AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGood start but room to grow
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Admit it, if someone had told you the Thrashers would have three points in the standings after opening against Washington and then playing at Florida, most Thrashers fans would have taken it, no questions asked.
But there are some questions to ask. Such as what happened to Atlanta about midway through Saturday night’s 3-2 overtime loss to Florida? The Thrashers were outshot 18-5 in the third period and 4-0 in overtime, and those numbers were in keeping with the way things looked on the ice. It wasn’t like the Thrashers were shooting and going wide of the net, or spending a lot of time in the attacking zone passing the puck in search of the perfect shot. (By the way, those five shots came in a third period during which the Thrashers were on the power play three times.) Second game in as many nights isn’t much of an excuse when your opponent is in the same situation.
Did anybody else notice it seemed to be a tough night for Tobias Enstrom, especially in the first period?
I know Niclas Havelid has four assists through two games, but have the Thrashers had a more effective and useful player than Ron Hainsey? He has a goal and two assists, the second on a brilliant pass to set up Jason Williams’ goal Saturday night. Hainsey led the team in ice time with about 24 minutes Friday night and then played almost 28 minutes on Saturday, with key roles on the penalty kill and the power play. Hainsey doesn’t play a very physical game but plays a very intelligent one. Two games in, I’m questioning those pundits who said the Thrashers overspent for him when they gave him $22.5 million for five years.
Did anybody have a good view of the play where Ilya Kovalchuk got called for diving? I missed the replay, and in live action I didn’t see it as a dive. The referee spent a long time talking to Kovalchuk about it, and Kovalchuk at one point stood up from his seat in the penalty box and demonstrated his view of what happened. I didn’t get a chance to talk with Kovalchuk after the game. I got stuck waiting for and then riding in a slow elevator and was lucky I got down in time to speak with Kari Lehtonen and Williams.
It’s 1:37 a.m., and I’ve got a 7:30 flight, so I’m going to catch some sleep.
Comments
By Barry
October 12, 2008 2:28 AM | Link to this
I really have no explaination for the 3rd period and OT period. It just seemed like the Thrashers hit a bit of a wall and didn’t seem as crisp and sharp as they were at the start of the game. Their timing and play seemed a tad off to me late in the game. I still don’t understand what Perrin was doing before the OT winner. I agree for whatever reason Enstrom seemed to struggle throughout the whole game. So far Hainsey is turning out to be an awesome signing over the summer and if he keeps playing like this for the next 4 years then bravo Waddell…bravo. We’ve been needing some serious blueline help with guys who are smart, can log minutes, can play good defense and actually help run a powerplay. I saw the Kovy thing in live action on TV and I was surprised he got called for diving. It looked to me he got hooked up trying to squeeze between two defenders and got spun around and fell to the ice. Same thing kinda happened to Hossa last year where he got tripped up in the neutral zone and got a diving penalty also. I still didn’t understand that call then and don’t understand Kovy’s call either.
By Grant
October 12, 2008 3:13 AM | Link to this
Kovy was called for diving because it was totally obvious. He was hooked up high, not down low, which would have caused him to fall in the manner that he did. Looked like the Thrashers of last year tonight. Ran out of gas halfway through the game. This happened every single time last year when we had a back-to-back game. That’s in the Conditioning. Perhaps they should have used fresher legs tonight? Oystrick for Enstrom? Sterling for Perrin? Do we still have the same Strength and Conditioning Coach as last year? If so, that might be the problem right there.
By Sara
October 12, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
Grant Ray Bear has been the conditioning coach since I believe year 1 - through all the successive groin injuries and yes flat-footedness in back-to-backers.
That second-half was a real plunker. They were lucky to come out of it with a point at all. I will say one thing though - we weren’t exactly on even ice with Florida. Yes they had player the night before too and had to travel, but they were playing the second game on home ice on opening night with a very hyped up crowd to feed off of. I think that was something we talked about last season with our back-to-backs - how many of our second games were on the road.
But it’s just one more thing that should hopefully improve as this season goes on.
By Toby
October 12, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
It was an odd game. In the first period, the Panthers reminded me of last years Thrashers. Lots of blind passes, dumping the puck for no reason, and sitting around on D in their own zone. That role all the sudden switched. I guess we simply got tired. Maybe not ready for 2 games in 2 nights? I do remember that was one (of many) of the problems of last year was a REALLY bad 2nd period.
I guess the good news (other than us starting with 3 pts.) is we now have a oouple days off to show the team what worked and what didn’t. We do now have some big tests this week. I’m planning on attending the Thurs. night game against the alway tough Devels.
Oh….one other thought from the game (actually both games)…I just can’t see XLB lasting long. He just seems to get worse. I can’t see Anderson putting up with his play much longer.
