AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 02 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USSTOP THE PRESSES!!!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I got to tell you, I had this post written between the beginning of the third period and halfway though it. I was going to get this thing typed up and in the hopper then slide into the sheets by 11:00. The game, it was un-good. Up to that point, the only real highlight from the evening’s activities was the Boulton/Neil heavyweight bout that lasted longer then it took the Senators to score their first goal. To fully gain an appreciation of the dominance of the Sens over the Thrashers for the first two and a half periods, consider this. Kovalchuk’s goal, the first for the Thrashers, came at the 9:24 mark of the third. It was Atlanta’s 11th shot of the game. That would be E LE V E N shots on goal in 49 minutes and 24 seconds. Ottawa took 14 shots in the first period alone. The last place team in the conference trailed the first place team 5-0 halfway through the third. The Thrashers were D.R.T., (Dead…Right There).
Then…
The come back was on! All of a sudden, players wearing white jerseys were rushing Ray Emery harder and faster then Rosie O’Donnell does at an open buffet. It started with Kovy’s goal and three more followed in a span of eight minutes and three seconds. (For those of you from Livonia, Michigan, that’s almost a goal every two minutes). Ilya had a hat trick joined by Perrin’s tally. The last two goals coming on a 4 minute power play courtesy of Chris Neil’s ill-advised blow to the chops of Ken Klee. In a shorter amount of time then it took Zilla to buy a CZ at a pawnshop, it was a one-goal game with two and a half minutes to play.
The come-back bid fell just short as Ottawa scored an empty netter, but the team has to be feeling 100% better about themselves after this effort then they would have without the surge toward end the game.
Saturday night they will return to Tampa to play the Bolts ending the seven game road trip in the same building where it began. In between they sandwiched 3 wins in 5 games. They have within their grasp an opportunity to return home with a winning record on the trip if they are able to squeeze out a victory. Departing Tampa thirteen days ago after a less-then-stellar outing which deposited them at 1-7-0, that scenario seemed about as impossible as Brian and Bob sitting around a campfire together singing Kumbaya while toasting marshmallows and wearing “Hillary ‘08” shirts. Just wasn’t gonna happen, right?
While there are no columns for Moral Victories in the standings, tonight’s loss was a sight better then recent ones where they seemed to fold up once they got down. Hopefully Thursday’s third period play will accompany the team as they head south. If so, the Thrashers will have managed their way though the longest road trip of the year and, possibly, returned with more points then they dropped.
And that would be very nice for all of us when we…come back…to Blueland on Tuesday.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Bobby Holik
November 2, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this
The C on my jersey stands for Crap-ton.
Kovy is the real captain. Please give Kovy the C since he is the heart and soul of the team right now.
By Alexei Zhitnik
November 2, 2007 12:34 AM | Link to this
Coach, why is my plane ticket for Chicago and everyone else’s ticket for Tampa?
By Steve McCarthy
November 2, 2007 12:59 AM | Link to this
I hope coach leaves me on the bench so Zhit will have the worst plus/minus ratio in the league instead of me.
By Slava Kozlov
November 2, 2007 1:39 AM | Link to this
I give game away at end, that pay back for coach demoting me to Holik line. Now, I like Holik overpaid, slow, and give puck to other team.
By rockdr99
November 2, 2007 3:38 AM | Link to this
It is now clear that there was a terrible disconnect between the team that Waddell put on the ice and Hartley’s coaching style — A team that is assembled for speed and gives away size, does not play a style where they dump the puck in the zone and then try to out muscle a more physical team on the boards to regain possesion — We also are skating a more open looser style to allow us to be more creative and not so structured — Kovy is thriving on his new found freedom —
Nevertheless, if we are to be a serious hockey team, the special teams must show serious improvement — Waddell claims this team can win —It had better, because his job depends on it —
Waddell has also claimed in the town meetings that the ownership has never turned down any request he has made for monetary support — That just tells me that he hasn’t asked for enough, not wanting to risk a showdown that might cost him his job —
The idea that we can retool with the right trades in late February is not a long term winning strategy — We lose too many draft picks that are the future of the team —
The time for the owners to step up with looser purse strings is in the summer during free agent period, not during February —
At least, with our freer more open style, we have a chance to be competitive and entertaining and I have a little more enthusiasm about attending next weeks home games — Thank God for Kovy — GO THRASHERS
By Manley
November 2, 2007 4:07 AM | Link to this
Huh? What Happened?
After listening to the first two periods on NHL Radio, I figured they had started packing their bags for Tampa and I went to bed (hey, it was 4:30 in the morning here). I wake up to a 6-4 on the Real-Time boxscore! What team was that? Not the “Awww Maaan, we’re looooosing” (use nasal whiny voice) team of a week ago who would have packed it in by the second intermission. If CC is right and “Beast” McCrimmon has that kind of sway on this team, the coach search is over—at least until the offseason.
