AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSpeed bump or brick wall?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday’s third period ranked with the third period at Buffalo and the second period at Carolina as one of the best 20 minutes of hockey I’ve seen the Thrashers play. Sunday’s first period was one of the worst.
When I see that sharp a contrast in a single game, I wonder why. If the Thrashers were simply bad, untalented, incapable, it would be easier to understand. If they were a team that knew it was going to make the playoffs and could look at the calendar and say, “It’s only November,” that might make sense, too.
But this team isn’t in either of those situations. There’s some talent. Bryan Little has been a revelation. Slava Kozlov is on a pace to score more than 40 goals. Ilya Kovalchuk can do things very few other humans ever have. Ron Hainsey has been an excellent addition to the defense, and, despite what happened on the game-winning goal Sunday night, Niclas Havelid has been having a wonderful run lately as the steady, calming defenseman every team needs.
So, how can they look as lifeless, out of sync and sometimes flat-out careless as they did in the first period Sunday night? They weren’t tired or rusty, and they shouldn’t have been overconfident.
By the way, I spoke with general manager Don Waddell before Sunday’s game. He had just been in East Lansing watching first-round draft pick Daulton Leveille, the CCHA rookie of the month for October. Leveille doesn’t physically look like an NHL player yet but will when weight training fills him out. He’s only a freshman. Also, defenseman Mathieu Schneider (hip flexor) is very close to returning to the Thrashers lineup.
Comments
By ZB
November 17, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this
It is puzzling to say the least. I was at Saturday’s practice and they looked relaxed and the drils were upbeat and crisp.
Seems that the emotional make up of the team has some caryover from Hartley’s and Waddell’s stints behind the benches. Why Anderson hasn’t been able to fix the trait of not playing all 3 periods contunes to mystify.
By Nikita
November 17, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this
Evidently the problem is mental. Unfortunately the team has been in the habit of playing just well enough to win — the problem is that they’re not good enough yet to be able to judge that. So they sandbag until they have to make up a deficit, or they score a goal, and then they try to hold that. They’re only motivated by the fear of the final score.
To give Anderson credit, for the last few games they haven’t allowed themselves to get irretrievably behind. But they also haven’t gotten enough of a start to hold onto a decisive lead.
By Alan
November 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this
Why Anderson hasn’t been able to fix the trait of not playing all 3 periods contunes to mystify.
On the surface, I agree. However, if you look deeper, it’s just that certain players from those eras are probably “set in their ways.”
Old dogs can learn new tricks, but it takes time. Remember, most of us didn’t expect a playoff contender this season. No miracles here. But Anderson as coach will greatly improve our chances of making a run in the future.
Also, congrats to Christensen for notching his first goal of the year last night! Here’s to hoping the dam has broken, so to speak.
By Ice Ice Baby!
November 17, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
Everyone has been coming down on Schneider and his -11 +/- rating, but SCHNEIDER IN and VALABIK OUT is a major improvement for the team. Valabik will be serviceable some time in the very near future, but, once he jells with the team, Schneider will be a difference make - you watch!
By Really?
November 17, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this
Who is surprised?
By kracker
November 17, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
So, how can they look as lifeless, out of sync and sometimes flat-out careless as they did in the first period Sunday night? They weren’t tired or rusty, and they shouldn’t have been overconfident.
Clearly our coaches, and the some of players, want to figure this out. Alan may heve it, to some extent, if he sort of combines two of his comments. Perhaps not enough players actually beileve they can get it done this season. They all know how much harder the play becomes the latter half of the season when middle-range teams sort of say, internally, “It’s now or never” and make their mid-season push.
If the Thrash want to be in that middle group (or better), winning the next two home games this week will be most helpful in hanging around. Beginning next week, they play at least 3 games a week in 16 of the remaining 20 weeks of the season, including 4 games in 7 of those weeks.
A win last night or at least earning the 3rd period tie with Philly would have been sweet.
By Rockem Sockem Thrasher
November 17, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
ICE ICE Baby I agree, Valabik isn’t ready full time on the pro-level. His size helps but he has yet to add to the offense.
I think Schneider should get a pass (for now) on his +/- stats. Most of those stats came during the Thrash’s brutal losing streak. He was logging serious ice time and has more experience.
I am still hopeful Grant Lewis gets a chance to play for the Thrash. He’s got 6 points and is currently a +10 on the +/-. Its seems like he is active on the offense while logging his share of PIM.
Chicago Wolves Stat Page
By Brendan
November 17, 2008 11:53 PM | Link to this
Speed bump. This team might hover around .500 through Inauguration Day. What the Thrashers do in the six weeks before the trade deadline will bear significance. If it appears the team could add pieces and legitimately secure a playoff seed, the ownership might greenlight the project. That’s optimism speaking, on multiple levels. If it is clear that the team cannot turn the corner towards a playoff berth, then it’s time to look at Havelid, Schneider, Perrin, Reasoner, and Williams and see how much interest the playoff field has in them. Maybe even Hedberg and Exelby, too. Christensen and Armstrong will be RFA’s in the Summer, but if the team doesn’t want to re-sign them, then they can entertain offers. Ya know, the Thrashers did have the option of renewing Christenson and Armstrong on July 1, 2008, and didn’t. Don’t read too much into that, but it’ll cost less to re-sign them in February than it will in June or July. The Thrashers aren’t yet known for being proactive. Such talk is very premature in November, however.
By wristshot
November 18, 2008 7:37 AM | Link to this
Maybe they’re procrastinators? They like to wait until the last minute to get things done! I thought I was having a flashback to the Hartley days. Had to look twice to make sure it was really John Anderson behind the bench. Somebody wearing a jersey needs to step up and take control in these situations, somebody needs to stand out as a captain.
By Jim
November 18, 2008 8:02 AM | Link to this
Brendan- Way to get ahead of yourself. You didn’t include any preseason projections for next year. Mike- How about considering the other team in your equation? The Flyers have owned us and we gave them a “gift” in the first minute of the game that helped fuel their feeding frenzy. The first goal is an important one every night. In the third period, we stepped it up and the effects of having played the night before showed on the Flyers. While we’d like to be able to turn up the level at will, the opposing team has something to say about it. This year’s team is definetly improved, but we still don’t clean up the defensive end very well. Too many loose pucks in front of the goal and too many free cycles.
By Sara
November 18, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this
Hey Knobler how ‘bout next time you’re at practice ask Boults, Slater, Crusher, and Perrin if they enjoyed Monday Night Raw last night? :P
By Brendan
November 19, 2008 12:30 AM | Link to this
Ya know what they say, Jim? (No, what?) If you’re not looking ahead, you’ve already been left behind. And most GM’s plan 2-3 years in advance. They tweak a bit here and there. But they usually have a plan. Sometimes called a master plan. You’ve seen the Waddell plan.
“Proper prior planning prevents poor performance,” is what I’ve always been told.