AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > April > 15 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFour-step program to recovery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Disheartening stat of the day: Only 37 of 274 teams have come back to win a best-of-seven playoff series after losing the first two games. That’s 13.5 percent. Of those 37, 16 have done it after losing the first two at home. That’s a 6-percent success rate.
However — and you guys know how I like silver linings — it did happen twice just last year. And one of those teams, the Carolina Hurricanes, went on to win the Stanley Cup, as I recall. (Brian, can you confirm that?) In fact, Carolina lost the first two games of the first round AT HOME to Montreal before the mo’ turned in the Hurricanes’ favor.
So, you see? We’re in like Flynn.
Maybe not. But still. Just a little positive spin on a dire situation. Let’s no forget, too, that the Thrashers typically went on some of their longer winning streaks this season immediately after some of their more demoralizing defeats. We know this team has some resilience to it.
I took the Ice Kids to the Cooler today for a few laps at free skate. The comforting swoosh of a thin metal blade gliding on the ice gave me a chance to reflect on the first two games. We had a lot of varied opinions in yesterday’s blog — some well-reasoned and intelligent. Others a little out there. Some, well, just plain sick and twisted.
Here seem to be the general principles to which the Thrashers must abide if they want to get back into this series. Nobody write in and say, “Hey, you clueless idiot, that’s what I wrote yesterday!” I know it’s what you wrote yesterday. I’m summing up the thoughts and ideas generated by you.
Here they be:
Fix the power play. We never really had a great power play this season, but we at least had a power play. This Norman Dale Offense (pass four times before you shoot) isn’t going to cut it. We’ve actually had good movement on the PP, just no shots. And when we do take shots, they’re coming from the perimeter on one-timers and slappers. Like Lance Armstrong says, It’s not about the bike … it’s about the cycle. We’ve got to get a rotation going down low and get some quality inside shots on the PP.
Find Marian Hossa’s manhood. There are whispers in Ottawa that Hossa was one of the main culprits for the Senators’ annual postseason flameouts. I, for one, would like to shut those people up. But to do that, Hossa’s gonna have to get a little more aggressive with the puck. There are few people who make that bullrush from the right side as fearsome as he does. We’ve seen him cut inside defensemen, go around defensemen and turn two defensement into each other. Remember that one time, when he bunny-hopped the defenseman’s stick and met up with the puck on the other side and scored uncontested? That’s what we need to see. He needs to play a little less calculated and with a lot more of that aggressive creativity. I’ve seen defensemen start to weep openly when they see him coming one-on-one.
Forget about Sean Avery for a few minutes. I, for one, liked the way the Thrashers tried to dole out some physical punishment. But I think you guys could be right when you say it took the Thrashers away from their normal game. Heck, even Avery said it. If the opportunity is there to put him down, do it. But the team needs to stop going out of its way for the big hit on the big distraction. That applies most directly to Ilya, whose energy needs to be directed more toward the net.
Better decisions from the D-men. OK, that might be asking a bit much, but they have to try. Zhitnik is rock solid. XLB is what he is, and he’s playing well. And de Vries, though limited in his range of skills, usually makes the right play with the puck. But Sutton, Havelid and Hnidy are killing us with their hesitations and ill-timed passes in the defensive zone. Sometimes they need to be content with just getting the puck across the blue line and regrouping.
So those are four. Feel free to submit your own, and I’ll fax the list up to Hi Bob in NYC.
We’ll make a series of it yet.
Services »
Comments
By Matthew at the SLC
April 15, 2007 7:39 PM | Link to this
This whole playoff run was fun until Thursday night and the real Thrashers team showed up.
There is no way we can win this series. Avery has gotten into their heads.
They will be lucky to make it back for Game 5.
Some Bozo just called fronm the Thrashers ticket office wanting me to buy more playoff tickets.
I laughed him off the phone!
By kckarnes
April 15, 2007 7:57 PM | Link to this
What is wrong with Kozlov? This guy has won a Stanley but he’s been playing like he’s never been to the playoffs.If he would get going maybe Hossa would to.
By R. Stroz
April 15, 2007 8:05 PM | Link to this
I think it is time to turn the tables on the Rangers. Have Boulton or Sim fly up to Lundqvist after a save and spray ice in his face. We need one player, and not one that scores goals, to go out and annoy the crap out of the Rangers. One player to go out and cross check Shanahan, Avery, or Hollweg into the boards. Then we will see if the Rangers will waste their energy protecting them. There is nothing more fun than using a team’s tactics against them.
By Brad
April 15, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
Points No. 2 & 3 are the ones that are key. We have been playing much more physical, and going after the Rangers, but that wasn’t our game during the regular season. Our offensive guys have been quiet at the net, and they need to get in there. With the exception of the last few minutes in Game 1, we haven’t crashed and created havoc in front of Lundqvist at all, and we have to do that. Our studs aren’t carrying the team. Kovy, Hoss, Kozlov, Tkachuk… those guys have to score. We can’t rely on the Dupuis, Holik, Larsen line to score all our points, as they pretty much did in Game 1… Our studs have to stop getting involved in other facets of the game and start crashing the net and start scoring. Lundqvist has played well, but he hasn’t been perfect. We can beat him more times than the Rangers beat our goaltenders.
By dj
April 15, 2007 8:27 PM | Link to this
Here are my observations:
Kozlov has to step up. He is the generator for his line and he is the reason hossa is 0,0,-2.
29 shots through two periods in game two. Pathetic. We have to shoot and block more shots. Every ranger player is on the ice taking it for the team. Where are our guys at? You think you got the third see the rangers are going to lay down and give it to you.
Score first. Enough said.
Sim needs to play with Ilya and Walt. Not mellanby, twice in game two he iced the puck b/c he was tired and didn’t move his feet. He has limited offensive talent at his age and sim can at least skate.
God forbid I say this, but maybe throwin in JPVJ and McCarthy if healthy would be a good shakeup. Hartley said he didn’t want to mess with a winning line up. Well, your not winning so start messing.
That’s all I got.
By Bob
April 15, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this
Iceman, here’s what Hartley and the boys need to do to get back in it and take Game 3, then go after a Game 4 24 hours later.
1)Start Hedberg Game 3 2)Quit looking for the hits, let Exelby and Holik’s line do that work when the opportunity avails itself, but everyone else is going to the net from the drop of the puck, no more headhunting. 3)Switch up the PP, go with just one dman on the point, but someone with wheels like Dupuis or Kovy on the point and sit Havelid, he’s useless on the PP 4)Put Sutton on Jagr. Zhitnik and Havelid are overmatched and we’re lucky that line hasn’t killed us more than what they’ve done so far. 5)We can outwork them in a Game 3, then in the next game 24 hours later, start Kari in Game 4. I watched him yesterday. He was intent on watching everything Moose did, I think he’ll come back refocused, see if he can steal you Game 4.
By ZAvalanche
April 15, 2007 8:56 PM | Link to this
First things first. To all you people who were p** at the IceMan yesterday for his upbeat, pro-thrahsers postings, you all can go and take your Boo-Bird attitude to a Hawks game or someplace else where crap-style-play is the status quo. I know it hurts, losing is never fun, believe me, my team that i lived and died by suffered 2 consecutive game 7 loses in the Western conference finals in ‘98 and ‘99 to the Stars. Those were 2 of the worst days I ever had, but we got up, dusted off and took it to ‘em the next year. IceMan, i dig your posts and your attitude and i know im gonna get blasted for this but, keep it up man: you are a believer.