Quick shot to Boulton: way to step up and you couldn’t have picked a nicer guy!
Quick shot to Mrs. Manley: her disdain for pulling the goalie is once again vindicated.
By Manley
November 2, 2007 4:16 AM | Link to this
Also:
KOVY FOR CAPTAIN!!!
Can we start a “draft Kovy” petition or something? Can any one player carry a team on his back more than Kovy is doing right now? More importantly, would anyone have expected it to be Kovy? What a great deal of maturing this young man has done—both on the ice and in the room.
By puckjunque
November 2, 2007 7:12 AM | Link to this
Did anyone notice that “Viagra” was one of the Senator’s sponsors? I heard it’s supposed to help keep you in the game for at lest two hours.
By luckydog
November 2, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this
Craig’s AJC story says the comeback was inspired by a 2nd intermission pep talk by Brad “Beast” McCrimmon.
Nice going, Brad, but next time how about giving your speech before the opening drop, eh? No matter how wonderful the 3rd was, all we got was another L out of it. And with this gang who knows what team will show up Saturday?
PS — HUGE props to Boults for taking on Neil and outlasting him in the 10-rounder.
By Sara
November 2, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this
Has anyone else noticed all the press McCrimmon is getting here lately? Kovy talked him up in the article on last nights’ game, crediting “Beast” with the between-period speech that got them fired up. Last night DE went off on a tangent for a few minutes talking up McCrimmon’s playing days and style - hard-noser, smart player, blah blah. McCrimmon has obviously been running practices a lot. I just have to wonder if somehow we’re being sold on McCrimmon prior to having him named the new coach.
By stendec
November 2, 2007 8:50 AM | Link to this
Close only counts… Hate to rain on parade but a loss is a loss, folks. Any Thrasher smiling or whooping it up after the Sen game should have had his A++ kicked. This is what happens when players - and fans - embrace morale defeats. A three-goal debacle becomes a one- or two-goal heartbreaker. Nice work everyone says. A two-game slide stretches on and on and on. Everyone is trying. No harm - no foul. Now Hawks and fans provide sympathy! What irony. Professional athletes are judged by production. The Thrashers have yet to produce this season. Is that not correct? True champions grudingly accept defeat. True champions NEVER embrace MORALE victories. Are the Thrashers champions or wussies? At this juncture, I seem to lean toward the latter. May the sports gods prove me wrong! This attitude was forged from years of Braves, Chiefs, Falcons, Flames, Hawks and Knights. Not to mention the COLLEGE teams! Oh well, best to all. Will continue to watch guys in blue. For better or worse…Will also continue to abhor losses. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PRETTY OR FEEL-GOOD DEFEAT!
By Christy
November 2, 2007 8:58 AM | Link to this
Happy Friday All.
Stendec, it’s not a matter of felling good or whooping it up. It’s a matter of not feeling as awful as at least I was feeling at the end of the 2nd.
there IS something to be said for coming back from nothing and making a run of it against Ottawa. Against Chicago or Florida or even Toronto, it’s not a moral victory of any kind. Against Ottawa? Sure feels like one to me…
By HairyHeckler
November 2, 2007 9:01 AM | Link to this
Who knew that anyone else could possibly make a reference to Livonia? I thought it was just speed trap on the way to the airport from Farmington.
By Ilya k
November 2, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this
me want to be captain
By Bob
November 2, 2007 9:29 AM | Link to this
We had 6 shots on goal through two periods and they were up 5-0 on us. The only reason we got back in it was Ottawa knew it was a laugher and quit skating, then Neil took that moronic double minor, wouldn’t be suprised to see his coach sit him for a while, what a bush league move. Perrin’s quote in the paper was embarrassing. He should have said “if the other team skates all night like Ottawa did in the 3rd, we can win every game”.
Kopy, however, showed great pride and his maturation once again. What a total display of sheer will on his part. He can hold his head high, the rest of em, ugh.
By Ilya k
November 2, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
me want to be captain. new center with C is good idea too but I not complain.
By Snoman
November 2, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this
When is someone besides Kovy going to step up for this team!! Kovy looks like a man surrounded by a bunch of toddlers and stiffs. Somebody else (Hossa, Kozlov, Holik, anyone, anyone) - Kovy needs HELP!!!
By Brian
November 2, 2007 9:40 AM | Link to this
Wow, the first 3 comments were funny the way you goofy bloggers signed on as other players. But that 4th one of Slava Kozlov, he even spoke with the same broken English that the blogger russian writes with, it must be a real Russian!!!
Rawhide - I take offense to your Rosie O’Donnell analogy. Not because she doesn’t rush the buffet table, but why should she be compared to someone who is scoring on a man?
