AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 04 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDown to the wire
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I guess we’re not surprised, right?
This division race between Atlanta and Tampa Bay will come down to the very last day, on the line is home-ice advantage in a series that just very well might be between those very two teams.
And that would be huge. The fourth game at home could be the difference in the series.
It’s funny, when we looked at the playoff picture a week ago, the general consensus among you guys was that we’d pick up all the points we’d need against Florida and Washington …. and they’re the only teams we haven’t beaten since.
OK, it’s not that funny. In fact, it’s not funny at all.
Wish I had time to write more, but we’ve got Thrash, Braves and Hawks stories all coming in here at the same time.
Let’s hear what you have to say.
Comments
By JayBird
April 4, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
I can’t believe we came out like gangbusters the 1st period and then completely lethargic the 2nd period. Inexcusable! We better figure something out by Friday night, that’s for sure.
By Tom
April 4, 2007 10:56 PM | Link to this
What happens when the fans have a greater sense of urgency than the team?
That was my impression tonight.
However, I got a picture with my family with the Cup so I still have a smile on my face, even though I do not have a voice left.
Boo’ing the Ref for the whole 4 minutes of the powerplay was impressive. I think the Thrashers realized we were p** at them and the ref.
Oh, and we have 2 of the top slot grinders in the league yet we refuse to put shots on the net on the powerplay and expect to make 10 perfect passes to set up the ESPN Hockey2Night highlight reel. We have to tell the boys that NHL2Night has been off the air for 2 years. JUST SHOOT THE DANG PUCK!
And Pony Tail guy who was in charge of the line to see the Stanley Cup, next time be a little more prepared. That was one of the worst displays of crowd control since Kevin Bacon in Animal House.
R. Stroz … my email is tom @ scaredmonkeys dot com for your pics with the Lord Stanleys Cup.
By Russ
April 4, 2007 10:59 PM | Link to this
In a franchise filled with disappointing losses, this one might rank right at the top.
By michael
April 4, 2007 11:04 PM | Link to this
Can Lamariello fire Hartley for us?
By stendec
April 4, 2007 11:11 PM | Link to this
Sori Letemin was at it again! Three soft goals. Yes, THREE SOFT GOALS! No matter how in hell you cut it. Of course the Thrashers played uninspired and with no intensity or purpose but THREE SOFTEES? Unless the so-called top goalie does a complete about face expect a first round playoff sweep. One that Thrasher fans WILL NOT appreciate! Completely unacceptable performance. A complete debacle!
By Thrashy Thrashy
April 4, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
Yeah. Ovechkin’s goals were soft. His PP goal was shot through a tiny crease in traffic and went top-shelf. The turnover by Kovalchuk led to Ovechkin going top-shelf on Lehtonen again…with Lehtonen coming out to meet him. The Thrashers blew this game by not showing up for the entire second period or the first half of the third. Blame Lehtonen all you want, stendec. You’re wrong. Your brain is a complete debacle.
By Wreckin & Thrashin
April 4, 2007 11:19 PM | Link to this
stendec, what weed are you smoking? The first goal might not have been the most quality goal, but the last 2 were pure sniper goals by Ovechkin. Both were in the upper corner of the note where no goalie can get it. Those were absolutely perfect shots. Kari bailed us out repeated in that 3rd period. He deserved to be a star of the game. What an effort!
By stendec
April 4, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this
I apologize. I have reviewed the goals on tape. I will concede that only two are soft goals. BUT TWO ARE SOFTEES! Poor positioning on two shots resulted in goals. Sorry, KL will not be rock Thrashers need in playoff push. Have dounts about Moose. Just being honest.
By stendec
April 4, 2007 11:26 PM | Link to this
I apologize. I have reviewed the goals on tape. I will concede that only two are soft goals. BUT TWO ARE SOFTEES! Poor positioning on two shots resulted in goals. Sorry, KL will not be rock Thrashers need in playoff push. Have doubts about Moose. Just being honest.
By Russ
April 4, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
The first goal was soft, the last two were just great shots.
By JayBird
April 4, 2007 11:30 PM | Link to this
I guess letting in 2 supposed soft goals is the focus and not the 3-5 world class saves that kept us in the game. I would never blame Kari for that loss. Our team had to know that there is one guy on the Caps that can beat us and we let him do just that. Without Kari, the game would have been worse than the San Jose score.