Now, on to the hockey. First things first. The Power play HAS to be more productive. While watching the hated detroit redwings today, i noticed something. They move the puck well on the PP, we move the puck well on the PP. Difference is that they shoot it! Doesn’t matter if it is in close or from the blue line. They shoot it and put themselves in position to clean up the rebounds. We have to shoot more, i dont care if it is clean or not, shoot the puck.
Have we been outplayed? There has been a lot of disagreement on this issue. Simple fact of the matter is: it doesn’t matter. We lost. Twice. I thought we had a very good game saturday, good enough that the difference was a crazy bounce on a clearing pass. Doesnt matter, if we REALLY were better, that lame goal wouldn’t have made a difference. It did make the difference: we weren’t able to overcome it.
Everybody has been saying “where is Hossa? Did he not show up?”, well, IMO they have done such an effective job of shutting that line down that he hasn’t been able to do much. Chalk that up to their defense, they deserve it. It isn’t like Hossa decided to not show, in fact, I bet this is killing him much more than any of us. He is a star, he will show up and prove it. I just hope it is sooner rather than later.
As for Avery, he is doing EXACTLY what he is supposed to. When he has Kovy chasing him around the ice in the final minute of a 2-1 game, rather than trying to score, he is performing his job description to the tee. He is an agitator first and foremost and a very good one. Forget him Kovy, and make a mockery of Lundqvist!
The last big issue i have, besides defense (which is a matter of ability rather than desire) is that we keep having two guys chase the guy with the puck rather than playing position. That is a big breakdown that the Rangers are exploiting.
Facts: 1. Our overly physical play, while entertaining, is compromising our positional play.
Kovy and Hossa need to find some space. They are getting confined and shut down.
The Holik line is playing awesome.
Moose stood on his head and will continue to do so.
PP needs to click if we stand a chance.
And finally, I HOPE those ranger fans go and buy every broom in the Big Apple, cause they are gonna need ‘em to sweep up the tears when we come in there and beat the living crap out of ‘em! Common Thrasher fans, don’t get down cause it aint over yet!
By ZAvalanche
April 15, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
I completely agree with Bob and the mixing of the lines. Hartley has a reputation of mixing the lines when things are not working. He has done nothing yet. Throw things around. I like the sound of a Holik, Kovy and Hossa line. Holik in there to mix it up and provide a good presence in the slot and then you got Kovy and Hossa to buzz around and destroy the defense.
By michael
April 15, 2007 9:21 PM | Link to this
Not enough c** and balls is the problem!
They need to get the eye of the tiger!
By Rawhide
April 15, 2007 9:34 PM | Link to this
Nicely put Dave. And there is nothing like an hour or so on the ice with the little one to clear the head.
Your point one is obvious,…but needs to be addressed. PK has been good, but our PP has sucked. Same reasons,….passes around the perimeter, nothing into the goal area. We also gave away too many break-aways while on the PP. Moosed saved our butts on one in the 3rd.
Your point three is right on the money. That punk Avery knows just what he’s doing and we have taken the bait. Kovy especially.
BRAD - your point about crashing the net is correct as well. We need to get in his kitchen. He has played very well, but for the most part he has been able to see the puck and not worry about traffic.
My point is to echo my suggestion that Moose starts game three. Tell Kari he has game 4, (unless Moose pulls a 48 save shutout or somthing like that). Moose had the best start of the two, but a fresh Kari Wednesday night could be the right move to pull even in the series.
Something tells me, though, that BH is gonna keep this decision close to his chest for another day or so.
ZA - I’m with ya. I’m still upbeat as well and I like the fact that Ice Man is keeping the positives a-spinnin’!!!
As the great Winston Churchill once stated, “Never give up. NEVER give up. Never, ever, EVER give up”.
GO THRASHERS - RIP THE RUMP-RANGERS!!
By B. Thenet
April 15, 2007 10:12 PM | Link to this
Score early in MSG, that crowd will be quiet as a mouse if they are down by 1 or 2 early.
Keep up the strong team defense. While our forwards may not be scoring, they are also making it harder for the Rangers to score.
Wait for the shot on the PP. The main culprit on the PP is not a lack of shooting, it is that the players are not being patient enough to wait for a good shooting opportunity.
The Rags are so overagressive on the PK that they will be out of position if you can make 2 solid passes. The tic-tac-toes are there, our boys need to be patient and connect the dots.
Removing Mellanby from all PP duties will certainly help in this regard.
Take the body and this becomes a long series that turns in our favor.
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 12:28 AM | Link to this
ICEMAN, teams rallied twice in last year’s playoffs to win a series from down 2-0. Carolina dropped the 1st two in Raleigh, then won the next four to take the series. In the Conference Semi-Finals, San Jose led Edmonton 2-0, but lost Game Three in TRIPLE OVERTIME. Imagine if the Sharks could have tallied? They would have been up 3-0 in the series. Instead, the Oilers won the next four (4) to take the series.
And … (Did you see this one coming?) the Oilers trailed the Hurricanes 2-0 in the Finals. The Oilers rallied to win Games Three, Five, and Six to force Game Seven. But they lost it.
So? So, that’s three (3) times in last year’s playoffs that a team that trailed 2-0 rallied for three (3) wins in a series. If you’re looking for more examples of that silver lining.
Canucks and Stars are going to overtime, A-GAIN. I’m not staying up for this one. Last time I tried, I fell asleep at 2:10 AM. The game ended at 3:30 AM, roughly.
Let’s hope the Thrashers play with a sense of URGENCY in these next few games. I am, at this point, going to reject the notion that the guys in the lockerroom are fed up with Hartley, and his various benchings of star players, to the point where they’re throwing the series to ensure that a new Coach will be here at training camp. I mention it only because I was asked to respond to this very question today. I think everyone wearing Thrasher blue wants to win, especially the Captain, Scott Mellanby, in what is very likely to be his last season.
I was also asked what happened to Hossa? I replied, “I know that Hossa is one of the 20-best forwards on the planet. I also know he’s the MVP of the Thrashers. And he’s arguably the MVP of the league. So don’t count him out just yet.” If Hossa ends this series with Zero goals or one or fewer points, I suspect he will come under closer scrutiny, especially as his “contract year” approaches. People will start to argue that players don’t need to be paid Mega Millions to not score goals in the playoffs. And if Brad Larsen winds up finishing as our best point-getter of the playoffs, expect “consequences.” But we’re hardly there yet.
By Matthew At The SLC
April 16, 2007 1:12 AM | Link to this
I only have one thing that needs be said about this whole issue. And this was Herb Brooks’ favorite thing to say to his team during the 1980 Winter Olympics. And it’s the only thing that needs to be said right now, and if Hartley and the team listen, they can turn it around.
PLAY YOUR GAME!!!
Play the game the brought you here. Stop trying to be something you’re not. We’re not an overly physical team. Yeah, we can hit, but not like this. Playing like this is taking us out of our game. Play the puck. Use Tkachuk to crash the net. Have Hossa rush from the right side. Set up Ilya with the one-timers 5 feet from the net. Stop letting Andy Sutton touch the puck. In other words…
PLAY YOUR GAME!!!