By Russian
November 2, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
to Brain It was not me. I always used my nck name as Russian.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 9:47 AM | Link to this
Oh gee, while I was typing Bob came in and complains about all things that were good with the team last night. Bob - why don’t you just become a Hawks fan if you are going to be such a crotchety old man when it comes to this team? Their season starts tonight and you can still go to Philips Arena. Besides, their used to whiners like you.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this
russian - I was just kidding…
Bob - enjoy the Hawks home opener tonight, I was serious…
By Sara
November 2, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this
You know, in the articles I read online this morning, Paddock didn’t seem to be laughing or pleased that his team showed production and got the two points. He was actually pretty pssed off that his team nearly blew a 5-goal lead. So maybe sometimes it *is about more than just the final result, regardless of whether you’re the first or the last placed team.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 10:04 AM | Link to this
Sara - don’t sweat it, Bob & Stendick are always going to be that way. Haven’t you noticed how they weren’t around the previous 4 games when the team was doing really well? Now that they have something to complain about they post again.
Rumor has it they applied for jobs at the Atlanta Spirit, when they were laughed out of the building they vowed revenge on the Thrashers by upsetting all their true fans. They will also tell you a true fan should be bitter, but being grumpy old men, they can’t enjoy a good comeback effort, so let Bob switch back and forth between the game and his Matlock episodes and leave him be…
By Ilya k
November 2, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
THE PROBLEM….when the other team has as many goals as you do shots something very serious is wrong.
THE FIX….step 1. Get the puck out of your zone. Our d sux and to make matters worse I could move faster on wet ice with my ski boots on. Every time there is a race for a loose puck or a dump in we loose the race. When you keep loosing those foot races in your own end you end up always getting out shot. What are the total shots for and against this year. If you think they were good last year check the goals for/against and the shots. We had one more goal for than against. That is called 500 hockey. I am not sure but I would bet my life we were out shot last year. The d is also small. The opposing team has to decide before the game who will bring the beer, hotdogs and lawn chairs for the party in front of our net. Now we got beat to the corner and the other team is camped in the crease. If they fail to score on the ensuing shot and if somehow the puck is deflected onto the stick of one of our d men that can not move the puck out of our zone because the are slow, sux and don’t have enough talent to make a good pass then the process will repeat. Now the d ices the puck and the liney misses the call so we actually go to the other end. Kovy is great. Holik has been a bust since day one. Hoss does’nt want to waste energy he plans to use next year with a winner. Kozy is good but getting old and the rest of the bunch are small 3rd and 4th liners. To fix this it appears we need a new GM that understands you build a team from your own little red line and forward. and givy kovy the frigin c he’s earned it.
By Talon
November 2, 2007 10:07 AM | Link to this
Kovy for Captain!
By Bob
November 2, 2007 10:09 AM | Link to this
Paddock didn’t seem to be laughing or pleased that his team showed production and got the two points.
Oh definitely, he rightly is p** off. His players came out in the 3rd and quit skating. Neil took a completely moronic double minor, I’d expect him to be in Paddock’s doghouse. No, I see it on their side, his club saw it was a laugher and almost blew a lead, he should be p** at what happened in the 3rd.
How does that give us satisfaction though? Do we hope that teams diss us enough in the future to not try in games?
Paddock wouldn’t be p** if he knew his club skated hard and our club just overwhelmed them, no shame in that. But that’s not what happened, and that’s why he’s p**.
By Bob
November 2, 2007 10:15 AM | Link to this
The opposing team has to decide before the game who will bring the beer, hotdogs and lawn chairs for the party in front of our net.
Ain’t that the truth. I actually had a similar visual during last night’s game of guys camping in front, as Heatley kept standing behind the net camped out picking who to pass the puck to. Brutal.
To fix this it appears we need a new GM that understands you build a team from your own little red line and forward.
It’s been the constant problem here since Day 1. Nothing meaningful will change until a real GM in here that knows how to build a club.
and givy kovy the frigin c he’s earned it.
Kovy for Captain!
I third the motion, next year I would think it’s a given.
By Ilya k
November 2, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Bob, thanks for explaining that the party in front of our net moved to the locker room at the end of the 2nd then to the parking lot for the 3rd and the Sens went with it.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this
Bob - Oh definitely, he rightly is p— off. His players came out in the 3rd and quit skating. So what your saying is that when a game is 5-0 heading into the 3rd, it is a good thing when you come out and skate hard? Isn’t that what the Thrashers did last night? So they did a good thing, right Bob?
By stendec
November 2, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
To the know-it-alls on this blog. The Sens went into their version of the (football) prevent defense in the final 20 minutes. Know the only thing a prevent defense usually prevents? A WIN! I am astonished such intellectual hockey fans failed to discern this. Bob caught it. The Thrashers have the potential to do something special this season. To lavish false praise on them after such an effort will do far more harm than good. Maybe a 5-0 or 10-0 loss WOULD have been better! Toughen em up for long haul. **GO BLUR!
By stendec
November 2, 2007 10:31 AM | Link to this
GO BLUE!
