey on the past 7 games on all but 1 period (last one against Florida). Maybe you can blame KL for a bad timing to taking a period off.
By Tony C.
December 30, 2007 9:30 PM | Link to this
RANALLO - Thanks for the stats-I was under the impression that KL’s save % was nowhere near as good as it is. Still, it’s painful to watch our team loose because The Kid was of in KariLand. I expect that will happen less and less, but everyone will agree that they have had more than one moment of “What the !@#$%#^ Was He thinking??? Was he thinking????” when watching KL play.
GO BLUE !!!
By J
December 30, 2007 10:49 PM | Link to this
Craig
Where is the update? Very dissapointing coverage over the last week. By the way, I am still curious as to why you were so impressed with the 17k that showed up for the Hawks game vs Heat. I am not sure if you realize that Shaq is still a big draw. If you are so impressed with the Hawks attendance then you are covering the wrong the sport. It seems that the AJC wants to focus on attendance when it comes to the Thrashers. Why? Also, most Tuesday night crowds at Turner are relatively unimpressive. I guess we now have to play the attendance game with you too. Very sad. Check out the Bruins attendance. We have a great hockey base in the ATL. Like most cities outside of Canada, it is all about the W. If we build a winner they will come and that should be your focus. DW will get it done but we have to patient. Last time I looked Stl, Wsh etc has not not won a Cup. BTW, Stuart looked terrific. Another sign that the farm system looks promissing. Overall, you are doing a very good job but do not get sucked into the attendance issue with out a relative comparison. We are just scratching the surface as a solid hockey town!!!
By ranallo10
December 31, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this
J, last I checked NJ has won a few Stanley Cups and is in the bottom 5 in attendance annually.
Winning doesn’t always lead to greater attendance.
By Brian
December 31, 2007 8:11 AM | Link to this
ranollo - the NJ Nets went to the NBA Finals a few times in that same time period and didn’t draw well either. However, I would have to think that they are an outlier on that school of thought, not the norm…