AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 09 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMore of The Good, The Un-Good and the Ugly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As the Thrashers continue their current eight-game stretch against Southeast Division foes with games in Florida and home against Carolina this weekend, it’s time for another rendition of The Good, The Un-good and The Ugly.
THE GOOD:
Very Offensive: Since the end of the second period of the Ottawa game last Thursday, the Thrashers have out scored their opponents to the tune of 12-6. For those of you from Livonia, Michigan, that would be scoring twice as many as the other team.
Putting in the Overtime: The Thrashers are 3-0 in overtime games this year. Can’t get much gooder then that.
Doing the Math: The 6 wins in the past 9 games are good indeed. How good? Well, if continued on that pace for the rest of the season it would land the Thrashers at 101 points. I’d take that.
Up ‘Chuk: Ilya Kovalchuk is absolutely unconscious! Seven goals and eight points in the past three games as well as the winning shootout goal in Montreal 4 games ago will land him in the “Good” category. But that’s only because there isn’t one for Super-wonder-splindifferous. Blueland held it’s collective breath Tuesday night when he tweaked his back on a slap shot but it looks like he is good to go against the Panthers. Good, but crossing fingers.
Opie!: Ondrej Pavelec, (or Opie as he will be called here), is 2-0-0 in career starts. In those games he has faced 64 shots, stopping 59 of ‘em. He is currently boasting a 2.49 GAA and .913 SV%. I know Todd White’s game-winner in OT earning him the games first star is justified, but let’s be honest, without OP’s net-minding Tuesday night, there would not have been an overtime.
Playing the Full 20 Minutes: The Thrashers seem to have gotten a grip on that “allowing a goal early in a period and seconds before the intermission” problem. As I stated a few days ago, it is always a good thing when TV breaks for the first commercial before we give up the first goal.
Reason for the Recent Rise?: In case you were wondering, the Thrashers are 4-1 since I broke down and washed the lucky jersey, (you are welcome), and 5-1 after pre-game prayers posted by Puckjunque, (take a bow, PJ). Hey, these stats just don’t lie.
THE UN-GOOD:
Still Being Out Shot: The Thrashers still are yet to outshoot an opponent in a game. However, it’s no longer by such E-GREE-GEOUS margins as in the earlier games. Tuesday night’s OT win saw Atlanta launch 31 SOG to Washington’s 32.
When Your #2 You Have to Try Harder: Steve McCarthy’s -12 rating still tops the team, but sitting in the No. 2 spot for this dubious honor is Alexei Zhitnik with a -9. Un-good when your logging only 16 or so minutes or so a game as has been the case the past several games.
The Revolution is Will Not Be Televised: The Thrashers are 4-0 in games not televised locally. While any winning record in a given circumstance should be considered a good thing, I chose to place it with the rest of the un-good items. Now, I know the TV suits didn’t plan it this way, but they set themselves up for just such a scenario by choosing to air only three games in a ten game span. Including Friday’s game in Florida the next three are off-air as well, so I hope the streak continues. But fans not being able to watch the team on TV as their play improves, (at least the road games), is un-good.
THE UGLY:
Kovy’s Back: Not going to dwell much on this here but just the thought of Kovalchuk having back issues, especially if it becomes reoccurring, is ugly…ugly with a capitol UGH!
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By BubblesAndConkie
November 9, 2007 7:06 AM | Link to this
first?
By PuckedUP
November 9, 2007 7:53 AM | Link to this
Definitely good to see the upside of the team. What is starting to tweak the imagination is how well they might play if Hossa gets on track. Hmmm… . Because, try as I might not want to, I have to think at some point the team will have find other offense. I’m still not ready to apologize to DW for all the unpleasant comments I have made. But if this keeps up I might have to. Go Thrash!
By Matt H
November 9, 2007 8:35 AM | Link to this
HA! “Opie”. I can dig it. “Ondrej Pavelec” is a great hockey name, though. “Pavelec” is fun to say.
I’d add one more to the “UGLY” list, and that’s the recent comments by Mell. Not ugly as in “He shouldn’t have said that.” but ugly as in, “Damn I hope that isn’t all true.”
Mell’s the kind of player you honor, period. I never watched the Thrashers before his tenure, but would it be safe to say he was the Thrashers’ first true captain, yes? (It’s okay, Dave Andreychuk was the Lightning’s first true captain). Andy got a nice front office job after he retired, I expected the same for Mell.