By Brian
November 2, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this
stendick - you think a 10-0 loss would be better for us heading into the Tampa Bay game than if we scored 4 in a row to pull within 1 of a 5-0 games? I can’t see how the team would feel more confident that way? They can either say “yeah, we just got beat 10-0 but that just means we’ll play harder next time” or they can say “ok, we were down 5-0 but we pulled within 1 so we can build on that heading into tonight”. I guess the only time you have a never say die attitude stendick is when it comes to complaining…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 12:29 PM | Link to this
huh huh..
Willy said “cum”
huh huh…
By puckjunque
November 2, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
Buz - thank you for proving that I am not the most immature person on the blog today. Can’t wait to see how Willy gets himself out of this one. Brian……..you crack me up. Your optimism is refreshing.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
I feel it is my job to take the blog down to my level when I see the chance.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this
Spezza just signed
By Rawhide
November 2, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
CUM BY YAH - It the name of the FREAKIN’ song……….
Zilla - I expected THIS out of YOU,…but PJ, quite frankly, I’m suprised at you young lady!
By Brian
November 2, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
puckjunque - It is just a question of what is better, 10-0 or a 4 goal period to where you comeback within 1 goal. Only an idiot would pick 10-0. You call that optimism that cracks you up?
By Brian
November 2, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - it’s Kumbaya, so yeah, you said cum…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:31 PM | Link to this
It’s kum ba yah, bug Willy. Not that profaine spelling that you use.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this
…big not bug
By Rawhide
November 2, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this
&%$@! - I even looked that up!
Absolutely, EEE-GREE-GIOUS!!
By Rawhide
November 2, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this
That’s ALMOST as bad as “CUBAN Zarconia”!
By Brian
November 2, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - furthermore, I would just like to add that your use of the “&%$@!” keys is only adding to your foul word usage. Please keep it clean…
By Rawhide
November 2, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
UMMMMmmmm, sooooooooooooooo…………what’s all the fuss about?
By Brian
November 2, 2007 1:46 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - did you mean a
Cu-bic-zar Con-iaaaaa
Cu-bic-zarrrrrr
Cu-bic-zar Con-iaaaaa
Cu-bic-zarrrrrr
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:49 PM | Link to this
Buz Zil LA, my lord Buz Zil LA
Buz zil la, my lord buz zil la….
By Rawhide
November 2, 2007 1:52 PM | Link to this
(ahem)…if I may attempt to regain some order in this blog,….
For those of you you thought that I was HAPPY about losing the game, rest assured I am not! Losing is never “acceptable”, whether by one goal or seven, hench the ” there are no columns for Moral Victories in the standings” comment.
My point was that I appriciated the fact that the team didn’t just phone in the third period. I think this is a positive thing going into Saturday’s game where a victory gives us a 4-3-0 record on the trip.
That would be considered a success, would it not???
If Ottawa “quit skating”, then shame on them,…..but would it not be worse if that was the case and the Thrashers didn’t JUMP on them for it.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - I would just like to add that I had no prior knowledge of cheap jewelry names until I started hanging out with you. As we all know you have been giving me this new found knowledge of frugalness. Henceforth, I do not feel I should be mocked for not knowing the proper terminology when going the cheap route on Buzilla’s fiance…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this
Public Zarconicum
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 1:55 PM | Link to this
For the record, I gave her a pubic zarconicum
By puckjunque
November 2, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
Brian Chill, I was appreciating your commentary to Bob and Stendick. It was delivered with humor and in agreement with my oppinion. I was complimenting you. Sheesh!
By BiscuitsNBaskets
November 2, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this
Bottom line is that Waddell’s team got their jocks handed to them by the no.1 team in the conference for two periods. Sens got sloppy, took it easy (cause they were steamrolling us), and what do you know, they let us back in the game. They deserved to get whipped in the 3rd.
(BTW, somebody just switch Kovy’s ‘A’ with the ‘C’ already; do it while Holik’s busy alienating his teammates in the post period interviews. Bobby, you’re worthless. There’s a guy I’ll be ecstatic to see go)
… Even so, the Sens pulled it out, proving they are still the team they were in the Eastern Conf. finals last year. As for the Thrashers? Well, feel-good losses are for expansion teams in my opinion, not defending division champs. We are the Marlins of the hockey world, minus the world championship of course. Oh, and, Don? A 3-4 roadtrip will not get you off the hook. A 4-3 trip with a sterling effort against the Lightning will at least get me to Philips for the All-Star Game to root for Kovy. Will Hossa be working concessions?
By Brian
November 2, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
Buzilla - for the record, it is zir, not zar, so you still screwed up…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this
Alright. I’ll be good.
Bottom line of last nights game. I was entertained. Which is why I watch. Would it have better if we have won? Yes (channeling Brendan)
I think the kid looked good in net. Didn’t get tested that much but I would like to see him start here pretty soon. I would like to know what we got before we all run Kari out of town.