By rockdr99
April 16, 2007 1:30 AM | Link to this
PLAY YOUR GAME — The best suggestion in the group — DANCE WITH WHAT BRUNG US — FOCUS ON THE NEXT GAME, THE NEXT PERIOD, THE NEXT FACEOFF — EACH ACTION IS FOR PERSONAL PRIDE —
I believe we got here playing a certain way and the only way to proceed is to continue playing that way with all of the intensity we’ve got —
ABOVE ALL, STAY POSITIVE
By Barry
April 16, 2007 3:49 AM | Link to this
I have to agree that Thrashers have been overly physical. It’s fine to be physical and knock guys off the puck and not allow them any time and space to do anything, but not at the cost of over committing to it and allowing the Rangers to go on an odd man rush. Yes the PP does need to generate more offense and more chances. Thrashers need to play their game. They are a fast skating skill team similar to the Sabres. When they try to dump and chase and fight for puck battles along the boards they are going to lose. Only line that can do that effectively is the Holik line. Thrashers HAVE to get more traffic in front. Even the best goaltender can’t stop the puck if he can’t see it coming. Lundqvist has time to sit back, see the puck, and stop the puck then Thrashers are just making his job that much easier. They have to give Lundqvist something else to contend with not just where the shot is coming from. It’s obvious Hossa’s line needs to step it up big time. At lest Kovy scored Saturday on a nice play with Walt, but there needs to be more of that. Thrashers can’t rely on one line doing all the scoring and getting goals from bottom line dmen like Hnidy. Nothing against Hnidy since he’s had a very great year, but our good offensive players need to be just that…offensive.
By Alex
April 16, 2007 6:10 AM | Link to this
Maybe Bob Hartley can let the players watch “Miracle”, instead of game film during the team meetings! Play your game, and play with urgency and not scared to lose!
By pasikarifan
April 16, 2007 6:52 AM | Link to this
A one adding comment on point 3:
Someone tell Ilya that the best way to get even with Avery is to score a goal, or two, or three…
By pasikarifan
April 16, 2007 7:05 AM | Link to this
“The last big issue i have, besides defense (which is a matter of ability rather than desire) is that we keep having two guys chase the guy with the puck rather than playing position. That is a big breakdown that the Rangers are exploiting.”
This is a very good remark. I noticed the same also. Without doing that, the Rangers hadn’t probably scored their 2nd goal on saturday.
By Ice Man
April 16, 2007 7:44 AM | Link to this
Brendan,
Just to clarify: You said three teams rallied from 0-2 to win series last year, but the Oilers LOST in finals after forcing Game 7. So, in fact, TWO teams WON their series, but a third merely got it to Game 7 before losing.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 8:03 AM | Link to this
Wow, this post is going so much better than some of the earlier ones. Good to see that we have ditched the boo-birds and got on to talking good hockey. I like what Pasikarifan said about Kovy, nothing would burn Avery more than scoring some goal during his shift. There is no question of who is more talented, but right now Avery has Kovy’s number. It is like one NY Ranger fan posted yesterday, “You’re falling into the trap……”. So true.
I really like what i saw from Moose on saturday, that guy put on quite a show and I expect him to continue. If he give a performance like that again on Tuesday i cannot imagine for the life of me that BH would put Kari in on Wednesday. People will talk about the fatigue factor, but I guarantee that if Moose has a great game, he will be nothing but pumped to be between the pipes as soon as he can.
Rattle the lines Bob. Get some puck possession, cycle it to get their defense out of position and put the thing on net.
By luckydog
April 16, 2007 8:16 AM | Link to this
Thinking that Hossa can fix things by bunnyhopping and weaving through 2 or 3 defenders is absurd. Yeah he has to make plays but his LINE has to make them happen, including the d-men who are out there with them. Kozlov has been the real no-show so far and, worse yet, hasn’t even looked very interested.
The other key is Tkachuk. He was the big missing link — a big center who could get nasty around their net. So far he has made one nice play, the assist to Kovy for Saturday’s goal. Other than that, I haven’t seen much. We need some dirty goals from him and some big screens for our shooters.
Our team defense is average at best and Zhitnick helps only a little. I think that’s why Bob has them playing more physical than usual — got to do something to slow them down since we’re not going to outskate or out puck-handle them, especially in a playoff intensity game.
I feel the Rangers have played very well (and been very well coached), while we have been a notch off our game. Just a little improvement in our game and WE CAN STILL TAKE THIS SERIES!
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 8:22 AM | Link to this
Agreed. BH is getting shown up by Renney. I honestly do not know if the Rangers are “better” than the thrashers. The fact is that they are dictating the play to us and we will never win with that happening.
By joe719
April 16, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
I only started reading this column yesterday, but I’ve been struck by one constant, throughout most of the posts. You all seem to be very keen on nicknames for your guys. Kovy??? Sounds cute!!! Just like one of the Smurfs( and about as big as he’s played in the first 2 games). Moose??? There was only 1 Moose in the NHL, and he was OUR captain for years!!! Using the same moniker on a backup goalie is an insult!!!. I don’t think you guys realize the firestorm your boys are skating into on Tuesday. Regular season and playoffs are two different things up here. I hope your guys are ready, or it could get ugly.
By Hip Czech
April 16, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this
Suggested line up change…put Vigier in for Slater. Slater is marginal in the regular season and completely out of his league in a playoff series. Vigier will at least add some grit.
Also, put Vigier on the PK instead of Hossa. That gives Hossa a bit of a breather, and as much as I love Hossa, he stands around too much on the PK.
Cliche time…one game at a time. Let’s start with a win tomorrow night.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
Joe, Hedberg actually had the nickname of Moose during his time with the Penguins, where he took them to the conference finals. As far as the fire storm we are walking into, I don’t disagree, it is going to be loud. Yeah, rangers played better than we did, but not THAT much better. If we can put a couple in quick, your “fire storm” of a crowd is going to get really quiet. I know, that is a big if, but things change……
By Ilya k
April 16, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
BOTTOM LINE our D sux. always has. Zednik helped but not enough.
By Chris
April 16, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this
Ice Man; well reasoned and accurate commentary.
I believe we are outthinking ourselves on the PP. The opposing forwards are jumping so close to our point men we can’t even swing the puck to take advantage of the 3 on down low. May be time to go back to the Hossa to Mellanby alley-oop as the primary PP play.
We’re clearly out of our game; we didn’t win the SE division by knocking teams around all night. I understand the logic in it but this group is not well suited to execute - our focus on the body is stifling our offense and leading to too many outnumbered attempts against.
Coach Hartley: Throw the puck out there and let ‘em skate.
By Ilya k
April 16, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
The reason the opposing team attacks our point men on the pp is because they know our d sux. that is also why we get out shot every game. why we had one of the highest (if not highest) goals against (reg. season) of any playoff team. and why we get bottle up in our own end. and why Brendan Shannahan is left wide open at the hash marks with 4 min to play in a tied and must win game.
By michael
April 16, 2007 10:14 AM | Link to this
It is time to pair up McCarthy with Zhitnik on the pp. Steve will be hungry to shoot and make something happen. If we do not see Mac after two losses than I really question Hartley. Where is this supposed mastermind bench boss for the playoffs. I have seen no shuffling of the lines except for Simmer with KT and Kovy for the end of the last game.
I beleive we can turn this around but something has got to change. I don’t think there is any hope for the defense but our pp should be bailing us out.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Yeah, the PP is pretty sad. The Rangers are very aggressive on the kill. It is BH’s job to figure out what we need to do. If they are playing so aggressively on the PP then it shouldn’t be that difficult to get them out of possition. Havelid falling down and the resulting breakaway chance on Sat. is a microcosm for the way the whole D is playing.
By David Lee
April 16, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this
Ice man - you do all the work for the hacks at the sports talk shows here in town. Atlanta sports talk = (1) read AJC, (2) Discuss.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
I know that everybody thinks Hartley is a mastermind and all, and don’t get me wrong, he is a good, well qualified coach. But he got is mastermind status with the likes of Sakic, Drury, Forsberg, Roy, Tanguay, Hejduk, Blake, Borque and others. All he had to do was draw names out of a hat and say, “Ok, i guess you guys are out next.” Nice position to be in. But it IS his job to fix this and I expect wholesale changes to made with the pairings. I like Michael’s idea of McCarthy and Zhitnik rocketing in point shots.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Man, i gave up long ago listening to the sports talk here in town. I like baseball, but common, it is in the very early stages and you have NHL playoff hockey on! They braves have 150-some games left, the thrashers are here and now, create some fan base.