By Ice Man
April 4, 2007 11:39 PM | Link to this
I just got done reading Craig’s story … sounds like Ilya really put himself in the doghouse tonight. When asked about Ilya’s game, Hartley started talking about Ovechkin.
Ouch.
By Brendan
April 5, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Well, two of the worst losses in the franchise history have come at the hands of the Capitals. But last year’s loss to Washington that eliminate us … still is the worst loss in franchise history.
Michael … ^5!! That did make me laugh. Can Lamoriello fire Hartley for us? LOL. You just know someone is scrambling through the CBA to see if that’s legally possible.
Did Washington just beat us for the 3rd straight time??
By Ben
April 5, 2007 12:15 AM | Link to this
I’m curious… I was at the game and I don’t think ANYBODY ever saw a high sticking that Boulton was called for. Every single person in the arena was stunned and scratching their head when they called for no goal. The replays we were showed didn’t catch the play, so apparently it was well away from the play. So did the TV cameras pick it up? Was it a legit call? I’ve never seen the Philips crowd so rowdy and so angry as it was then. There was pure venom coming out of the stands! Again, nobody in the entire arena saw a high stick, so I have no idea if it was a legit call or not.
By michael
April 5, 2007 12:53 AM | Link to this
Bench Hartley!
By michael
April 5, 2007 12:57 AM | Link to this
Am I the only one who thinks that Havelid got outworked by Gordon, who took the puck from him and passed it to Ovechkin? What about Ovechkins first goal, Havelid was just standing there watching him shoot.
By Nicholas Irwin
April 5, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this
stendec, you slay me. Did you happen to notice his freaking parade of highlight reel saves in the third period? And your definition of a soft goal might be the most absurdly unfair thing ever. If any goalie had stopped either of those Ovechkin shots, it would have been pure dumbass luck. I didn’t think the first goal was a problem either, really, but at most, you have one of your beloved (GASP!!!) “soft goals.” And even then, all three goals were caused by terrible giveaways, so really it’s not Lehtonen’s fault at all…it’s the defense’s for giving the puck away like that. You can only throw around a prediction that we will get swept in the first round so many times before nobody pays attention anymore (that goes for a bunch of the rest of you, too…although I haven’t seen it too much tonight, I must admit.)
As far as the call goes, Boulton’s stick did indeed hit that guy in the face, but it appeared that the stick was lifted by the supposed victim. On the other hand, it also looked like it only might have been lifted slightly and that Boulton himself brought it up into the guy’s face, so I’m not sure how terrible of a call it was, to be quite honest, although I must admit I’m not sure of the specific letter of the law as it relates to that situation, either (e.g. at what point is the penalty negated by the stick-lifting). Given that it took away what would have been the game-tying goal, I certainly understand the reaction, and really can’t say I felt any different, quite frankly.
By luckydog
April 5, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this
Ben, I watched on TV and Boult had his stick firmly on the ice before the Caps guy brought it up. Problem was, he only brought it up about waist high. Then Boults appeared to hesitate, then bring it up himself to face-level. I didn’t see any further assistance from the Caps guy. Very tough call, but technically correct I thought after seeing the slow-mo. Plus, I distinctly heard the whistle before Larsen’s shot.
Looking ahead, the good news is the Thrash have a habit of losing games they are supposed to win (i.e. the losses to Philly) and then coming up big (2 wins against Buffalo). Tha Canes have owned us all year so maybe Friday night is our turn.
By wristshot
April 5, 2007 8:48 AM | Link to this
I thought the Thrashers would have had somebody shadowing Ovechkin last night. With Semin out he was the Caps only real threat. On his first goal we allowed him to walk right in from the point with nobody near him. Maybe Kovy was supposed to be his shadow and just blew his assignment.
By ThrashDaddy
April 5, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
I can hear the Lightning players sitting around the TV watching, yelling and laughing about it all the way to a showdown on Saturday — they had to be wondering if somebody in Tampa knows where Hartley buried the skeletons….
HARTLEY may well have signed his own dismissal papers for benching Kovalchuk in the 3rd period (IMHO) — Question: With only 2 games and 1 period left, 1 point divisional lead and two points at stake — Is this really the time to sit your most dynamic player in an egotistical “I’ll teach the kid a lesson” move?