Hossa is showing signs of cuming (sorry) out of his funk. The last two games he seems to have some jump back in his skates. I think it is a matter of time before he breaks out.
Anyone know why they call McCrimmon the “Beast”?
By Brian
November 2, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this
Buzilla - Furthermore, I would just like to add that it was still very public, even though you meant to say pubic…
By Bob
November 2, 2007 2:11 PM | Link to this
Anyone know why they call McCrimmon the “Beast”?
Shrugs, mabye ask your fiance?
Hey, you left that softball hanging there over the plate…
By Brian
November 2, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this
puckjunque - forgive me, whenever I enter into a dialogue with Bob & company I lose all sense of control. Right about now my psychiatrist is saying to me “*it’s just Bob being his typical self Brian, it’s just Bob being his typical self” while I rock back & forth in the padded room…
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 2:19 PM | Link to this
You lookin’ for a fight Blob?
By Bob
November 2, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
I am astonished such intellectual hockey fans failed to discern this.
Stendec, don’t equate intellect with the amount posts and time spent on here by a couple of the usual blind cheerleaders. Here’s a couple of guys that don’t blog much but know the game:
Ilyak thanks for explaining that the party in front of our net moved to the locker room at the end of the 2nd then to the parking lot for the 3rd and the Sens went with it.
Bisquits Bottom line is that Waddell’s team got their jocks handed to them by the no.1 team in the conference for two periods. Sens got sloppy, took it easy (cause they were steamrolling us), and what do you know, they let us back in the game. They deserved to get whipped in the 3rd…As for the Thrashers? Well, feel-good losses are for expansion teams in my opinion, not defending division champs.
By puckjunque
November 2, 2007 2:31 PM | Link to this
Brian There’s a cure for what you got, but it’s not for me to say. Get it together because we need you in your best form for tomorrow night.
By Bob
November 2, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this
You lookin’ for a fight Blob?
I’ll bring The Beast
:)
By Slava Kozlov
November 2, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this
Bob & Buzilla - Is Buzilla’s fiance, with her cubic zirconia, going to be the ring girl for the match?
By The Beast
November 2, 2007 3:01 PM | Link to this
They call me The Beast due to my prowess at stealing Cubic Zirconian clad honeys from Oscar winning Claymation producers, and their ilk, and such, and whatnot, carry on.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 3:05 PM | Link to this
I think Bob vs. The Don would be a better match than Bob and myself.
This way he can get all of his hatred out about our current GM and move with his blogging.
(.Y.)
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
The Beast = Brian
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 3:12 PM | Link to this
Bob — Just because someone agrees with you does not mean they “know much about the game”. It’s an opinion, amazingly enough those are often not founded with facts or statistics (I’ve learned this from you over the last year).
For instance, “You do not make the playoffs, much less finish above the bottom 5 out of 30 teams letting in the most goals allowed and being 27th/28th or worse out of 30 teams on both the PK and the PP.”
BiscuitsNBaskets — Is the same to be said about the ATL loss to NJ earlier in the season? Blowing a 4 goal lead is just that, BLOWING IT…doesn’t matter if you’re the best team in the SE, in the EAST, or in the NHL, you still screwed up. There’s a reason that Paddock (Ottawa’s coach) stated that the game felt like a loss…you go tell him to change his attitude because you disagree with it.
There are things in professional sports such as “morale wins”, “building pride”, “overcoming adversity”. When a team has no identity, fires their coach 6 games into the season, and is winless…perhaps any little thing to help light those competitive fires is something this team should relish. No Thrasher is HAPPY to lose, but each Thrasher should be filled with more pride that they took advantage of a team who was not playing their A-game for a single period, and almost made them pay. The slacking off is Ottawa’s problem, not Atlanta’s…and the Thrashers did their best to take advantage of it.
However, Daniel Alfredson agrees with you slightly, because he stated it felt “like a great win”, in clear disagreement with his own coach.
There’s two sides to each point (sometimes more), and just because one person agrees with you does not make you “right” and your opponents “wrong”.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 3:16 PM | Link to this
How can I get in on this Bob match? Some others here have already casted me as Rawhides’s resident hockey goon, shouldn’t I get a crack at it?
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 3:18 PM | Link to this
I apologize, the quotation was supposed to be followed with the statement “That’s true, but in November?? Find some evidence.”
Once I said “for instance” I should’ve deleted the paragraph.
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this
We’ll bring up Jon Sim for this instance, give him a shot. He’ll take one punch, fall to the ice like a sack of potatoes, and be applauded by the same people who are in disagreement with the idea of “moral victories”. He would be “showing character”, or “standing up for his team”, and nobody would mind.
Making a competitive game from a 5-0 deficit? That’s nothing to be happy about. Breaking your face on someone else’s fist? That’s something that should be given an award.