By CM
April 16, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Hello Bluelanders, nice post Ice Man - I do love that we’re still looking at this as a ‘glass half-full’ sort of thing, because this series is NOT over yet.
I agree with most of what’s been said here, (except for you Joe719) so no use in repeating your thoughts. Obviously our major players have got to come out and play and Kovy needs to get the best of that punk Avery by staying on his own game, by putting the puck in the back of the net. Nuff said.
Most of all I agree with Matthew in that the Thrashers need to play THEIR game, not the Soviets..err the Rangers game. PLAY YOUR GAME THRASHERS!!
As far as goalie, I think I’d stick with the Moose. I’m not sure why exactly, but it just feels right.
I do have this thought, often times I have said that we run out of gas and can’t skate for 60 minutes. Maybe that’s not true, maybe it’s not that we can’t but instead they just (seem to) settle for mediocre by playing just to stay with a team instead of running off with the game. I don’t know, but if so, I wish they’d stop ‘settling’ for mediocre.
Bottom line: I hope they come out of the gate hungry for more than just big hits becuase at the end of the day we all know that that baloney, although wildly entertaining, just doesn’t count in the grand scheme of things.
(Okay, so maybe I did repeat a few things, sorry.) In any event…
LET’S GO THRASHERS, RIP THE RANGERS!
By Joe719
April 16, 2007 10:43 AM | Link to this
Hey Zavalanche, your team played from behind the entire first 2 games. When the visiting team can dictate the game on the enemy’s ice, I think you should admit they DID outplay you by a wide margin. The final score is only a band-aid for your teams wounded pride. Where was Hossa? Where was Kovalchuk? Oh, strike that last one. “Kovy” was too busy trying to prove his manhood against Avery. How did that work out for him? Look, all I’m saying is if you have any game left, BRING IT!!. Stop trying to intimidate the Rangers, it ain’t gonna’work!! By the way, not to get too juvenile, but Messier was around in the 70’s, in case you weren’t aware of it. He was called Moose when he played juniors. Long before your backup made his little run with Jagr and Lemieux.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 10:44 AM | Link to this
Quick thought. DeVries and Hossa combine for 0 points and a total of minus 3. Heatley has 3 points, but a minus 3 also. Buddy of mine from Ottawa just emailed me. All it said was “How do you like him now?” Somebody put out an APB on Hossa, DeVries never was great so we got what we knew we were gonna get with him. Hossa is skating like he has lead breezers on or something. He has to come through.
By TK
April 16, 2007 10:50 AM | Link to this
many good ideas presented….that said, it’s over in 4
By Chris
April 16, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this
Can anyone answer why all of the sudden we are seeing so much of Sutton? Are we trying to match him against Jagr?
I thought BH and Blueland had reached a gentleman’s agreement: he limits Sutton to 10-12 minutes a game, no one boos him, and the team wins.
It seemed to be working for everyone invovled - why deviate?
By Dave
April 16, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this
I believe Lehtonen should play the rest of the way. If he doesn’t, what do you do next year? He must get his playoff experience this year, or next year the Thrashers will be in the same boat. Torterella showed confidence in Holmqvist and it paid off big time. Hartley needs to do the same, just to see what you have for the future. Think BIG PICTURE as this isn’t the year for the Stanley Cup in Atlanta, but next year, with playoff experience under everyone’s belt, maybe.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 10:54 AM | Link to this
Joe, I am well aware of Messier’s career, most productive of which was as an Oiler. And playing the ‘79-‘80 season hardly counts as “the 70’s”. I completely agree with you on the hitting. It isn’t our game and I am frankly a bit surprised that Hartley went with that plan. That is the single largest flaw in what is going on, or not going on right now. As far as bringing our game, be careful of what you wish for. Series isn’t over and it is now yours to lose. As soon as it starts to get ugly for your boys, NYFan will start jeering and throwing their beers.
By RealBlueshirts
April 16, 2007 11:02 AM | Link to this
Having watched both games, I just don’t think the Thrashers have enough good hockey players to stay with the Rangers. For instance, the Rangers’ THIRD line is Cullen, Prucha & the rookie Callahan - Prucha was a 30-goal scorer last year, Callahan had 35 in the AHL this season as a 20 y/o first-year pro, and Cullen was one of the leaders of last years’ Cup winners…
And what’s with the running around headhunting in the last minute of a ONE-GOAL GAME? That might be justified if you’re losing 5-1 and trying to send a message, but not when you’ve pulled your goalie and have a power play besides…that’s just stupid hockey.
And lastly, all this talk of getting to Lundquist - you do realize that since mid-season, he’s been the best goalie in the league, right?
By NYR427
April 16, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this
Good Luck in the Garden!!! :) The worlds most famous arena…stick to your nascrap. i love talkin truth :)
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
JOE - the way I understand it, Hedberg got the nickname MOOSE because he play in Moosejaw during his minor league days. That team is the Moosejaw Moose.
He had a goalie mask with a giant moose painted on it. When he made it up to the NHL, he never replaced the mask,…..so he’s kept the moose-mask and, thus the nickname.
I still have my money on Moose starting Tomorrow as well, CM,…simply because of the two, he has had the better start. I would then go back to Kari Wednesday, (barring some phenominal, lights-out kinda game). But that’s just me, let’s see what HiBob has up his sleeve.
I am still a believer,….but I feel we have to return the favor and take both at MSG.
This is a roller-coaster ride, and the only way you one can get hurt is by jumping off,….so hang tight to your seats kids.
GO THRASHERS - TAKE NY BY STORM!!
(Get it,…the nor’eatser)…
By NYR427
April 16, 2007 11:30 AM | Link to this
hey buddy…the storm ended last night.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this
NYR427 is Avery’s special friend.
By joe719
April 16, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this
Hey you’re right ZAvalanche. If things go wrong, we might start throwing our beers!!. Better that than waving those pretty blue Thrasher scarves I saw in the stands on Saturday. You see, we won’t settle for just getting in the playoffs. We want it all or nothing!! We don’t ignore our teams’ shortcomings. We let them know it. You should try it down there. Maybe the team would perform better if they knew the fans actually knew something about the game, and not just cheer when the scoreboard tells them to!! Oh, and as I said, Messier got that nickname when he was in juniors, well before your backup came to this country.
By Joe719
April 16, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this
You tell em’ NYR247!!! It’s Sherman thru Georgia all over again!!!
By joe719
April 16, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this
Sorry for the typo NYR427. I’M JUST TOO WATER-LOGGED UP HERE!!!!!
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Any fan who throws away his beer is, in fact, and idiot. I know full well the shortcomings of the team, and I believe they have been well documented in these posts. Let me see if I get you right here: “You see, we won’t settle for just getting in the playoffs.” If memory serves you have made the playoffs once prior to this since the Thrashers entered the league……and you got swept. Way to go with not “just settling for the playoffs”. And that was during the years of having $96M in annual player salaries. Choke
You dont have to tell me about a large part of the fan base here, but you know what, they are learning and more importantly, enjoying it. So we are down 2-0. Ask the Red Sox if playing in NY is so difficult when down in a series. NY fans are simply NY fans no matter the sport. Gonna cut and run when we lay it to you.
