AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > March > 20 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USLogjam in the East
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As off nights go, this was a pretty discouraging one. We could have gone a long way toward clinching a playoff spot if a few teams had taken care of business. Instead, Montreal, Tampa and Toronto all win, further jamming up the bottom of the playoff race.
How about those Islanders? They come back from down 2-0, go up 3-2 and lose in OT to give Tampa two big points. It hurts us, for sure, but it surely hurts the Isles more. They NEEDED that win, that extra point.
Toronto and Montreal are now nipping at the heels of the Canes.
And I’ll tell you this, too. My friend in NY, who covers a lot of Rangers games, IM’d me tonight about the possibility of the Rangers and Thrashers meeting in the playoffs.
“Good,” I said. “We’ll kill those guys.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” he said. “They dominated the Thrashers the other night, but just go stonewalled by Hedberg.”
“Oh,” I countered. “So they play a great game … and STILL lose to the BACKUP goalie of the team that WON’T? beat them in the playoffs. That’s solid logic.”
Then he backpedaled and said he was merely disagreeing with my assessment that the Thrashers would “kill” the Rangers. And maybe that is strong, but the Rangers are definitely one of the teams I would like to face in the first round. Them and the Devils, because of this weird little run we seem to be having against them. Ilya certainly seems to have Brodeur’s number sometimes.
But the odds are it will be either Tampa or the Rangers. And I DO NOT … DO NOT .. want to play Tampa in the first round. Bad mojo.
Another day off for the Thrash tomorrow. … We’ll fill the void somehow.
Comments
By Nate
March 20, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this
I’m with you dude. I’d just assume we avoid Tampax in the first round. They seem to always out chance us. And we seem to have Jersey’s number (and the Rangers for that matter). On the plus side, we’re only 6 points behind the Devs now for the 2 spot (I know they have a game in hand). Anything is possible right now. There’s no telling who we’ll face in the 1st round.
By Tim
March 20, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
I rather face Tampa goalies then a top shape Lundqvist however.
By ranallo10
March 21, 2007 1:19 AM | Link to this
Lundqvist is scary good but the Rangers as a whole are the weaker team (in my opinion). If Shanahan rebounds from his near death experience, I STILL think the Thrashers could beat them in a series.
So I’d rather see the Thrashers face the Rangers than the Big 3 in Tampa.
By Tony C.
March 21, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
Is it even possible for Le Thrash to meet NJD in the 1st round???
Aren’t they going to win the “Atlantic” division or whatever it’s called?
So if we (by that I mean The Thrashers), win the division (which we will) we’re most likely #3 right? so #3 plays #6, which would be NYR or TB…We want NYR…not just because you know #17 will have a hat-trick his first playoff game in The Garden, but because I still have nagging doubts about our guys solving the Tampa double fore-check style.
I don’t see Brodeur loosing more than once more in the regular season, but it could happen…maybe.
Anyway with all the jockeying going on right now, it looks like the races will come down to that last day oof the regular season…where I’d love to see our guys knock TB onto the golfcourse early. I think I’m most concerned about D.C. though. They have nothing to loose, and as hiBob said “looks like a rivalry”
LET’S GO BLUE !!!
By LAC
March 21, 2007 9:21 AM | Link to this
Tony C. Cannot meet NJD in first round unless either they or us start LOSING and LOSING fast.
We lose and we are out, NJD would have to drop to 6th. Meaning Pitt wins Atlantic, and Ottawa gains 5th. That meaning we stay 3rd.
ottawagot a GIFT win last night in St.Louis gift wrapped by THE WORST Official in the NHL MCGOO, Gee this clown missed TWO CLEAR St.Louis goals.
first goes in, and is clear asday visible on the replay, but mcGOO didnot even review. Then he blows his whistle when the puck is going over the line in PLAIN SIGHT !!!!!!!!!!!!
How in the Hell does the NHL allow crap llike this, John Davidson should be demanding mcGOO be banned from calling another game EVER.
He is BAD and I sure hope he is not doing any Atlanta games, I am FOR SURE he would do everything in HIS power to hurt our chances in the playoffs !!!
By Bob
March 21, 2007 9:25 AM | Link to this
I am hoping for Tampa, big time. They defense is in trouble now with Ranger out and their goaltending is awful.
The Rangers are hot, your friend is right. But we match up with them well.
This is a completely new club with the 4 new guys Waddell brought in, I fear no one in the first round. I really fear no one until we meet Buffalo. Not confident we can beat everyone, just confident we can skate with anyone over a 7 game series, except Buffablow, they just keep coming at you and if Miller gets hot, watch out. Only reason they went out last year is because they had 4 of their top 6 dmen go down.
By Rawhide
March 21, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
I predict the Rangers will be our aopponents,……granted it’s all speculation.
As posted yesterday, rangers in the 6 spot, TB as the 7th seed and Toronto squeeks in as the 8th….(many disagree with my Leafs prediction, but I’m stickin’ with it).
Either way, the east is gonna shuffle back and forth between the 6th and 11th spot for the next 2 weeks with barely 3-4 points separating the 6 teams. What fun!!!
Brandon, per your request,…the jersey is currently occupying it’s position in the front of the closet,…with NOTHING else touching it,…one of my finest suit-type coat hanger holding it. The crest facing north toward the NHL Hockey Hall of Fame. It will remain there unti tomorrow afternoon after work, when I put it on and me and the two tax-exemptions head down to Philips with me, (one wearing the blue, the other wearing the old dark uni,…all Thrasher colors represented).