By UpperDeck4Life
November 2, 2007 3:24 PM | Link to this
Almost turned the TV off last night, then thought, anh…I’ll watch Pavelec and see what he can do. Then Kovy scores, and I think hey at least we didn’t get shut out. Then Perrin scores. Still kinda just watching the game. Then we get the 4 minute PP and Kovy just goes off. When he got his third one to make it a one goal game I was standing and cheering. Then we had the TV time out so they could clean up the puddle where Emery was standing in the goal crese and we get another PP. I could feel it, I could feel the win, not a tie, the win. Then Kozlov pulls his punk move and I threw things at the TV. Ah, we didn’t deserve to win, but damn it we should have.
Sara McCrimmon has been running the practices, not DW, he just stands behind the bench during the games. Annnnnnnnnd it was McCrimmon who went in there in between the 2nd and 3rd and ripped into the team and told them to play like they had some pride. It looks like we may have to get used to this twosome of DW and McCrimmon for awhile. I know what you are saying, I wanted no part of him when the change was announced, but he is kind of growing on me. Oh and here is an interesting article. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/columnist/allen/2007-11-01-thrashers_N.htm
Rawhide it’s your blog, spell things any freak’n way you want I say.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this
UpperDeck4Life - we must take every opportunity we can to mock our resident blog leader, Rawhide.
By R. Stroz
November 2, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this
Check out the additions to nhlnumbers.com site when you have achance.
By BiscuitsNBaskets
November 2, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
I could maybe see a comparison between the ATL/NJ and ATL/OTT games had Atlanta actually WON the NJ game. But I recall Atlanta losing that one in regulation amid a bevy of mistakes and penalties, allowing the tie, then the PP in the final 2 minutes. Ottawa blew their lead, but not the game. Atlanta blew the lead AND the game.
Ottawa plays like a team that knows it will win, much like the Canadiens in the 70s. They’ve got a swagger that’s fascinating and maddening at the same time, cause you just know they’re gonna find a way to pull it off.
Don Waddell’s team plays desperate and without confidence most of the time. The talent is there, but as others have mentioned, where’s the identity? This team has none. Who knows what team will show up any given night? It’s entertaining from time to time, but after seven seasons and a division title, is this what we still want to put up with from Don the Wad?
By Sara
November 2, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
UD4L good article, thanks for the link. I feel the same way about Waddell coaching for the rest of the season. I think McCrimmon is strong enough to handle a lot of the day to day stuff like practices, giving Don time to do his GM thing. I think the best coaching candidates are going to be found amongst assistants. If it’s McCrimmon, here’s his time to shine and prove he’s the go-to guy. If not, then next summer try someone else.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this
Stroz - nice post. It looks nice, I just checked it out. Furthermore, the free agent list is going to add multiple posts to these blogs…
By R. Stroz
November 2, 2007 3:55 PM | Link to this
I think we should make Bob the GM and Ranallo the coach. Now, that would be great.
By Sara
November 2, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this
R Stroz Looks like they’ve got some good stuff there. Looking at the FA list of centers is a mite depressing though - not a lot to choose from so getting a #1 is going to be a little difficult.
By Brian
November 2, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this
BiscuitsNBaskets - if you say The talent is there, then why would you refer to the GM as Don the Wad? Afterall, you yourself said he went out and got the talent…
By Sara
November 2, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
Also interesting is something that DE and JP alluded to last night and Spector expounds on in his blog - lots and lots of scouts running around games - including several at the Montreal/Thrashers game. Even more interesting perhaps is that Thrashers’ own Director of Player Personnel Mark Dobson has been seen at 3 Edmonton games in 3 weeks.
By UpperDeck4Life
November 2, 2007 4:12 PM | Link to this
There are some UFA defensman on that list that are going to get PAID next summer and a couple of them I would love to see the Thrashers get.
Campbell, Liles, Jackman, not to mention Redden and Boyle.
By Bob
November 2, 2007 4:15 PM | Link to this
I think we should make Bob the GM and Ranallo the coach. Now, that would be great.
Sweet, than I could fire his butt if he didn’t give JP enough ice time for my likin;
“That’s true, but in November?? Find some evidence.”
Is past performance a good indicator of future success? Generally I like to wait 20 games to see where things are at and we’re 13 games, so fair enough, sample size hasn’t met the criteria, we’ll give it a few more games and see where they stand then.
By The Beast
November 2, 2007 4:18 PM | Link to this
The Beast = Brian
Nah, The Beast thinks Brian’s just a clueless cheerleader. Try again, Mr. Claymation Producer Extraordinaire
By BiscuitsNBaskets
November 2, 2007 4:19 PM | Link to this
Alright, I’ll clarify. There’s talent on every team, whether it’s the right talent at the right time is something else. The GM’s gig is putting the right talent together. I never said we had the talent to win championships, just enough to take a few games here and there, keeping Don in his office, or behind the bench, or at the skate sharpener, maybe the washer and dryer as well, or wherever the hell else he needs to be to keep his job in the midst of this tragicomedy.
