Ice Man

By Ryan

March 16, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this

Good win for Moose, and thank god for the Sabres holding on to the late charge against the Bolts. I’ll take the two points….thank you.

By stendec

March 16, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this

What happened to all the young big guns? Hedberg was left out to dry! Fantastic goaltending exhibition! I cringe to think what the final score might have been with the #1 (#1?) Thrasher goalie between the pipes. Oh well. Two badly needed points! Power(less) play continues to plague team. It is a known fact that 100 percent of untaken shots do not go in. SHOOT THE PUCK! SHOOT THE PUCK! SHOOT THE PUCK!

By Jeff

March 17, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this

Great goal by Zhitnik, but it was really Moose that saved the day. He totally stole us two point tonight.

This game by Johan and Kari’s 1-0 win over Tampa Bay rank as the best goaltending performances this season.

Simply awesome goaltending by Hedberg tonight what a huge win too!

By Brendan

March 17, 2007 12:08 AM | Link to this

Big win, however it happened. Toronto, Montreal, and Tampa Bay all lost tonight in regulation. That’s all good, folks. Plus, the OTL means Atlanta gained a point on the Rangers, too. In terms of a playoff berth.

Eight points away from 94 now. Every team gets harder. Every game is a playoff game. The team you see now is the one we’ll see in the playoffs. I see at least four more wins between now and the conclusion of the regular season.

By Brian

March 17, 2007 12:22 AM | Link to this

So does this break the weekend sellout jinx or did the Ottawa game do that? We have to get rid of that before the playoffs. Tampa lost, but so did the #9, #10 & #11 seeds tonight (NYR in OT albeit, Tor & Mtl). Our grip just got tighter.

By Tom

March 17, 2007 1:39 AM | Link to this

Have you noticed another fact. For a team that had 10 overtime losses in the first 63 games we have not had one in the last 10.

Nothing spectacular but it shows we are getting away from giving points away.

By R. Stroz

March 17, 2007 1:43 AM | Link to this

The playoff jinx is over. Pucks n Slutton didn’t give the other team any goals. DEVO knocked someone on his face in the goalie crease. Moose didn’t let any pucks loose. Next, we need a win over Buffablow’s figure skaters. Buffablow’s figure skaters take more dives than the U.S. Olympic diving team.

By Kujo

March 17, 2007 2:35 AM | Link to this

The chemistry of these lines and of the power play is starting to really ripen. I just hope there’s enough games before the playoffs for everything to completely gel.

The ‘Chuck line is becoming an overwhelming physical force on the forecheck. It’s great to see Kovy use his speed to get to the spot and then throw his weight around. We’ll find out how efective it can be on Sunday.

The way to overcome an opponent’s diving is to intentionally put them on their rearend. After all, if you’re gonna get called for a fake penalty, then you might as well send a real message.

By Tony C.

March 17, 2007 3:18 AM | Link to this

Kujo is right! (why do I feel like I’m in “blazing saddles”??)

Briere certainly has missed his calling as the 2nd coming of Greg Louganis.

Ol’ Flopsie I call him. Seeing as how he’s going to milk every rotation he can out of normal contact, I say go ahead and STEP INTO IT!!!

Powerplay looked bad, we keep trying to run 1 set play per PP shift, that goes against the very nature of this game, llook at the rangers weakside movement , springing extra attackers into prime-time scoring areas…Moose certainly deserved to be the 1st Star, if it was me, I would’ve had Zhitnik as 3rd Star, and Moose as 1st AND 2nd star…he carried the day…but let’s not overlook Lundqist(spl?) he played a magnificent game, robbing Tkachuk, #17, Hoss, Slava-Matic and Bleanger at least twice each.

Still 38 SOG from your opposition does not really make for winning hockey. Need to tighten that up. It was nice to see Sutton respond with a better game after his “how not to” tutorial game the other night.

Sunday looks to be HUGE

LET’S GO BLUE !!!

By Rawhide

March 17, 2007 8:52 AM | Link to this

I think I burned an ulcer in my gut last night,…..sheeze! I’m gonna have to get into playoff shape here.

I did not see Sutton do much wrong last night,….so I gotta give him props for good work if I’m gonna trash him otherwise.

Moose looked GREAT!!! How’s that for statiing the obvious??

Magic number to win division is 17 now. Basically, if we go 5-4 down the stretch, TB has to go 7-3. THIS IS OURS TO WIN NOW!!!

As for JUST qualifying for playoffs,….Phil and Wash have been mathmatically eliminated from being able to finish higher then us. The majic, (points gaind by ATL and/or dropped by FLA) number to drop Florida into that category is 7, Boston 11.

7 of last 9 are against teams battling for playoffs, (8 of last 10 counting last night), so none of this is gonna come easy.

Sunday’s game is a MAJOR statement game vs. Buffalo!!!

GO THRASHERS - SHUFFLE OFF THE BUFFALO!!!!

By Hip Czech

March 17, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this

Rawhide…Sutton was lost out there as usual. One sequence in the the 3rd brutally illustrated that. We were saved by the Moose.

I think Sutton wound up with 8-9 minutes last night. At least if he has to be in the lineup, limit the damage to 7 or 8 minutes. We are much better for it.