Now that I know he’s thrown his weight behind McCrimmon, I have to as well. I mean, I think John Anderson sounds great, and the possibility of Pat Burns is extremely appealing.
But Kozzie, Mell and Bobby form a pretty solid advise and consent.
Maybe Beast at the helm with Anderson up as a new assistant?
Feel better Kovy. Good to see Brendan back on the boards. Ever’thing alright, man? New job? Mine’s been keeping me away more’n I’d like….
By J.B.
November 9, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this
Out of all the possible nicknames for Ondrej, I like Opie the best by far.
THANK GOD KOVY FEELS GOOD THIS MORNING!!!!!
Unleash the fury~
By Matt H
November 9, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
Nice little piece of recognition for Ex on TSN.CA.
By Brian
November 9, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this
Matt H - Andreychuk lead the bolts to a Cup, Mel lead us to getting swept. Big difference as to who is held on and who isn’t. Besides, I said this on another blog, but why is anybody talking like McCrimmon has already been passed over. If we keep winning like this and DW stays down there, who will complain? Mel played 2 years for us, not exactly identified with the Thrashers. I am mad because he just sounds bitter so he is trying to get others riled up on a non-issue at this point…
By Robert
November 9, 2007 9:19 AM | Link to this
I wonder if DW or ANYONE working for the Thrashers has a house in another City/State. I just don’t buy DW’s excuse of Mel living in ST. Louis. It’s a cop-out.
By hoosier_hoser
November 9, 2007 10:06 AM | Link to this
I prefer Ondrej The Giant! But that’s just me. Whenever I face a tough decision. I just ask myself what would Vince McMahon do?
By Sara
November 9, 2007 10:12 AM | Link to this
Robert I would say that depends. If it was a scouting kind of role, then it wouldn’t matter where Mell lived since it would only be a “home base.” But if the talk was about more of an office-type job, management role, then yes Mell would have needed to live here. The STL-ATL commute is a bit over the top, even by Atlanta commute standards.
It’s not like the organization turns their back on all the players - they got a gig going for Odgie, who was a much more popular player here overall than Mell IMO.
Here’s the thing I have with Mell right now - he blasted HiBob on HNIC, he has now blasted ownership in the AJC. But this is the same guy who last spring called up KT and convinced him to come play here. Makes you wonder what changed - although one could argue he was doing it for the good of the team itself, irrespective of coaching/ownership. But I still do wonder.
By Chris
November 9, 2007 10:19 AM | Link to this
I agree with Brian’s comments regarding Mellanby. He was not so woven into the fabric here that he could expect the team to cater to his every desire. He needed to give a little to show good faith.
I also don’t think going public will help him get his front-office career rolling. People in hiring roles won’t remember the details, they’ll just remember that he b*** in the paper about something or other.
By ranallo10
November 9, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
hoosier hoser — great piece of advice. You should make up some WWVD shirts.
I like Ondrej the Giant, but I’ll stick to Ondrej Pavelec (his actual name).
Brian, Sara, Chris — I agree, Mellanby’s comments reek of bitterness.
Robert — I would bet most of the management positions in the Atlanta Spirit organization have a residence in Atlanta. Was it Mullen who DW talked to last week in his Atlanta apartment? I find the excuse somewhat weak, but maybe it’s the truth. Would you leave your family for 9 months of the year, or unsettle them from their St. Louis home just for your job?? I don’t know Mellanby’s familial situation, but I can make sense of Waddell’s side more so than Mellanby’s side.
People loved Ferraro when he was here, he took parting shots on his way out and has not batted an eye to knock Atlanta since. People love Mellanby and he seems to be following suit.
As a Thrashers fan, I feel no allegiance to Scott Mellanby.
By Christy
November 9, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this
RE Mellanby - I’m more in line with Matt I think.
Not that Mellanby was woven into the fabric, maybe, like Sara points out, but he was the first true captain on the ice. I really loved McEachern, but I never saw him do the same things on the ice for the team that Mel did and have yet to see Bobby do the same.
And Mel had a presence not only in this community, but in the larger NHL community which I think would serve the organization well in terms of being an ambassador for us.
By puckjunque
November 9, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this
Allright everyone…….
bow your head, hands joined on keyboards
Oh Heavenly Father, Thank you for the many blessings you have bestowed upon the Thrashers. We ask that you place your healing powers on Ilya Kovalchuk and help motivate the whole team to get in the game and score early, stay sharp and see it through to the end and kick some panther a$$! AMEN
By Brendan
November 9, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this
Matt H. and others, thank you for the welcome back. Yes, unfortunately, I was away on pressing work matter. And it won’t be the last time either, I’m afraid. I enjoy traveling …. when I’m on vacation. But for business, not so much. I’ll be gone a few days next week, after the Veterans’ Day Holiday. Back by Friday, though.