By Buzilla Baby Blues
November 2, 2007 4:40 PM | Link to this
Brad McCrimmon?
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 4:41 PM | Link to this
BiscuitsNBaskets — I agree, the difference between the two games (ATL-NJ and ATL-OTT) is the outcome. In both instances Atlanta lost. However people are trying to claim that losing shouldn’t affect the team no matter HOW IT HAPPENS. To that I disagree. Losing a 4 goal lead should impact your team’s psyche negatively. Coming back from a 5 goal deficit should impact your team’s psyche positively. There is a difference between the loss to Ottawa, and the loss to New Jersey, and that difference isn’t ONLY the caliber of team played. It’s also the manner of the loss. A strong third period to end a game in the face of adversity shows character and heart in a team. They showed they could fight to stay alive in a game, when earlier this season they couldn’t fight to hold a several goal lead.
Ottawa 6 - Atlanta 4 is much more helpful to this team than Ottawa 5 - Atlanta 0.
I play sports (I’m sure many here do), and I know how it feels to get bent over by a superior team, and how much better it feels to show them you can hang with their talent and make the game competitive (if only for 10 minutes of a 60 minute game). This loss COULD go a long ways for this team.
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 4:51 PM | Link to this
Bob — JP will get plenty of ice time in Chicago, don’t you worry about that.
Your job would be to get me the right ingredients, and if you do not do as such I expect you to resign immediately following that weakness becoming apparent. As we know your philosophy stands, the shortcomings of the team can be traced to the top of the organization. So, according to you I shouldn’t be the first one fired (if we fail), rather you should.
Basically, I’m guaranteed a shot at putting Hossa-Kozlov-Kovalchuk together…give Pavelec more ice time…reinstate the Little Wolves Line…sit Larsen and Boulton more often…request the services of Valabik and Desbiens in the NHL.
Kovalchuk-Kozlov-Hossa (until they fall apart from the seems, they’ll stay together)
Sterling-Little-Haydar
Perrin-Holik-Dupuis
Thorburn-Slater-Desbiens
Enstrom-Havelid
Exelby-Valabik (the new Bash Brothers)
Zhitnik-Popovic (until you can pull off a trade of Zhitnik for a bag of pucks, we need more for practices)
Pavelec and Hedberg would rotate until Lehtonen is healthy. Hot goalie getting the start, with the advantage leaning towards the young guy.
By ranallo10
November 2, 2007 4:57 PM | Link to this
Damn, I need more “eh” and “like” and “you know” in my statements to gain credibility…it’s tough being an U.S. born coach in the NHL!
By BiscuitsNBaskets
November 2, 2007 5:15 PM | Link to this
You won’t hear me complaining about the third period play by the Thrash; it was gutsy, and I do hope that it sets the table for a whipping of Tampa Bay. I hope it’s an indication of the potential heart this team has. Just give me something consistent to watch. Until then, I’ll be hard pressed to believe that Waddell hasn’t outstayed his welcome. A division champ shouldn’t be playing like they’re in rebuilding mode, but that’s where Waddell put us.
By Tony C.
November 2, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
If you’ve ever been in the room when He changes footwear, you know why they call him The Beast!
j/k.
As far as the moral victory=crap theory, I say B.S.!!!
Just look at past examples in the NHL like when NJD came back on the Flyers from 3-1 down…they got blown out in two of those losses, but game four was close went down to the wire, this after being pushed around and having Philly impose their will for basically 8.5 periods. Then They get to within one gol and lost in regulation, but then they went on a 6-game winning streak.
It’s one thing to run out of time. It’s a whole ‘nother to get run out of the building.
OK now let’s figure the damn Tampa Two out.
GO BLUE !!!
By Krust
November 2, 2007 8:19 PM | Link to this
The game last night started good despite the the early goal and lack of shots. It was the second period that was a disaster. But for a team to come alive in the last 10 minutes is great and should be a good thing. Kovy just took over he was posessed. For people on this blog to discount the effort of the team in the last 10 minutes just shows their lack of knowlage of Ice Hockey and Sports. Because if they had pulled it off in the final 2 minutes and tied the game. Some of you would be going great game. In fact if this game was at home some of you so called fans would have been headed for the exits after the second period. I have seen almost every Flames, Knights and Thrasher games ever played in Atlanta and I have never left until the final whistle. And I have seen some great late third period Hockey. A fight or Furious coach a big check has brought the desperate play. The kind we saw last night. Was anybody really board with it? I think not.
By Brian
November 3, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this
Nah, The Beast thinks Brian’s just a clueless cheerleader. Try again, Mr. Claymation Producer Extraordinaire
Brian thinks anyone who does all their talking under a false name without showing their face is a mama’s boy. Change that “B” to an “L” in your name you frickin’ pansie…
By Tony C.
