AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThrashers Administer Capital Punishment
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Ilya Kovalchuk continues to dish out punishment to opposing defenses. Wednesday night it was Washington’s turn to be used, abused and kicked to the curb as the Russian Rocket tallied 2 goals and two assists in Atlanta’s 5-1 smack down of the Capitals. He now has 19 goals and 33 points on the season.
Things started out slowly as the Thrasher were out shot by the Caps 8-1 at one point and then fell behind 1-0. But then it was all Kovy and Co. as the Boys of Blueland were on Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig like my boys will be on a turkey drumstick in about 15 hours from now. Atlanta built a two-goal lead going into the second intermission. The two extra goals in the third period were just gravy on the top.
Not to be over-looked is the efforts of To-BEE-us Enstrom who finished the night with 3 assists and 23:34 TOI. Niclas Havelid and Eric Perrin joined in with a goal and assist each while the Captain notched his second goal of the year. Pascal Dupuis had an assist while Marian Hossa continued his great play of late with two helpers of his own. Johan Hedberg looked solid, stopping 31 of 32 shots the Capitals launched towards him.
The win capped off an unbelievable 8 game run through our Southeast division foes with the Thrashers winning 7 of them. They picked up 14 points while giving back only 5 to the opponents. Atlanta has won four straight for the first time this season and 11 of it’s last 15. The victory in D.C. also lifted the team to a winning record for the first time all season. Tell the truth, if I would have told you on October 17 that the Thrashers would have be above .500 before you sat down to Thanksgiving dinner, you would have looked at me like I was from Neptune.
But you see, Fzxcrstyupju, (Neptonian for “my friends”), not only is it true, but Atlanta is now tied for second in the division only 5 points shy of Carolina and locked in a 4 way tie with Tampa Bay, Boston and the Islanders for 6th place in the conference.
We will gather with full bellies Friday at Philips to bedevil New Jersey and I’ll have a new post after Saturday’s game in Pittsburgh. Hopefully to discuss 4 more points in the standings.
So, on this winning Thanksgiving-eve, I wish all of you the happiest of holiday feasts. This is especially true for you Manley and all those who serve with you in Iraq, Afghanistan and all over the globe. May you all receive blessings from the Almighty and return home not only safely, but victorious.
Happy Thanksgiving, Blueland.
Comments
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By R. Stroz
November 21, 2007 11:41 PM | Link to this
THRASHERS WIN!
By Tony C.
November 21, 2007 11:50 PM | Link to this
Bill-
If I haven’t said it before-you’re doing a great job!
GO BLUE !!!
By Brian
November 21, 2007 11:52 PM | Link to this
Kovy is not only the league leader in goals, but with a 4 points tonight he is #2 in overall points. It’s an embarrassment to our city if he is not a starter in the all-star game played in Atlanta this year (he is currently #7 for forwards). GO VOTE NOW
Rawhide - I noticed that you didn’t mention Exelby in your post. Seemed all I heard tonight was X did this and X did that…
By Rawhide
November 22, 2007 12:00 AM | Link to this
P.S. … Exelby did good too.
By R. Stroz
November 22, 2007 12:01 AM | Link to this
Things you should do once in your life:
Watch a hockey game on a big screen TV at a diner named after a famous hockey movie on Karaoke night.
How do you confuse a group of Rednecks on Karaoke night at a diner named after a famous hockey movie?
Cheer loudly when the Thrashers score. The morons think you’re cheering their yodeling.
By Brian
November 22, 2007 12:09 AM | Link to this
Another point about all-star voting. Vote for whoever you want in the West, it doesn’t effect the Thrashers in anyway. However, waffleboy posted a great link about the current vote totals. Kovy is behind 6 other forwards. So if you are voting for Kovy but also for 1 or 2 of those other 6 forwards, you are negating your vote for Kovy, because he isn’t gaining on them (well, he still gains on the other guys). But what if you also vote for Lecavalier or Crosby and they end up beating Kovy in the vote total and start over Kovy when the all-star game is in Atlanta!?!?!? Vote, but vote smart…
By Brian
November 22, 2007 12:21 AM | Link to this
Rawhide - I’m sure Exelby did good, I was just commenting on how many times I heard X tonight…
By Manley
November 22, 2007 12:56 AM | Link to this
Rawhide—thanks. Most of us will have a nice Thanksgiving dinner in a few hours so it will be a little like home.