Absolutely not — never mind that 2 other Thrashers had a chance to make a play on the puck before Kovy whiffed on it at the end of the 2nd — you have got to be kidding Hartley
Not only does it take one of your best players off the ice for 19 minutes but it allows Washington to play a more aggressive forecheck because Kovy — who can get one step and a pass and be gone — ISN’T FRICKIN OUT THERE
That is undoubtedly the single most pigheaded, short-sighted, egotistical, Coach’s ignorance put before the team move I have seen in many a year. Ovechkin and Crosby are outperforming Kovy for one simple reason — their coaches let them play without being under fear of the wrath of an egomaniac if they make a couple of mistakes — NOBODY is perfect Hartley — least of all you.
If we fall to a lower seed and draw Buffalo and get swept Hartley should be gone.
On the brighter side — I am so happy to see Andy Sutton begin rediscovering his form and self-confidence: couldn’t happen at a better time.
I hope we survive Hartley’s
By ThrashDaddy
April 5, 2007 9:13 AM | Link to this
I can hear the Lightning players sitting around the TV watching, yelling and laughing about it all the way to a showdown on Saturday — they had to be wondering if somebody in Tampa knows where Hartley buried the skeletons….
HARTLEY may well have signed his own dismissal papers for benching Kovalchuk in the 3rd period (IMHO) — Question: With only 2 games and 1 period left, 1 point divisional lead and two points at stake — Is this really the time to sit your most dynamic player in an egotistical “I’ll teach the kid a lesson” move?
Absolutely not — never mind that 2 other Thrashers had a chance to make a play on the puck before Kovy whiffed on it at the end of the 2nd — you have got to be kidding Hartley
Not only does it take one of your best players off the ice for 19 minutes but it allows Washington to play a more aggressive forecheck because Kovy — who can get one step and a pass and be gone — ISN’T FRICKIN OUT THERE
That is undoubtedly the single most pigheaded, short-sighted, egotistical, Coach’s ignorance put before the team move I have seen in many a year. Ovechkin and Crosby are outperforming Kovy for one simple reason — their coaches let them play without being under fear of the wrath of an egomaniac if they make a couple of mistakes — NOBODY is perfect Hartley — least of all you.
If we fall to a lower seed and draw Buffalo and get swept Hartley should be gone.
On the brighter side — I am so happy to see Andy Sutton begin rediscovering his form and self-confidence: couldn’t happen at a better time.
I hope we survive Hartley’s power trip - pitiful Coach, just pitiful.
By ThrashDaddy
April 5, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
sorry fellow Bluelanders — didn’t mean to post that twice…..
By Bob
April 5, 2007 9:43 AM | Link to this
First, paging sodapop, please return to the yesterday’s Iceman blog for your morning meds, thank you
Lehtonen played great, can’t hang it on him.
The high stick on Boulton was inadvertant and unfortunate, but the right call.
Sitting Kovy for the 3rd, was the right call (did Kovy look p**, or what?). Remember, the kid always responds well and we need much better play out of him in the playoffs. That play he made at the end of the 2nd was unacceptable, his effort and lack of team play in the 2nd was unacceptable. Kudos to Hartley for having the cahones to sit him.
This is all coming down to the last game on Saturday, as it should. One game for the division, should be fun, and we’ll see the boys step up and take it.
By Rawhide
April 5, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
All this doom and gloom!?! - SHEEZE!
Last I checked,….a Thrasher win Friday vs. Carolina coupled with a Boltz loss vs. Florida wins the division for us.
That would leave TB playing for it’s playoff life on Saturday.
I, too, am very disappointed in last night’s outcome,…..especially the effort in the 2nd,….but the division is still in our grasps.
If Friday night’s outcomes are favorable,…last night’s will all but be forgotten!
GO THRASHERS!!
By ThrashDaddy
April 5, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Rawhide — I agree and am well aware of the implications of Friday’s games — BUT one point, just one point, from last night and it doesn’t matter what TB does Friday — we win or tie in reg and we are Division Champs — with the possibility of resting some and not taking chances with injuries on Saturday.
Just can’t agree that Hartley’s decision was cahones — cahones might say bench him a couple minutes then send him back out. What Hartley did put his feelings over the good of the team…..period.
How many others has he benched like that? Nobody — it’s always Kovy — something deeper there and it just doesn’t make sense.
By Rawhide
April 5, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this
T-Daddy,…..I understand your feelings,….quite frankly I was a bit surprised he benched Kovy too. It looked like the whole team took the period off.
However, it could be that what happened that led to their 3rd goal was just the “icing on the cake” kind of thing.
Maybe there have been issues at practice or in the locker room with him that just finally came to a head.