November 3, 2007 1:56 AM | Link to this
Also,
Did we have a prayer on Thrus.?
GO BLUE !!!
By puckjunque
November 3, 2007 6:57 AM | Link to this
Yes we did. It was a little lackluster andd late delivered but it was there. I do believe the great thundermaker did shine but we didn’t pick up the rays of light in time. What do you think we should pray for this time? More of p3 I guess?
By Sara
November 3, 2007 10:57 AM | Link to this
I added another spreadsheet that breaks down the exact players each team has drafted, showing year drafted and which round. While the other data I think gives a good overview, it still leaves a lot of intangibles out there. One of those is evaluating the skill level of the draft picks. For example, while Detroit has only one 1st rounder, they have several later round picks that are big impact players. And as we know all too well, first round picks in drafts do not necessarily equate to superstars in the league, even if they are NHL regulars.
By puckjunque
November 3, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this
Well I’m thinking….. more of what we saw in the third period in Ottawa but it would be nice if a certain “key player” that is improving mind you, actually demonstrates what we all know he knows how to do and a extra prayer today for Pavalec who probably hasn’t been able to stay beyond close proximity to the bathroom all morning.
Bow your heads, hands joined on keyboards
Oh Heavenly Father, please guide the Thrashers to victory today. Charge them with the spirit and energy to kick some lightning a$$! AMEN
By puckjunque
November 3, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Okay, Okay, better defense and penalty kill too! Did I miss anything else?
GO THRASHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Brian
November 3, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
puckjunque - the bloggers replied
By Brian
November 3, 2007 4:11 PM | Link to this
puckjunque - let’s try that reply again.
By Brian
November 3, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this
Ok, the ajc is broke, it keeps adding in a whole link in front of my link…
By R. Stroz
November 3, 2007 8:16 PM | Link to this
Where’s Brendan? Are you on vacation dude?
By PJ
November 3, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Brian - Obviously you must have had something smug to say, you always do. Maybe the blogging god “blocked you”. Regardless there are no AMEN’s and that is UN-GOOD.
By Rawhide
November 3, 2007 8:26 PM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN!!!!!
By R. Stroz
November 3, 2007 10:05 PM | Link to this
BIG AMEEEEEENNNN
By ranallo10
November 3, 2007 10:54 PM | Link to this
I think “Kovalchuk” is Russian for “GOD”, but perhaps russian can clarify that translation…
By Krust
November 3, 2007 11:15 PM | Link to this
Kovy is god and Little is his son., Did you see little look over his back before he sent the wining pass to Dupruis, Little is the real deal! I mean a 19 year old lookiing at who he is passing to 2 or 3 seconds ahead, just insane. That play should make the ESPN highlights.
By Bobby Holik
November 3, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this
After game, I give the C and 4.25 million per year to Kovy. Kovy was happy to see Hossa score while I sit on my lazy a$$. Will DW send me to Edmonton for a bag of pucks.
By EILEEN
November 4, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Before you go to sleep say your prayers and thank God for Kovy!
By Rawhide
November 4, 2007 12:31 AM | Link to this
Amen, Eileen,….AMEN!!
By Brian
November 4, 2007 12:52 AM | Link to this
puckjunque - just do the cut & paste here, believe me, it applies even more now than before:
www.kindzia.com/hallelujah.wav
You can roll over the link in the bad posts above and see that the link here is the ending from those ones above but with a bunch of garble ahead of it…
By Brian
November 4, 2007 12:56 AM | Link to this
WOW I just finished watching the game (on tape, eh, dvr delay…). I wonder if all those naysayers still think that there was no moral victory in getting those goals in Ottawa. Or maybe did that give our Thrashers the confidence to come back from a 4-1 deficit tonight???
By R. Stroz
November 4, 2007 1:01 AM | Link to this
New Winning Formula:
1) Buzilla loses first blog contest.
2) puckjunque prepares prayer early in the day giving us all time to join in.
3) stendec waits until after the game to post game commentary
4) Sara completes reasearch project.
5) Kovy gets hat trick.
By Brian
November 4, 2007 1:11 AM | Link to this
Not only was it a great victory for the rookie Pavelec, but check out these other stats:
rookie Enstrom: 1G, +2, 2nd in TOI
rookie Little: 2A, +2
rookie Popovic played a full game tonight also.
Oh yeah, free agents Perrin & White also got points and were in the + column. They are both hovering around a 1/2 point/game.
But, I am sure the DW haters will be spewing again in a few days…
By Wreckin & Thrashin
November 4, 2007 1:32 AM | Link to this
I now bestow upon you: Ilya Kovalclutch
By Rawhide
November 4, 2007 9:12 AM | Link to this
New Rawhide blog in 5…..4…..3….2……1…..
By puckjunque
November 4, 2007 2:03 PM | Link to this
R Stroz
add:
6) Rawhide must never wash the jersey.