Thrashers

By Mike Knobler

February 21, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this

The switch to the new blog format comes tomorrow (Sunday).

The HP Pavilion is quite a place to watch a hockey game. As much energy as any U.S. arena I’ve been to this season, and the best scoreboard, with in-game stats such as faceoff leaders, hits, blocked shots, takeaway, popping up. The video board is huge and HD.

By Thrashy Thrashy

February 21, 2009 4:28 PM | Link to this

The new format will be good for most of the AJC blogs. The only one that is really screwed up by it is O’Brien’s Braves blog. I think the number of comments on here will go up with the infinitely quicker post time.

By Mike Knobler

February 21, 2009 4:53 PM | Link to this

Thrashy That will be good.

Decent first period for the Thrashers. Notice that Kovalchuk has played every second of the power play in this game. That hadn’t been the case for awhile. (They only had 1:21 of power play at Phoenix, so you couldn’t really tell much.)

By Thrashy Thrashy

February 21, 2009 6:00 PM | Link to this

Two weak (the first one was reallllllllly weak) goals given up by Kari in the first 2:55 of the third.

By Brendan

February 21, 2009 6:35 PM | Link to this

2-1-1 on the road trip is far better than I expected. I know no one really wants to hear about moral victories, etc., but Atlanta kept San Jose scoreless through 2 periods. They came into the 3rd staring squarely at one-point in the standings. That’s impressive, given this roster.

Now, obviously, San Jose held a strategy session during the 2nd period intermission. They waltzed out the door and popped into two quick ones to give themselves the win. Little and Bogosian continue to impress. And really, that’s the whole point of this season. Valabik seems off-balance during his fight. Kovalchuk had some good looks, including a great chance right at the end of the game, on a nice feed from Bogosian.

By stendec

February 21, 2009 7:28 PM | Link to this

Well Kari Letemin sucked big time. Again! Worthless son of a betch mother (X)! A trio of marshallow goals a high school hockey netminder could have stopped. So much for the damn successful road trip. Untalented oxygen waste Finn bestard! Ilya Kovalchuk still could not hit the mother (X) ice on a faceoff drop. Uncaring piece of commode scum! Oh well. Back to the cellar. Where all of these gutless quitters belong! Enjoy another loss apologists. Tell me once more how wonderful these ball-less eunichs are! Completeless useless. Exile to Hamilton cannot come soon enough!

By Thrashy Thrashy

February 21, 2009 7:34 PM | Link to this

This from the AP:

“Thrashers let late lead slip vs. Sharks”

Nope. Never led that game, AP.

By Jared

February 21, 2009 7:53 PM | Link to this

LOUD NOISES! DEATH TO FINLAND!!!!!!11!1 Anyways, getting on topic, yeah we lost but, It’s the Sharks people. I would normally be upset but… It’s the Sharks :-P

By JD

February 21, 2009 7:55 PM | Link to this

I actually thought Kari played great today. He faced a lot of tough shots. It was just a matter of time before they got to him.

I do think trading him now makes a lot of sense. He has good value (playing good on a bad team, young, and not a UFA). Next season you let Pavelec show what he can do. It’s still a rebuilding year.

If it doesn’t work out, then you explore free agency at goalie after the season. That is the one position you can lure players in to a less attractive team. There are only 30 slots for a #1 goalie.

By Mike Knobler

February 21, 2009 9:31 PM | Link to this

Kari played well, and the team played well in front of him until the start of the third period.

Boris looked a bit out of sorts, especially early, but the guy hadn’t played in nearly two weeks.

There wasn’t much offense today, but the team defense was better than usual, and considering the quality of the competition it was a strong effort by the Thrashers.

The effort lately has been strong, and 2-1-1 projected over a full season would be a heck of a result (102 points). Let’s see what these guys do when they get back home, against a considerably less gifted opponent in Colorado.

By Wayne from AL

February 21, 2009 9:56 PM | Link to this

Did anyone notice the Loan Sharks had both Roenick and Claude Lemieux on the ice at the same time?

By Brendan

February 21, 2009 11:11 PM | Link to this

There’s really no point to coming here to blast team after every loss … in a ‘build year.’ This season is just another rung in climbing the ladder. Obviously, San Jose is an upper echelon team. They may win the Stanely Cup this year. I think Atlanta played a very respectable game against the Sharks. When the season is over, and the coaching staff picks out the 10-15 best games of the year, to review what they did right, this game will make the list.

Don’t look now, but Florida won again. They’ve got quite a decision to make regarding defenseman Jay Bouwmeester. I wouldn’t risk losing him for nothing. Well, other than salary relief. I’d push real, real hard to at least try to get him to renew for another season, if I can’t get him locked up. And if Jay flat out says, “I’m really not interested in playing in Florida for the rest of my career,” I’d trade him for the best value I could get.”

By dhj_1962

February 22, 2009 8:58 AM | Link to this

first time watching the sharks, not impressed. Boris had 2 bad calls against him, still wondering why JA would sit Oystrick…blah blah blah. not a bad road trip, surprising wasn’t it. islanders won, the race for Tavares is on.

By Jim

February 22, 2009 10:46 AM | Link to this

Kari played well and again the color guy for the home team called him one of the better young goaltenders in the league plagued by a bad defense in front of him. It’s only taken over 2/3rds of the season for Johnny Boy to wise up to the fact that a tighter defense keeps you in the game and gives you a chance in the last period. DUH, DUH, DUH. Some of the Donnie Brilliance has rubbed off on him.