By Hnidy's Knights
April 16, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
Moose will start Game 3. We might see Lehtonen in Game 4, but not before then. Simple, glaring problem I saw in Game 2: Power Play with not 1 shot on goal. As Boom Boom would say: You can’t score if you don’t shoot the puck. If Hartley is gonna use Steve MC at all, he needs to use him now. I would also scratch Slater and replace him with Vigier. Slates has been dead weight all season, there is no reason why he would all of a sudden step it up now. That pick was a bust.
The key to the win in game 3 is simple. Score first. Score early and often. Thrashers play much better and smoother when they have the lead.
No matter what, we HAVE to win Game 3 or this series will be over.
I still believe. GO THRASH!
By Ilya k
April 16, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
I HATE to say it….but joe719 has one good point. their fans “won’t settle”. Atlanta fans will accept mediocre. think…braves/falcons/hawks/thrashers they all define mediocre.
In most towns the owners and players would “feel the fury”…not here…
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 12:18 PM | Link to this
Wow, Kari is getting the nod in game 3. I thought Hartley would change things up, but this isn’t what I was looking for. Seems to me like he is doing this so incase Kari comes up short in game 3 then we will have Moose to try and bail us out for a game 5. Interesting and very surprising. Hope the kid is up to it, i think he will be.
By Ilya k
April 16, 2007 12:23 PM | Link to this
DOES ANYONE KNOW….the odds in a seven game series when you drop the first two?????????
By BAF
April 16, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
Hedberg played for Manitoba Moose prior to being called up to the Pens. It was an immediate call up and he did not have time to get any equipment with the Pens Black and Gold colors. His mask had this huge moose painted on it in with mostly maroon and gold and it stood out like crazy. His first few games, he was UNBELIEVABLY good and the fans just started making “Moose” calls. The nickname stuck like peanut butter.
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this
ZA - I just saw that. I’m a bit
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
ZA - I just saw that. I’m a bit surprised,…but, hey,…let’s be honest,….whomever is in the nets CANNOT be facing 38+ shots. That’s too many. The D has to step up.
That and the other 28 or so suggestions ranging from the PP getting the puck on net to not letting that punk Avery get under our skin. He has done that job well to his credit.
Oh,…and your right about the likes of the NYers who’ve decided to show up around here today. They’ll slide back under their rock after we take games 3 and 4 up there. To show up when their team goes under,…well that would take certain amount of…manhood,…wouldn’t it?
GO THRASHERS - RAIN DOWN ON NY!!
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 12:32 PM | Link to this
Ilya, the odds like like about 1 in 17, lol. Better than the lottery……….
By joe719
April 16, 2007 12:34 PM | Link to this
THE MOOSE IS BAGGED! BOY HARTLEY, YOU’RE REALLY DECISIVE AREN’T YOU!! I don’t get it. This is the way to coach in the playoffs?!!!. I wonder what Tkachuk and Mellanby think of this. Can you spell P-A-N-I-C. Hey “Zav”, just because we didn’t make the playoffs in 7 years, doesn’t mean we settle for mediocrity like some cities. The whole fan base has been screaming for Sather’s head for years. But we are loyal. We are there, win or lose. As for your fan base learning the game, I thought by now, after the FLAMES and everything, you would have it down by now. Qh I’m sorry, your ‘fan base’ support drove them to Canada.My bad. Thats if your fan base even remembers the Flames. I guess Hartley is finding out what its like to coach without a talent-stocked line-up like he had in Colorado.
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this
ICEMAN, you got the idea right. But I didn’t post that three teams rallied from down 2-0 to win a series. I wrote, “So, that’s three (3) times in last year’s playoffs that a team that trailed 2-0 rallied for three (3) wins in a series. If you’re looking for more examples of that silver lining.”
Three wins does not equal a series win. It takes four. So, 2/3 of the teams that got three (3) wins actually went on for a fourth (4th) win, to clinch a series.
I mentioned the Oilers in the Finals as an example of a silver lining to think we could bring this thing back to Philips Arena for Game Seven. I still believe that’s going to happen.
Go Thrashers!
By Bob
April 16, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Hartley’s a moron. Complete and utter moron. He’s like a gambler on a bad run, so hey, yah, let’s like ya know, double down dere
Moron.
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
I think the odds are something like only 13% have ever come back to eventually win the series.
It’s irrelevant,…like the disclaimer says,..”Past performance is not indicitive of future results”.
The only thing that matters it what the Thrasher do in games 3 and 4.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Yeah Rawhide, 38+ shots is way too many. I would be comfortable with that only if we had the same number. But they are doing a great job of puting guys in front of the puck. Would be nice if our boys could take a page from that book.
And what about Moose! What a team player man. Hears he isn’t getting the nod and says that egos have no room in this situation. Class act, I would have liked to see him stone them in game 3. But hey, it is KL’s turn to shine: erect the wall.
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 12:41 PM | Link to this
Is Kari really the confirmed starter for Game Three?
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this
BRENDON - Yup!
ZA - I totally agree with you about Moose being classy. No ego,…team player,….team before self. Not enough of that in sports these days.
By Bob
April 16, 2007 12:48 PM | Link to this
Actually, I love it when they start talking about how “only 6% of teams that lost the 1st two games of the series at home have come back to win the series”. It’s the jinx, the kiss of death. It’s like in a football game and they flash a stat the QB hasn’t thrown an INT in his last 197 attempts, bam, you just know what’s coming next.
Hey Bob, you know what the NHL stands for? It stands for No Hartley League after this year’s decisions with your goalies, inabilities to fix our PP, braindead decisions like sending everyone out to play physical and abandoning our game for our 1st two playoff games.
So, what’s the bigger brain fart for Hartley this year? Pulling Moose for the shootout and throwing in a cold Kari earlier this year, or today’s decision to yank Moose after he played awesome, and put an obviously unprepared and nervous Lehtonen back in the net? Got to be today’s decision given the implications. Goodness gracious, if Kari was rattled at home, what’s he gonna be like in front of those rabid fans?
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
Allright, here are my thoughts on this starting of Lehtonen in Game Three. Pure conjecture, but here goes. After the season is over, he’ll have to answer about why he refused to play the team’s star goaltender in the playoffs, beyond the 1st game. In an effort to diffuse that, he’s playing him. This way, Hartley can say, “But I did give him a second chance. I did give him another opportunity.” Just remember to throw in “ahh’s,” and “likes” and “ya knows.” And, probably toss in some baseball analogy.
Allright, here goes. “So, ahh … like … ya know it’s no different from a starting rotation in baseball. You want to have well-rested players at dere best.”
I took a shot at it. You do a better Harley impersonation.
By TK
April 16, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
line ‘em up….kari, moose, hell bring back numinen or try michael vick…none of these are the KING
defense-goaltending-defense-goaltesnding-defense-goaltending…look at goal diff this year and you’ll see why rangers are better…only boring devils gave up fewer goals in the east (west is loaded with top-notch D and goaltending) and that’s because brodeur plays every game…a price that they will pay soon in this postseason.
isles will be a tougher out for the sabres if dipietro keeps cobwebs out of his head than the thrashers are to the rangers.
earlier post about putting leitonen in is right….rangers swept by devils last year has only strengthened lundqvist and team’s resolve…atlanta will be back better next year IF you have anything in your system…too many current rent-a-players
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
I am not the coach and I do not have all the details. But Hartley, what is going on man? I know why you left Colorado and I hoped that maybe you learned something there. But some things are looking like they might not change. BH is a great coach but has a reputation of being really hard on his young talent. The mind games he is playing don’t add up to me.
By Sharon
April 16, 2007 12:57 PM | Link to this
Joe719,
Yeah, you did get juvenile. What a shocker that athletes have nicknames! When did that start, this year?