By stendec
October 12, 2008 10:35 AM | Link to this
The Thrashers performed adequately in Florida. The team did manage to score a pair of goals. The new coach may be above average. Has fantastic offensive scheme but no NHL caliber scorers to execute it. Notice I said none because the one they do have is easily negated every game. The Thrasher defense is average. Not poor but far from super. Seven goals in two games not exactly what Stanley Cup dreams consist of. Goaltending is far below average. Will leave it at that since one goaltender is irrationally defended no matter how poorly he performs. Suppose a defender in Super Bowl was successful on every pass thrown his way except for one? That one aerial happened to be a 90-yard touchdown bomb which resulted in defeat. Would his effort still be considered a superior one? Would he be free of criticism? I think not. That is what I mean about statistics. They look fine on paper or on computer screens but seldom in real life. Check out Ohio State Yeckeyes regular season stats over the last two years then view how they were completely manhandled in BCS championship games. Did stats lie? Do you think? Hope that is simplified enough for everyone. Will Thrashers make playoffs. Probably not. If they do they will not be there long. Not with soft unfocused goaltender and lack of killer instinct mental toughness, sorry, force of habit. Well, time to watch Falcons. They have their own goaltender, uh, linebacker, problem in Keith “No Tackle” Brooking. Hope that offends no one on this blog.
By kracker
October 12, 2008 12:04 PM | Link to this
Let me congratulate and thank you stendec for conversing in a normal manner. It is much appreciated. I don’t agree with some of your points but that’s how it goes with fans, frequently they disagree. It’s a long season, much will evolve with the new Thrashers and maybe for the better.
Hey, I notice your name ends with EC…can that be just a coincidence?
By ranallo10 (in AT)
October 12, 2008 12:52 PM | Link to this
He’s been keeping us in games. He’s a really good goaltender, and we’re going to depend on him a lot this year, but we’ve got to find a way to limit those chances.
It’s not just here that people disagree with you, stendec, it’s on the team too. That is Jason Williams speaking of Lehtonen…not one of us bloggers.
As kracker said above, fans are going to disagree with many things over the course of the season. The problem we all seem to have is that not only do you dislike a person (which many people will defend against with stats, direct quotes from players more knowledged on the game, and even more stats pointing towards the answer we all feel is obvious), you can’t get out that frustration without turning this blog into your own personal punching bag, and Lehtonen being your whipping boy.
I’ll disagree with you all day when Lehtonen faces 30+ shots and the team loses by one goal. As Williams said, it’s the teams job to limit the scoring opportunities for their opponents. If the team gives up more than average quantity of shots (which they have in both games thus far), then the goalie cannot be expected to carry them into the W column.
Roberto Luongo was in the same situation while in Florida…a porous defense in front of a solid goalie. Luongo is the better goalie, then and now, but it was a similar situation. Bad defenses can make good goalies look bad (Lehtonen), and great goalies look slightly above average (Luongo). Improve the defense, then see where the goalie can carry you.
Fair and tactful criticism is the point.
By Smitty
October 12, 2008 12:54 PM | Link to this
Kovy has to fight throught those hooks. Many of the games best (Gretzky, Lemeieux, Messier) all did. The first line is still hurting even though Williams had a goal last night and Kovy hit the post. Toby may be experiencing sophmore jinx. Did not think it would happen since he played in major Swedish league for a year or 2.
Not showing up for the last half of the game is troubling even if is is 2nd game of back to back. I belive it is an attitude that has permeated with this team. This is type of attitude that has to change. JA is addressing this I hope. I do not think it is conditioning. It seems the new guys are puuling their weight. Perhaps a more improved attitude and effort from our veterans might help
By Barry
October 12, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this
I still think White and Christensen should swap lnes and let EC center Kovy. White is a fairly good player, but he’s just a step or two behind in what Kovy wants to do and I don’t mean exactly in skating speed either. I just think Kovy is a more uptempo type of player than what White is. I’m seeing Christensen doing the same type of stuff Kovy is doing when they both have the puck and just think they would be a perfect fit. Hopefully Anderson sees this soon.
By kracker
October 12, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
For these first two games, Anderson may have been experimenting with line combos (and pairings) that he didn’t have enough game time to get to in preseason.
I wish the Thrashers had had 9 preseason games like the Wings had instead of the 6 games they did have. We sure needed the extra time more than the Wings did.
By Bob
October 12, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
Seven goals in two games not exactly what Stanley Cup dreams consist of. Goaltending is far below average
That’s not on Kari. Those goals were as a result of the style of play Anderson has them in, wide freakin open. There’s going to be a lot of shots against and goals against this year.
But Kari played great. He plays great every single year at the outset when he’s mentally fresh. The key is going to be what he looks like in Game 5, 6, 7 and onward. In the past he’s melted down and turned very average. But let’s see if he can turn the corner this year and stay sharp over the long haul, not just in 4 or 5 game stretches after layoffs.
By GaVaHokie
October 13, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this
I don’t know if it’s Florida’s improved Defense, but I saw a lot of dump and chase hockey from the Thrashers on Saturday night. Kovalchuk was starting to do too much again… he needs to hurry up and get that first goal so he can settle back down.
Hainsey has definitely been the most impressive player to me so far.
By Grant
October 13, 2008 10:57 AM | Link to this
Thanks Sara. That guy should be fired then.