My jaw dropped every time he hopped over the boards on the PK though. Fortunately the Blueshirts are shorthanded offensively (missing Shanahan and Hossa) so they could not fully take advantage. That and Belanger blanketed Jagr for most the night.

Seemed like our passing was little crisper last night. Maybe a sign that things are really starting to click. Let’s hope so and let’s hope we put two good efforts together and beat Buffalo.

Can’t make the game tomorrow…PLEASE SHUT THOSE OBNOXIOUS SABRE FANS UP!

By Midfield

March 17, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this

I don’t think anything was particularly wrong with the Thrasher’s PP other than Rangers skated like hell in continuous rotation. They tried to take advantage of Atlanta’s back-to-back schedule - not so fresh legs, you know. Of course, it’s hard to do 3 on 4 in OT after 60 minutes of extreme power skating. Lundquist was good too, by the way. I feel sorry for him: the last thing he saw was Tkachuk’s wide Ukrainian load. Actually, I don’t feel sorry for him.

By Matt H

March 17, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this

I think Daren Eliot echoed my biggest gripe at the first intermission- not enough hustle. By the third, the Thrashers were gettin’ those board battles right. Had they played that way all night, they could have dominated.

Except for Henrik, who had an outstanding game when he was tested. Two goalie duels in two nights. Hedberg turns in an MVP performance, Sutton doesn’t score any for the other team and even Greg DeVries looks like he’s playing with a purpose out there.

Also, another outstanding effort for the New Blue Crue as well as Brad Larsen, one of my very favorite Thrashers players.

I expect tomorrow’s game to be another in the fine series of Sabres/Thrashers games of this season: a tight-checking, high-energy, high-stakes goalie duel between Ryan Miller and Kari Lehtonen. These two teams seem to really bring their A game for each other.

I still don’t get the Biron trade. I mean, I understand why Buffalo made a move, but I don’t get it. If they Flyers can re-sign him, I have to think that makes them automatic contenders.

Although, I wouldn’t be too surprised if Ty Conklin started tomorrow. He stood on his head the other night against the Panthers.

By Brian

March 17, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

I am actually happy with that game last night. Primarily because that is the type of game we are going to have to grind out in the playoffs. Sure, we can win those occasional 5-2 games with ease. But can we tighten up and win the 2-1 game? Well, last night we did. That’s what we have to be able to do in April. Not give up the lead and win a shootout like we’ve been doing so many times earlier this season.

By Thrashersfan33

March 17, 2007 1:37 PM | Link to this

You know what I loved. KT standing near the bench after the game giving everyone a high five before they left the ice! That is a leader. May sound like something small, but I think it has a huge impact on moral, team unity, etc.

By Mac

March 17, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this

Thrashersfan33 - I love that, too. He does it after every game.

By Bob

March 17, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

My hangover is finally clearing enough to say great game by the Moooooosssseeeee!

They need to work on the PP, Coach just set a rule, 3 touches and shoot the puck at the net and crash. I really think they should put McCarthy in and get Havelid off the PP, it’ll help Havelid’s play at even strength and it’ll help our PP.

By Brendan

March 17, 2007 5:49 PM | Link to this

I can’t wait for the Buffalo game tomorrow. Buffalo does not seem as invincible as they were earlier in the year. Remember back in December, when it appeared like a Sabres-Ducks Final was IMMINENT. (Not that it couldn’t happen.) But do the Ducks still scare anyone? Their injured players are back and they just lost to Columbus recently. At home. At least Buffalo kept winning with “call ups” from the minors. That’s a testimony to Regier’s good drafting. Buffalo still scares me, as a potential playoff opponent. But right, I’m perhaps most leery of the Penguins. Let’s not forget that the Devils are always a threat to win the Eastern Conference.

I think Atlanta will at least get a point out of this Sabres game tomorrow.

By Rawhide

March 17, 2007 6:19 PM | Link to this

TK has taken a great lead role since he has swapped St. Loius Blue for Thrasher Blue,…..like he said,…he hasn’t come here to MAKE the playoffs,…he has come here to win the cup. That attitude seems to have been contagious.

Wonderful to see Zhitnik score that goal. He has stabalized the blueline tremendously.

Oh,…and while I still can,…….MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(cough-hack-cough)…..

I can’t make the game tomorrow, going on a pleasure trip…..I’m taking the mother-in-law to the airport!

Hehehehehehehehehhe……..(obviously, Mrs. Rawhide does not look at these blogs) :o)

Anyway, I’m with Hip Czech, keep those loud-mouth Bu-Fu-Lo types in their seats and quiet!!! I hope we lay a wooping on them!!!

Anyway,…I’ll be listening as I drive to and from Hartsfield.

GO THRASHERS - RATTLE THEM SABRES!!!

By Tom

March 17, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this

Raw Hide

“I can’t make the game tomorrow, going on a pleasure trip…..I’m taking the mother-in-law to the airport!”

Great Quote, I will be using this one on occasion.

By thrashersfan

March 18, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

Rawhide, there is no way you’re missing this game because you have to drive your “mother-in-law” to the airport! Where’s her “daughter” in all this? And wouldn’t a $50 cab ride, on you of course, be worth seeing this game? Come on now!