As for dry cleaning,……not even gonna think about that until after the season,….and then, only the third eday after a full moon, when there is 0% chance of rain in the forcast & the Braves are playing a team that will be starting a right-handed pitcher that used to play for the Braves.
By ranallo10
March 21, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Rawhide — we need time stamps on game day.
By Ryan
March 21, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
I still believe we will meet Tampa in the First Round, it is possible to face the Rangers. Tampa may be our scariest opponent, might as well face them early and then roll through the rest of the rounds until Buffalo. Time will tell, there is still a lot of hockey left to be played. The teams likely to get hot are Rangers and Carolina. Carolina is a scary possibility, they are physical in the post-season. They beat up on Buffalo in the conference finals last season and pretty much took them out. They continued that kind of play into the Finals. Rangers are looking for redemption for their lack of good play last post season. To make a long story short, Ranger and Carolina are looking to make statements…it could be very interesting.
By Shark Hunt Thursday
March 21, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
I think we still owe Tampa a serious beating after the way they intentionally injured Lehtonen last year in the stretch run. Personally, I’d like to see the Thrash be the ones that knock them out or keep them out of the playoffs altogether. GO THRASH! GET ‘ER DONE!
By Brendan
March 21, 2007 12:38 PM | Link to this
My fellow Thrashers fans, I beseech thee. Why are you so afraid of Tampa Bay? Do they really scare you? Do they?? I think we take them, on DEPTH, in six games. Tampa is hardly a “push over,” but our team got a lot better after the deadline.
It’s my personal belief that, with rare exceptions, teams do not advance in the playoffs without good goaltending. Tampa is in trouble. I watched Holmqvist give up such a softie last night, that I could scarcely believe it happened at the NHL level.
Unless he and Denis have a metamorphosis by the time the playoffs start, Tampa isn’t going anywhere. Bring on the Bolts! I’d much rather face them than the Rangers.
Last season, the Rangers lost the last nine (9) games they played. Five in the regular season and four-straight in the playoffs. I think the Rangers lack consistency. Any team lacking consistency is, in my opinion, not destined to advance far into the playoffs. With that in mind, I think Atlanta will defeat the Rangers as well. But the Rangers will be a tougher series.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
March 21, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
ICEMAN-
So where in NY are you from? You have never mention it(that I can recall). I would guess LI. I would guess even further that it is in Nassau county. Southshore perhaps
I’ll go out on a limb and say Massapequa…
By JayBird
March 21, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this
Ice Man, you wouldn’t be Peter Vecsey’s son would you? Just curious.
By Bob
March 21, 2007 2:34 PM | Link to this
Brendan, not afraid of Tampa in the least. In fact, that’s who I prefer we play. Ranger out, their goalies suck, we have greatly improved after Waddell brought in the 4 newbies. Bring on the Boltz.
A Massapequa sighting, had a pledge brother in college from Massapequa, drove a Trans Am complete with the big eagle on the hood and glass pacs. We needed a translator to understand him, I always thought he sounded like he had marbles in his mouth when he talked. He took us up there one time, great town.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
March 21, 2007 3:53 PM | Link to this
It wasn’t far from where I grew up. I watched a lot of TV so I didn’t have to sound like those @ssholes.
My brother is a Cop in Queens. He is near impossible to understand. “Phucken’ a right ya jerk”
By Matt H
March 21, 2007 5:10 PM | Link to this
I hope it’s the Rangers. Thrashers/Rangers games are always spirited affairs, and we always seem to get way up for games at the Garden.
Also, a NY/ATL series would give the Thrash more national exposure. Plus, it’ll be fun for the Southeast’s capital city to take out the Northeast’s capital city. :)
By polskidawg
March 21, 2007 7:41 PM | Link to this
A Rangers/Thrashers series would be much more exciting for the city and casual fans – and me. As a Southerner, I would love to be able to see my NYC friends’ faces after the Thrash beat their beloved Rangers.
But you know what? I just want to see a playoff series! I haven’t seen one since I was in High School!
And believe Brendan about the Bolts – goaltending will be their undoing! I only fear one EAST goalie – Martin Brodeur. The other teams are about in the same boat as the Thrashers, except possibly BUF or CAR.
By Midfield
March 22, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
Lundkvist is very good too. It’s hard to predict who will really rise to the occasion. Last year, Carolina entered the play-offs with like the highest goals against, and noone thought much of Cam Ward.
By Brendan
March 22, 2007 5:03 PM | Link to this
Tony C., thank you for the links to the fights. It was great seeing Exelby throw ‘em. That’s my choice for best Thrashers fight. “X” made quite a debut. He’s had a loyal following here ever since.
I don’t recall any Zhitnik fights immediately off the top of my head. I’m the sure the guy’s had some. Can anyone remember a Zhitnik fight that stands out in your memory?
By Brian
March 22, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
Brendan - I watched all of Zhitnik’s career in Buffalo and I can’t think of 1.
By Brendan
March 22, 2007 11:14 PM | Link to this
Well, if McCarthy is sitting because he’s not “physical enough,” but fight-less Zhitnik is up on the top pairing, then I still don’t understand Hartley’s line of thinking. I’d say the Thrashers could have used a little more O-ffense tonight. But McCarthy is sitting.