I dunno.
I will say that I am one who feels team descipline is a must and if BH needed to send a point now,…fine.
By michael
April 5, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Bob— I have to disagree. Benching one of your top scorers when you are down by 2 and the division is on the line, unacceptable! Havelid got outworked by Gordon on the wall and he made a lazy pass to Kovy that Ovechkin had read all the way. Kovy is the only player that Hartley singles out. Hartley never benches anyone else when they deserve it more. Ovechkins first goal was Havelids assignment, and where was he? Staring at Ovechkin like a deer in headlights 15 ft. away. The coaching of the pp is horrific, it is killing us. There is no excuse for the way this TEAM is playing with the roster we have. There is no killer instinct.
By silverpork
April 5, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
The Kari criticisms kill me. Were you guys watching the game? Maybe one of three was questionable. Maybe. Don’t blame the goalie when the team collapses defensively like it did last night. Not a goalie in the league will stop AO in the low slot when he has time and space, not with a wrister like that. Only way he doesn’t score is by missing the next or shooting into the goalie. The loss was awful, but it was absolutely not Kari’s fault.
By Matt H
April 5, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
Michael I thought Havelid had a weak game last night too. But I have to side with Hartley on benching Kovy. Though he’s inconsistent about it, Hartley can’t be rewarding sloppy play like that with ice time.
Problem was, most of the team shouldn’t have been out there last night. Where’s the big goal from Marian? He’s gotta be playing hurt (or at least I hope he is).
He let Kovy out for the final minutes of the period, so I don’t think he was totally cutting his nose off to spite his face.
By brad
April 5, 2007 12:08 PM | Link to this
If Thrashers win on Friday against Carolina and Tampa loses to Florida - then Atlanta would clinch Friday night as they would have a 3 pt lead heading into Saturday’s game. The way Florida has played that is very possible - as they have been tough on everyone. I look forward to rooting the Thrashers on Friday night at the RBC - should be interesting to see how Carolina plays as they have nothing to lose.
By michael
April 5, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Matt H —- what was sloppy about Kovy’s play. The fact that Havelid made a lazy ditch pass or that Ovechkin had that pass sniffed out before Havelid made it. It doesn’t matter if Hossa was their instead of Kovy, Ovechkin had that pass read and was on it right away.
By Bumbleebee Tuna
April 5, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this
That game made me want to vomit. We looked fantastic in the first period and like girl scouts in the second. By the time the 3rd rolled around, we were frantic and trying to play catch-up. The highlight of the evening was almost being pancaked by the Stanley Cup bearer as I got off of an elevator.
By Hockey Puck
April 5, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
Wow, thats a great way to fire up the fans and sell playoff tickets! Bob, how about getting these guys to play as a team instead of individuals. How about some defense. How about some practiced plays on the power play. I know thats a lot to ask but you are the coach, right? It was nice to see the CUP visiting because if we continue to play like this, we will never win it.
By Bumbleebee Tuna
April 5, 2007 1:11 PM | Link to this
P.S. - I think we could stand to eliminate a few of the extra passes before each shot on goal. Last time I checked, there’s not a chance for a good rebound if you never take a shot.
By Hnidy's Knights
April 5, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
I think I see a Moose sighting on the horizon in Raleigh…
By michael
April 5, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
If anyone is interested a group of us are going to the canes game tommorow night and we have an extra ticket and spot on the van. let me know
By Matt H
April 5, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
Michael- after the first period, I thought Kovy looked as disinterested out there as most of the rest of the team. Benching him may not have been merited on the Ovechkin play alone, but his play was kind of emblematic of the team’s last night- Show up for the first period, clock out, and coast. If Kovy gets benched, no one’s safe.
I completely see your side of the argument; you want your best players on the ice at critical times.
But I think before that, you need all your players on the ice for the full 60 minutes.
I can’t back up Hartley’s move with 100% confidence because he doesn’t do this kind of thing consistently enough, in my opinion.
But I think it’s the kind of thing he needs to do more of, so I support the decision.
In other news, if you want to see ATL’s own Scott Burnside braggin’ on Eric Belanger, Alexei Zhitnik and Keith Tkachuk at ESPN.com, click here.
By hossaman
April 5, 2007 8:07 PM | Link to this
Did anyone see the new Heineken Lounge (the old Delta Lounge). The Cup was up there most of the game on Wednesday, the place is the best seat in the house with a cool new bar. Hossa out…