Seriously, Luongo fans should stop chanting LOOOUUU. That was taken by baseball’s Lou Whitaker in the 70’s. There is just not enough room in the history of sports for two Lou’s. Unless they’re really chanting LUUUUU. Now that’s completely fresh.
How about GOAAALLLIIIEEE, though? It’s easy to remember and to the point. Oooh, that’s a sweet nickname!
~Sharona
By Ilya k
April 16, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this
4 steps to recovery…………
Step 1. don’t root for the Braves Step 2. don’t root for the Falcons Step 3. don’t root for the Hawks Step 4. don’t root for the Thrashers
can you tell I have lived in Atlanta for 26yrs!!!!!!!1
By Steve
April 16, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
Greetings from New York….nice, brave talk folks. But, a few things need to be kept in mind. The Garden will be loud and it will take more than a 1 or 2 goal deficit for the air to come out of the building. Two, the Rangers have more talent and if you guys want to spend time running around after Avery, go for it!! Three, you don’t get to choose the line matchups…Renney does! I don’t think you’ll see Holik vs. the Jagr line and if you do, it means that Renney doesn’t care. I actually like the rest of the matchups, so, now that I think about it, keep Holik on Jagr. Fourth, you won’t get a lot of traffic in front of Lundquist. You don’t have enough guys willing to get their noses dirty and our defense is stronger than yours. Fifth…the Rangers are better. Better in the nets, better on D, and we have 4 good lines. We’re better!!! Enjoy the games…
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 1:07 PM | Link to this
Gotta love the playoffs! I’m not getting anything done at work couldn’t be happier. Common Thrashers, don’t let down. Game 5 will be here soon………
By Bob
April 16, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this
I took a shot at it. You do a better Harley impersonation.
Ya, so uh, like, ya know, dere’s dis thing I got, like I uh, ya know, march to the, like, beat of my own drummer, ya know. So I uh, woke up dis morning and I threw a dart at the wall, and now I tink dat Kari is now ready, see. Ya, I know, that like, uh, Moose came prepared and gave us every chance to win dat game, but ya know, I just have dis feeling that uh, Kari is going to win dis big game we have here. It’s like a box of chocolates, ya know. You pick one, it’s a Moose and you think yeah, it’s pretty good, yeah, ya know, but then you pick another won dere, and it’s like a Lehtonen and mabye it tastes better, no?
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this
Bob, that is awesome! Ok, thats it, your qualified for his job…….
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Bob - dat is, like ya know, a grate job. Yur should be tinking about a new line of wurk.
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
You mean installing windows in a factory?
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
Joe719 - As a native Atlantan, I would like to correctly inform you as to why the Flames are in Calgary. The problem was not fan support. The problem was the owner, Tom Cousins, was having financial problems with real estate investments and the Flames were the asset that could most easily be monitized. If you are going to blog on someone else’s sight, please know what you are talking about; otherwise, you just sound like another ignorant, arrogant New Yorker. I’m sorry that’s redundant, isn’t it.
By joe719
April 16, 2007 1:36 PM | Link to this
BREAKING NEWS——Bob Hartley instructs equipment manager to bring both the road and home uniforms with them to NYC. Hartley will make a game-time decision as to which colors they will wear. In response, Hedberg announces that the playoffs are not about egos: “I can lose just as well in either uniform.”
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
Speaking of Calgary, be glad we aren’t in that series. As skilled as the Flames are, Detroit is mowing them. Thing of it is, i still think Calgary is one of those scary type teams that when they do get the motor running they could come back. We have nothing to worry about, the rangers aren’t detroit, never will be. We have every chance to bring this back home.
By Matt H
April 16, 2007 1:39 PM | Link to this
TK-
Please remind me, who was in net last year when the Rangers got swept in the first round?
Things change… Rangers fans should know this…
RANGERS FANS- Enjoy being cocky now, enjoy being a Rangers fan. Hell, enjoy being right. But please be assured that hockey in the South isn’t going away, and that it’s only going to get bigger.
There are three rinks in Atlanta alone, and a good amount of youth league play. There’s been a collegiate ice hockey club system in the southeast for nearly ten years.
Where have the last two Stanley Cups gone? You think because we don’t see snow in the winter, we love hockey any less down here?
Hockey appeals to special, rabid type of fan. Championships appeal to everyone. The South has both.
I hate NASCAR. I can’t stand college football. What kind of Southerner am I?
I’m a hockey fan, and I hate cold weather. And there are plenty more where I came from. More than enough to support a team, and more than enough to support a winning team.
By CM
April 16, 2007 1:44 PM | Link to this
Ilya K - Seriously then, why are you even wasting your time on this blog? I’ve lived here all of my life too (27 years) and I am a fierce supporter of our awesome Braves and our Southeastern Division Champion Thrashers. True fans stick with it through good times and bad..think Cubs fans : ) You’re not always going to have a great harvest, there has to be a time to grow too. I’m just sayin’…
GO THRASHERS!!
By joe719
April 16, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
To R. Stroz, don’t use the old “bad owner” as an excuse for the loss of the Flames. Look at Pittsburgh. Who has had more ownership problems than them, but they still support the team. Thus they can find someone who would be intersted in buying the team and keeping it in Pittsburgh. I can remember Ranger-Flames games when the building was more than half-empty. Even with such players as Lysiak, Bouchard, and tough Curt Bennet. If the support was there, an owner could have been found. And please, enough with the insulting, ignorant new york references. We both know it only comes out of jealousy.
By King JEC IV
April 16, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
Don’t fret, Thrashers fans! It’s a learning process. My favorite team, the Stars lost the first year they made the postseason to Edmonton. But the next year, we came back and kicked their butts in the first round! The year after that they lost to Detroit in the conference finals. Then they went all the way the next season. Keep your heads up, Thrashers! It may not happen this year. But you’ll be stronger for this experience.
By Matt H
April 16, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this
joe719 Not sarcastically, but what about the Winnipeg Jets? What about the Baltimore Colts? The Giants? The Hornets? The Ravens have a Superbowl under their belt and are perennial contenders. Teams leave and come back and do just fine. It’s fortunate (I can’t believe I’m saying this) the league had Bettman to step in and regulate on that Pittsburgh deal, otherwise I don’t think it would’ve happened. Six years to make an arena deal, was it, up in Pitt?
That had nothing to do with fan support; that was Big Money politicking all the way.
By Brian
April 16, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
joe719 - please don’t insult us by asking for a stop to the New York references because “We both know it only comes out of jealousy.”
Why would we be jealous of you? Just look at the lack of Atlanta natives who have relocated to NY compared to the flood of NY natives that have relocated to Atlanta…
Note - this Atlanta hockey blog is run by a NY native…
By joe719
April 16, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
To be honest, I never wanted to get off into a whole different place concerning mgmt. and owners. But I have to admit it, I’m impressed with the real Atlanta fans who remember the Flames. I always thought they were a tough team. I can remember them kicking our asses a few times, including one memorable New Year’s eve in the Garden. It’s a shame they had to leave.
By CM
April 16, 2007 2:07 PM | Link to this
So RH - it would appear as though Bob didn’t consider our feelings..hmm.
What the heck?? I guess I could keep my thoughts to myself about Bob and his decisions, I mean this thing isn’t over, but for crying out loud I truly do not understand his decision making process. Did he really say that going with Kari was a no-brainer? How is that possible if he felt so strongly against him for game 2? Despite my gut, I’m okay with Kari getting the nod, because it’s like someone said above, what about next year? Regardless of how much further we go in this, Kari won’t get the experience he needs if he isn’t in the net. He surely knows what’s at stake here, I think he’ll be ready…
So, why did Bob leave Colorado anyway?