Okay, I heard Bernie Mullin on 680 the Fan this morning. Perhaps some of you did, too? Mullin admitted that talks took place between Mellanby, himself and Waddell. But Mullen said it was ultimately Scott and his family’s idea to build a new house in St. Louis and that for what they envisioned him doing, he’d need to be here in Atlanta. And, to quote Bernie Mullin, “If for failing to properly close the loop. I apologize on behalf of the whole organization.” Bernie expressed disappointment that Mellanby went PUBLIC with it. But what’s done is done.
Mellanby is in a GOOD situation with Hockey Night in Canada. That’s a nice, “cushy” job. They seem to want to live in St. Louis. So, I don’t get the bitterness that Mellanby seems to have. And I agree with Sara and Brian and others who have posted that Mellanby was only here for two seasons. It’s not he’s been with the franchise since the Inaugural season, or was Captain for 5 or more years. As I recall, he was a free agent signing in the Summer of 2004. Then there was the lockout. And he played two seasons for us. That doesn’t seem like it entitles him to the keys to the City or a big office at CNN Center. But I’ll agree with Christy and Matt H. that he has been one of the franchise’s more pronounced Captains in its brief history. Ray Ferraro being the 2nd most visible/memorable.
By Brian
November 9, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Bear in mind too, the only reason Mel has any kind of job with HNIC is because his father is the former producer of the show for decades (he originally hired Don Cherry to do what is now the most popular segment in that country). So perhaps we are inflating his reach into the hockey community…
By Maal
November 9, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this
Kovy’s back scares the hell out of me. That’s not something you mess around with. I would much rather see him miss the Florida game, and maybe even the Carolina game, and rest, than risk further injury. shudder
By Rawhide
November 9, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN, PJ!!
Well done! Now let’s go Pummel the PANT-TURDS!!!
By ranallo10
November 9, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this
Rawhide — When are you putting your picture up alongside this fan blog, ala David Vescey?
By R. Stroz
November 9, 2007 4:06 PM | Link to this
ranallo - He doesn’t have any pictures without the Blue Crew hanging on him and he doesn’t want his wife to see those pictues.
By ranallo10
November 9, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this
I’ll let him borrow my autographed Vigier uniform for a photo session…but I expect it back.
By Rawhide
November 9, 2007 5:14 PM | Link to this
RStroz,………..SHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
(Sheeze) wazza-matter wid you?
By Waffleboy
November 9, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this
PJ-Thanks for the blessing, and I, as an ordained ULC minister, will pass on my mojo.
By Tony C.
November 9, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this
Well now we know who not to goto Vegas with >looking @ RStroz<…I kid, I kid…
It sounds like a pretty good game no wonder AtlantaSpiritLLC wouldn’t get it broadcast in their team’s home market.
GO BLUE !!!
By puckjunque
November 9, 2007 9:20 PM | Link to this
Waffleboy Thanks, prayers are always….GOOD. If you are ordained minister and happen to have an “in” at wafflehouse, you might want to talk to Buz about his coming nuptial.
By Brendan
November 9, 2007 9:35 PM | Link to this
Panthers’ color man, Denis Potvin, has been advancing, all night, that Hossa is still injured, suffering from a groin problem. Potvin has mostly praise for Hossa, saying he’s struggling primarily because of the nagging injury.
Though, his comments that Lehtonen is or will be sent to the AHL and has to fight his way back into his roster spot have me a bit mystified. Has anyone heard anything about Lehtonen being re-assigned to Chicago (AHL)? I missed that one.
By Brendan
November 9, 2007 9:56 PM | Link to this
Well, Thrashers lead, 4-1, late in the 3rd. If this holds up, not only did Atlanta not give Florida a point, but it took two from them. This was their rink. That’s three wins in a row, and five of the last six. That’s 7-3-0 since the Hartley firing. That makes Waddell 11-8-1, lifetime, as our Coach. Hard to think we should be making Coach change at this precise moment. Taking 14 of 20 points since the Coaching change is remarkable. That’s a .700 clip, folks.
By Tony C.
November 9, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this
Looks like I got my wish; our boys got the lead, and never gave it up.
