AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > October > 28
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Quick Shots
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Time for some quick shots after Saturday’s hard fought 3-2 win in Chicago.
KEEPING PACE: The Thrashers are 3-2-0 after the horrific 0-6-0 start to the season. It may not seem that impressive, but keep this in mind. If they were to play at that clip the rest of the way that would put them at 90 points going into the last game of the season. That is painfully close to playoff level numbers, (mid-90s is probably the minimum needed). Stealing one here or there along the way could be the difference between a return trip to the post-season and an early tee time.
COINCIDENCE? NAH, COULDN’T BE: Saturday night’s 3-2 win over Chicago marked the first time all season the Thrashers have held a team to under 3 goals. It was also the first game that Steve McCarthy, (-12), did not play. Hey, I’m just pointing it out. For the record, Pascal (You-Me-And) Dupris, (-4), was also a sitter-downer.
KEEPING BAD COMPANY: We wake up this morning with our team 5 points out of the 8th and final playoff position. Four other teams who made the playoffs in the east last year find themselves today on the outside looking in, (New Jersey, NYR, NYI, and Buffalo). That list includes all three division winners. Early on, you say? Sure. But it’s interesting how so many of the playoff teams have gotten off to slow starts.
NOT READY FOR PRIME TIME PLAYERS: The Thrashers are undefeated, (2-0-0) in games that were not televised locally. In case you’re wondering, Tuesday’s game in Montreal in not scheduled to be aired in these parts. If it results in another victory, who’s gonna be the first to call for a TV boycott of the televised Ottawa game on Thursday?
ENSTROM-ENTAL PART OF THE ATTACK: Tobias Enstrom leads all Thrasher defensemen in points, (4), and +/- rating, (+1). This kid is showing great puck skills and on-ice smarts. Somehow, I don’t think I’m the only one who gets a charge when he and Kovalchuk are on the ice at the same time.
NOT NEGATIVE: Of the 6 players on th correct side of the +/- rating, 5 of them are rookies. Haydar, (+4), Little, (+3), Enstrom, (+1), Popovic and Thorburn, (0). The only exception, Niclas Havelid, (+1). That’s NOT a typo.
WHO DOES NUMBER TWO WORK FOR?: Not surprisingly, Kovalchuk’s 12 points leads the team. But who is the second leading scorer? Why it’s Todd White, (Rstroz just dropped his coffee). His 2 goals and 4 assists put him one point ahead of Haydar and Kozlov. For that matter, he, Kovy and Kozlov are the only three non-rookies in the top six scorers on the team.
SO MUCH FOR THAT LOGIC: My first post cited that I would be using the shots against stat to gauge how the team was doing, (over/under 30 SA/G). Well, so much for that. All three wins so far have us giving up more then 30 shots. (Sound of crinkling paper as I toss out that stat sheet). Maybe I should be looking on the other side of the ice. In games that the Thrashers score 3 or more goals they are 3-1.
KLEAN KARMA: The lucky jersey is 1-0-0, post-wash. Yes, I was wearing it last night. You’re welcome. Also, it needs to be pointed out for the record that Puckjunque is 2-0-0 with the pre-game prayer.
For those of you who crawled out of bed early on a Sunday morning to win the First to Post on Rawhide’s Blog Sweepstakes, ….. what are you waiting for? GO!