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Joe719 - So you actually know a little about the Flames. By the way, the real tough guy was Plett. Also, do you remember why Bennett fought with his gloves on? He knew how to use the gloves to cut players. If you really knew the Flames well, you would have remembered that Lysiak and bunch of other players who really didn’t matter were traded to Chicago for Boldirev and bunch of players that didn’t matter a couple of years before the team was sent to Calgary.
By the way, I went to alot of Flames games. However, I preferred going to see the Flames play the Flyers (mainly to watch Plett beat the crap out of Schultz), Bruins (to watch Orr, who was so much better than Park), Sabres (the French Connection was awesome) and the Habs, not the Rangers. Maybe that’s why the Omni was half empty. However, I don’t ever remember the Omni ever being half-empty, even for a Rangers game. Maybe, just like a New Yorker, you are relying on hyperbole in attempt to justify your incorrect point of view.
Concerning the owner situation, the town heard rumblings of a possible sale; but, no one believed it. The Flames averaged 12,000-13,000 per game. For a city with only one million people at the time, the attendence was great. The fan support was great. So, like I said before, Cousins had financial problems and dumped the team because it was his best asset.
As far as the New York references, you are right, I am jealous that I’m not surrounded by plebians to insult and mock every day.
By joe719
April 16, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Hey Brian, lets be honest. I think it might be just a little cheaper to live in Atlanta than NY. Wouldn’t you agree? Also, I think the availability of a decent job and affordable housing might have something to due with the influx of NewYorkers to Atlanta. I think a lot of those native new yorkers move out of necessity. But again, lets get back to hockey!!!
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
CM - The one and only time he DOESN’T,…go figure!!!!
Hey, remember, going into the playoffs everyone figured one of our strong points was the fact that we had two top-flight goalies…..either way, we just gotta stop letting 38, 39 shots being taken on us. That spells doom.
He was fired the after they won the cup. I remember when Curt was fired I was thinking,…”gee, do you think we would be smart enough to get this guy,…..” I was happy when we did.
Still am. I think he is a fine coach. I know there are those here who disagree, and that’s fine. All I know is that every year he has been here, we have been better then the season previous. As long as that holds, he’ll be around.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 2:16 PM | Link to this
Joe719 - Based on your prior entry, you are redeemed. I will curtail my venum for the likes of P&S.
By joe719
April 16, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
To R.Stroz, such hostility!! Gee its only a hockey game! You bad mouth new yorkers, but I didn’t call you any names, did I? “Plebians?” Are you serious? I didn’t know I was dealing with an Atlanta aristocrat. I guess you actually wear your cap frontways when you go to NASCAR on Sunday. We New York common folk are impressed!!!
By Bob
April 16, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
Did he really say that going with Kari was a no-brainer?
No, no, no. Poor Coach was just mis-quoted, ya know, that dang French-Canadian language barrier and all.
What he meant to say was We start Kari tomorrow in New York and I tink this guy will be prepared now, he’s like, uh, ya know, like, a TinMan without a heart and our Moose, dere, showed him how to have the heart. Now we go to the Emerald City with Toto and see if we find me the brain, no?
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 2:26 PM | Link to this
JOE - Where ya gonna be sitting tomorrow/Wednesday at Da-GAH-den?? I’m hoping we return serve and take ‘em from ya. But we gotta do something on the PP and limit “yous guys” to less the 30 shots.
Otherwise, FAH-GEDDA-BOUD-IT!!!!!
STROZ - Is Snot-boy been placed on suspension by Dave??? I think I really got under that moron’s skin the other night. (Kinda like Avery with Kovy)….
Personally, I don’t mind the likes of Joe, wh, and other Ranger fans in here. The bantor is fun and they are playing us in the series,….(and they are up 2 games so they got a right to crow a bit)…..at least they bring a certain level of hockey knowledge and insight.
I’m sure the “classy” Ranger fans will pop by next week after we re-take the series lead and win it!!!!!
By TK
April 16, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this
matt h - my last paragraph was intended to point out that lundqvist took lumps last year and has come back stronger…….you guys need to hope lehtonen can do the same
By STROZ
April 16, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
My last entry went in before I received your redemption. TRUCE???!!! Its good to see someone actually respect hockey in Atlanta and not just go along with the party line. Hey, just looked out my office window. THE RAIN STOPPED!!!
By Joe719
April 16, 2007 2:35 PM | Link to this
OOPS!!! THAT WAS NOT STROZ. THAT WAS ME. LIKE I SAID EARLIER. WE’RE ALL WATER-LOGGED UP HERE!!!
By NYR427
April 16, 2007 2:40 PM | Link to this
CHEER WHEN THE SCOREBOARD TELLS YOU TO! gimme a break & ill give youz a circle for cars to run around in.. if kari is startin game 3 and he was nervous playin in front of screaming rednecks wavin scarves and towels..imagine how he’ll feel playin at MSG..in front of REAL hockey fans…he’ll be shakin and thats no fakin. no dirty south…i wont say bacon. remember…you’s lost the civil war too… ill be in section 427 rootin and tyutin!!! YEEEEEE HAWWW!!!!!
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this
Joe719 - I’m probably one of the few native Atlantans who doesn’t drink ice tea and attend NASCAR.
STROZ - To the rectum licking moron who seeks to impersonate me, if the series makes it back here, I’ll be sitting in Section 216, Row E, Seats 3-5. Please show up so I can properly introduce you some proper southern hospitality. By the way, I don’t live in New York, and never have.
Rawhide - Dave pulled P&S’s coming out of the closet entry. The entry was lewd; but, most of the entries that day were rather colorful. We were all correct concerning P&S though. He was just a plebian dropping in from Detroit. Great job, Rawhide.
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 2:56 PM | Link to this
STROZ - Damn! I missed it before it got pulled!!!! Little creton that he is…
It’s too bad the dead wings aren’t coming here next year,…we could have had all sorts of signs for him to see on TV,….his little black and white one, of course.
Oh, and count me in as one southerner who despises NASCAR. I’ve always said that if I ever wanted to enter into a life of crime, I would just hit all the trailer parks on Sunday,….’cuz they’d all be at the track!
But I DO need my peach ice tea!
GO THRASHERS!!*
By Ice Man
April 16, 2007 3:07 PM | Link to this
Wow. I am stunned by the swtich back to Lehtonen. If this doesn’t work, Hartley’s giving management all kinds of ammnunition to pull the trigger this summer.
Brendan, I must have misread your initial post (although I will say, winning three games in a series is something of a moot point, IMHO, even if you did trail 0-2).
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
CM- Hartley got canned in Colorado after the 2002 season and was replaced by his Asst. coach Tony Granato following a season in which we posted 105 pts. and ended up as the 3 seed. We lost in a 7 game series to a very gritty and disciplined Minnesota Wild team. It was also Roy’s last game.
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this
ZAvalanche, I have enjoyed your posts here. Where have you been all year? Don’t be such a stranger.
By the way, do you recall who scored the goal that retired the great Patrick Roy?
…
…
Still thinkin’? It was none other than a player the Thrashers organization had no use for … Andrew Brunette. The Wild rallied from down 3-1 to win the series. They actually rallied from down 3-1 TWICE during those playoffs. The Wild got down, 3-0, to Anaheim. Truthfully, I think they only scored one (1) goal in the entirety of the series. It wasn’t until Game Four! There was actually a chance that Giguere might win a series via four shutouts! Amazing, when you think about it.
Makes our Icebirds 4 goals seem pretty good, right about now.