That, boys and girls, is called winning hockey!!! Hopefully soon we can say that it is called “Thrashers Hockey”!!!!
GO BLUE !!!#17 OWNS YOU
(seriously, it’s like he can’t stop scoring)
P.S. Again, anybody that DVR’d the game let me know.
By puckjunque
November 9, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this
Tony C - I believe we got our “prayers” answers. amen
Go Blue!!!!
By Sara
November 9, 2007 10:27 PM | Link to this
Tony C. I DVR’d both tonight’s game and the one against the Lightning but have no clue how to get them off the DVR?? I know there’s a SCSI port on there, so I presume that’s the solution. I also have a jump drive - think it should be big enough to hold at least one game? If you know how to get in touch with Rawhide, he can direct you to me. I’ll be coming down to the game tomorrow so maybe we can work something out.
By Tony C.
November 9, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
well with our (Comcast) DVRs, there is a firewire out as well as a scsi out. If you’d like to get in touch with me my email is:
hispeedtest@hotmail.com
Hit me up there, I can’t goto most games b/c I work nights…Thursdays are a possibility, though.
By Brian
November 9, 2007 11:08 PM | Link to this
Tony C. - I just replied to your last e-mail, check your inbox…
Great game tonight, we held on to the lead, Kovy keeps going, Hossa gets a goal (and assist), Perrin gets another point, rookies keep contributing, and Stroz didn’t hurt his head when he fell over after Holik got the 3rd star…
By kracker
November 9, 2007 11:47 PM | Link to this
Sara Woohoo! Another win!
I was at the Lightning game and would love a copy of it. Keep me in mind please if you do get it from your DVR onto a DVD or something. I don’t know what to do but I imagine you just need another device hooked up to your TV or DVR. Anyway, please let me know if you have it available.
By Bob
November 10, 2007 12:18 AM | Link to this
Taking 14 of 20 points since the Coaching change is remarkable. That’s a .700 clip, folks.
Crap, theres your coach? What’s the deal with Mellanby? Did they offer him the coaching job? Make him GM, keep The Wad as coach.
What’s with Kovy, 7 goals in 3 games? Did he get hurt? I saw him in tonight’s box score?
By Rawhide
November 10, 2007 12:48 AM | Link to this
OK, we got Puckjunque dishing out pre-game prayers that The Great Thunder Maker in the Sky seems to be acknowledging. Now we find out Waffleboy is a minister.
We got the corner on spiritual guidance market.
Futhermore, RStroz calls out the play of Todd White in here and, BOOM, game winner in OT. He calls out Holik and BOOM he goes for 2 assists in Florida. I merely SUGGEST that he call out Zhitnik and BOOM he’s a +2 in 20+ minutes on the ice.
He is now know as The Great and Powerful Wizard of Stroz!
By R. Stroz
November 10, 2007 12:50 AM | Link to this
Welcome back Bob.
1) The kid is for real. In the game against the Craps, Pavelec was standing on his head and that is an understatement.
2) Rat blasted management in an AJC article and said McCrimmon should be the new coach.
3) Kovy has emerged as a mature two way player, put the team on his back, and figured out an accurate wrister works better than a one timer.
4) Kovy and Hossa are starting to click on the same line.
5) The PP has player movement.
6) Waddell is still the official coach; but, McCrimmon is running the practices. You read between the lines on that one.
7) Buzilla traded his fiance for Ranallo’s signed J.P. Vigier jersey.
By R. Stroz
November 10, 2007 12:54 AM | Link to this
I give all the credit to punkjunque’s early pre-game prayers!
By punkjunque
November 10, 2007 1:08 AM | Link to this
R Stroz, Your too modest. Now you are obligated to call it tomorrow (early, don’t make the mistake I did) The pressure’s on……….
By R. Stroz
November 10, 2007 1:15 AM | Link to this
puckjunque - I’ll leave the prayers to you.
By Sage of Bluesland
November 10, 2007 11:08 AM | Link to this
Pavelec is the real deal—and the goalie we have waited a decade for—finally.
Trade the glass-groined wunderbust to the highest bidder and regret that we also don’t have Rick Nash in the lineup instead of the immature punk from Finland with the silly blue hair…
Another reason to keep our brilliant Donny out of the GM’s office and on the bench, where he belongs.
By Rawhide
November 10, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this
Sort of a Blog Within a Blog here. Very strong win last night. So many positives it’ll be hard to know just where to start.