ICEMAN, at this point, getting the series to seven games actually sounds pretty good to most fans. I’d really hate to have an offseason where we looked back at a sweep, or even a short five-game series. This club is built to go DEEP into the playoffs. The roster is there. And I’m not a huge Don Waddell supporter, but the pieces are there. However he managed to get them there, the did get them here. Personally, I doubt Alex Bourret or Braydon Coburn will ever set the world on fire.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 3:27 PM | Link to this
I don’t mind the banter with the NY fans showing up today at all. Kind of fun. Now, the fans that don’t know their stuff and just come in to throw around colorful verbage to p** people off is kind of lame (PnS, im talking to you).
I don’t know about the rest of you, but i can’t wait until game time. I think we are going to see a vastly different team in the Thrashers, and not in the bad way. One little thing could ingnite these guys. And you gotta believe that Hossa has herd the message from his detractors up north and wants nothing more than to get into a groove. It will happen. To be quite honest, I don’t know what, exactly, to think of the keeper switching. If it doesn’t work though, I would not be surprised to see Hartley updating his resume.
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 3:28 PM | Link to this
Hey Bluelanders…..
Anyone looking to hit a sports bar to look at tomorrow night’s game?
By NYR427
April 16, 2007 3:33 PM | Link to this
ZAVS—-hossa has heard that the past 4 years…u think now its gonna change?? especially with his younger bro showin him up? shame..
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 3:40 PM | Link to this
Brendan - Man, the Brunette goal haunted me for a long time. We came into series with very high expectations and a vastly more talented team. Got completely outworked. I don’t recall who gave the puck up to A.B. but it wouldn’t suprise me if it was DeVries. I will never forget how feeble Roy looked on the goal. Brunette didn’t even put a move on him. That almost hurt more than the Dallas game 7 loses……almost.
Which kind of brings me to the next point. Our guys are out there working hard, very hard. But maybe gripping the stick a bit too much. Dumb it down, play positional hockey and wait for good fundamentals to produce chances.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - I’ve tried to get Ice Man to put P&S’s coming out of the closet entry back up without the lewd language. Unfortunately, I’ve had no luck with this endeavor. Trust me, we all could have had a great time making fun of him after that post.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this
The probable reason for the goalie change is keep Kari off of the ice for game four. If the Thrashers lose game 3, Hartley probably didn’t want Kari playing under the stress of a possible sweep out of town, especially after his weak performance in game 1.
I would have continued to leave Moose in goal.
By Rawhide
April 16, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
STROZ - Did he actually ‘come out of the closet”???? hysterical!!
God I am sorry I missed that.
By Brian
April 16, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - name the place and I am there. I want to watch the game with a ton of fans and give us the atmosphere we had in Philips.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - P&S stated that he lived in Lavonia, Michigan, made 60K/year in the “healthcare field” , loved to gamble and proceeded to lace the rest of his entry with esoteric diatribe (e.d. for P&S). He was so ignorant, it was comical without intending to be so. We really need to get Ice Man to put it back up.
By R. Stroz
April 16, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - Look back to Ice Man’s Injustice of Biblical Proportions and you will find several references to P&S’s entry. The time period was a little after midnight April 15th.
By Ranger Fan
April 16, 2007 5:11 PM | Link to this
It’s not gonna be easy up at MSG Ice-Birds, but with your talent I think the offense could wake up and make this interesting. I don’t wanna face Moose again!!
By Brendan
April 16, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this
ZAvalanche, what I cannot get over is how “giddy” some fans are in Atlanta to embarce failure and the prospect of being able to say, “Typical Atlanta team. All hype, no heart. Gets swept out. They’re no different from the Hawks, Braves, and Falcons.” And as the cherry on top, will point out that, “Wait a minute. Atlanta ALWAYS loses playoff series on their home field/court/ice, so … the Thrashers would be different by getting eliminated in New York.”
UGGGH!! I am so sick of that. And cannot begin to tell you how offbase such thinking is. I guess for these folks, if the Falcons, Hawks and Braves were coming off Championship seasons, it must, therefore, mean the the Thrashers cannot fail in their bid to win the Cup? These things are simply not inter-connected. This team will write its own history. The only connection they have to the Hawks is common ownership and playing venue.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 7:43 PM | Link to this
Completely agree Brendan. Though I am starting to think that a lot of the fans feel that we have a chance, be it a small one, but hey, there are still games scheduled. Another thing, some of the fans here are new to playoff hockey i think, and god love ‘em, i am glad they are watching, but maybe they haven’t seen the way things can turn around seemingly out of nowhere. Like your Wild reference earlier. I, personally, would be surprised if we didn’t wake up. It is kind of rare for this team, this year, to suck consistently for this many games. Gotta believe!!!! Less than 24 hrs. to game 3, I can almost here MSG from here……gonna be good.
By Tom
April 16, 2007 8:14 PM | Link to this
I grew up with the Islanders and they came back from 3 games when I was a yute…
Playoff hockey is a war. You have to give it everything you have and lay yourself out every chance you get.
If the Thrashers will commit to winning hockey they can win the series.
By ZAvalanche
April 16, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this
Tom, so you were a ‘75 Islanders fan eh? Bet that felt cool. I guess only the, what, ‘44 Leafs and ‘04 Red Sox know how it feels. The first three games hurt like hell, but the reward! Man, that would have been fun to see/be a part of. We have the making of an unusual “upset” (if that is even a valid word since we are the 3 seed….) here if we can pull this out. Like you said, hard work makes the difference. So close to covering the difference. Tell you what though, if we do win, I’m callin out PnS to get a hold of his bookie and lay a bet for me in Vegas………
By Brendan
April 17, 2007 2:18 AM | Link to this
In 1942, the Toronto Maple Leafs were in the Stanley Cup Finals facing Detroit. They were down, 3-0, but rallied to win the Cup. In that ‘42 series, the Leafs dropped both games at home to begin the series. (Sound familiar?)
In 1945, the same two teams rematched, this time, Detroit held home ice. Red Wing fans were pretty down after dropping the 1st two games in Detroit. Both via shutout. Things didn’t get any better in Game Three in Toronto, where again, the Red Wings were shutout. All of these losses were close games. 1-0, 2-0, and 1-0, respectively. It’s over, right? Wrong! The Red Wings rallied to win Game Four, 5-3. Yes, they actually scored five goals!!, after being blanked for the first three games. Detroit then pitched a shutout of their own, 2-0, in Game Five. Back to Toronto, to wrap things up. Except that … the Leafs couldn’t find the back of the twine. All they needed was an overtime tally. But that goal went to Detroit. So now, the series was tied, 3-3. A total reversal of the first three games of the series. The Leafs had gone ice cold and stood on the verge of embarrassment. Now, here was Detroit’s chance to pay back the Leafs for that ‘42 series that slipped away from them. But Toronto went into Detroit, against the odds, and prevailed, 2-1, to capture the Cup.
In the ‘42 series, when the Leafs trailed 3-0, they won the last four games by scores of 4-3, 9-3, 3-0, and 3-1 in Game Seven.
The point? It’s not OVER ‘til it’s over. GO THRASHERS!!
By Tony C.
April 17, 2007 2:22 AM | Link to this
Didn’t NJD come back from 3-0 against Philly a few years back? Or was that 3-1?
Anyway-not the case here, down 2-0 is not impossible.
LET’S GO BLUE !!!
By Brian
April 17, 2007 9:35 AM | Link to this
Tom & Brendan - we’re only down 2-0 and we’re already mentioning the ‘42 Leafs and ‘75 Islanders stat? Come on, let’s win G3.
By Brendan
April 17, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
Tony C., that was in 2000, the Conference Finals, and the Devils rallied from down 3-1 to reach the Cup Finals.
By Brendan
April 17, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
First things first, Brian. Let’s win one game. It goes from there.