Opie continuing his strong play in the net, stopping 36 of 37 shots, might be a good place to begin. The series of saves against Jokinen early in the second to keep the game scoreless at the time was outstanding.
Kovy playing 24:06 with a goal and a helper was a great to see. While it may be a while before I stop holding my breath when he winds up, it sure looked like his back will be OK, (fingers crossed, knocking wood, tossing salt over shoulder).
Zhitnik looked as good as he has all year finishing a +2 with 20:56 TOI and just looking like he skating stronger back there.
Did you notice how all four goals were scored deep in last night? There was a lot of motion around the net and everyone was getting good position and penetration.
The win draws the Thrashers to within two points of the eighth playoff spot. For that matter, right now there are only four points separating 5th place in the conference and 15th place. It also gives a chance to start closing the gap with Carolina. A regulation win tonight would bring us to a mere four points behind the division leaders with only one win less then they have.
The boys of Blueland are 7-3-0 over the last ten games now and have outscored the opposition 34-32 in that span, (if you allow for the “goals” awarded in shootouts). Over that same span of games the only teams in the Eastern Conference with a better record are Ottawa, (8-2-0) and Montreal (7-2-1).
Puckjunque, let’s get busy with that pre-game prayer.
By kracker
November 10, 2007 12:13 PM | Link to this
A word about stats - A person blogged this question on another forum following last night’s game: Are the +/- stats wrong for this game? Kovalchuk and Hossa weren’t -1, and Enstrom wasn’t -1 either. What gives?
My answer: I think they were -1. They were all on the ice for the EV Horton goal and all off the ice for the EV Kozlov and Thorburn goals. The Kovy and Hossa goals were PP goals.
Kovy and Hoss scored 2 points for the game, Enstrom got an assist. This just shows that stats can be deceiving, yes? Especially the single game +/- stats, they are largely meaningless on any given night. The longer view of a season or 40 games or 20 games gives an indication of the net worth of the player. One of Kovalchuk’s goals is to become a plus player.
By puckjunque
November 10, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
We’re gonna need lot’s of AMENs today!!
Bow your heads, hands joined on keyboards
Oh Heavenly Father, We are thankful for the many blessings you have bestowed upon the Thrashers. Please continue to guide them with the confidence and endurance to be victorious tonight and to kick some huricane a$$! AMEN!
By kracker
November 10, 2007 3:13 PM | Link to this
Amen. Off to the tailgate.
GO THRASHERS!!
By Brendan
November 10, 2007 4:08 PM | Link to this
AMEN! And welcome back, Bob.
By Brian
November 10, 2007 4:14 PM | Link to this
puckjunque - thank you
By Rawhide
November 10, 2007 4:59 PM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN!! Well done again, PJ!!!
Now let’s go Cream Carolina!!!
By Tony C.
November 10, 2007 5:17 PM | Link to this
hallelujah
By stendec
November 10, 2007 10:22 PM | Link to this
HELL! Three soft goals out of five. Hope the kid got them out of his system. Thrasher defense resembled Auburn’s. None to be found! Truly sad. Pitful home non-effort!
By puckjunque
November 10, 2007 11:48 PM | Link to this
Brian, thanks, that is so darn cute it just never gets old!
And if anyone knows who “Dawgman” is, I owe him a dollar.
By Brendan
November 11, 2007 12:40 AM | Link to this
We’re once again closing in on the Toronto Maple Leafs for worst GA on the season. Pavelec’s not going to like 5 goals hitting his GAA. Pavelec didn’t play badly. But his lack of rebound control is hurting him right now. Time to give him a rest in favor of the Moose. Hedberg’s been waiting a while now for a start.
By Rawhide
November 11, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this
OK, I wasn’t at the game last night, (boys are involved in something and I was in attendance),…..anyway, I watched the recording and what do I see????
Steve McCarthy in the ice. He winds up lowering his +/-, now a -13. Can anyone tell me why he was out there?????
If DW was wanting to see if he had sat enough and was ready play,….could he not have waited until Tuesday night? These were the dvision leaders we were playing!!!
I’m sure there is a reason…….Brendan???? Brian??? Beuller????? Beuller??? Anyone???
By Brendan
November 11, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Rawhide, Exelby was out with an ankle injury. So, McCarthy played. In fairness, one of Atlanta’s goals happened deep in the zone while the defensive pairings were changing. I believe it was the 2nd Hossa goal.
By Rawhide
November 11, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this
Thanks Brendan.
New Rawhide Blog in 5…4…3…2..1…