Couldn’t watch or listen to the game, but after watching the Tampa Bay game I have to join the chorus of Tobias praises. Great poise and hustle for such a young d-man. Patrick Kane will get all the press for the Calder, but if Tobias isn’t at the top of the list there is no justice. I think we need our two insiders to make some noise in the Hockey Media (calling out CC and Darren Eliot!). I expect to see a feature on him in The Hockey News and SI.com.
Kovy, of course, is the man.
Best Wishes to you all for a Happy Thanksgiving among family and friends.
By syzslak
November 22, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
Before I get to my small criticism of this blog, I do want to say that I appreciate the tone and message of it. So, I mean this with all due respect: Our other star’s name is MariAn Hossa, not MariOn. I wouldn’t have said anything, but the last two blogs featured this spelling, and I’d hate for an ATLANTA blog to mess up such an important ATLANTA name.
Also, the team from DC is the CapitAls, not the CapitOls.
By AL
November 22, 2007 7:50 AM | Link to this
Happpy Thanksgiving to all. I will be working today as I do not live in the US. I will however be voting all day for Kovy, Hoss and Kozy. That’s the only forwards any Thrasher fan needs to vote for. My prediction was 1 off. I called for a 5-2 victory. I’ll take it.
The victory was sweet in so many ways but to be honest with you, I was more happy to see that Vinny (#4)didn’t get ANY points and my bwoy Kovy had 4! When people see the same picture (above the totals) on the lead in GOALS and POINTS, they’ll vote him #1 in the all-star selection. Kovy’s actions will make him a #2 selection. Too many idiots like the phrase “sid the kid”. Must do work now.
By AL
November 22, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this
*syzslak * That’s why I use nicknames! Can’t go wrong with Hoss, Kovy, Caps, etc.
By B. Thenet
November 22, 2007 9:30 AM | Link to this
Well it has to be one of the best streaks in Thrashers history.
Still a ways to go though.
By David
November 22, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this
Today’s article about Levenson is crazy. He goes to one game and he credits Waddell with the turn around? Good coaching on game day can win or loose games, no question. But nothing beats preparation and good team chemistry. How many practices or team meetings has he been to? What a country, any idiot with money can own a sports team. Wake up - DW is not responsible for this streak.
By Sara
November 22, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this
David with all due respect, DW is the one who built this team that has proven beyond doubt that they can get the job done. That alone makes him at least partially responsible. Secondly, there have been quotes from so many diferent players on the team talking about the difference in tone that DW has provided - they all, to a man it seems, credit the GM with the change in the atmosphere in the locker room and on the bench that has led to this remarkable turn around.
Btw, I was checking tsn.ca’s player bio on Enstrom and they list his negative as his diminutive size (go figure) - and how his size will limit his usefulness in 5-on-5 situations, making him really just a PP specialist. Huh, I didn’t realize the Thrashers were averaging over 20 minutes a game on the PP. ;p
By Rawhide
November 22, 2007 9:59 AM | Link to this
syzslak - Thank you. It has so been noted and logged. I would like to blame the errors on the lateness of the hour when posted, but that’s no excuse seeing that I was indeed able to spell “Fzxcrstyupju” correctly…
By FormerIslesFan
November 22, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this
Sara I have to entirely agree with you. I was watching Enstrom during a 5-on-5 in the third period last night when he was taking the puck out of the Thrashers’ zone and skating up ice with it. One thing that I noticed (and backed up the TiVO to be sure) was that he maintained his poise and body position perfectly. Even with Nylander coming at him from behind, he managed to position his body to sheld the Cap from the puck and not even give him an opportunity to strip the puck from him.
To me, this is something that is just understood by good defensemen and cannot be taught, regardless of the physical size of the player.
My write-in votes for Enstrom continue…
By Brian
November 22, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
syzslak - Dobrze dobrze (how many others would spell that right?).
David - How many practices or team meetings has he (DW) been to? What a country, any idiot with money can own a sports team. How many practices or team meetings have you been to David? None??? What a country, any idiot can blog about how he knows where someone is even though he has no such information…
Manley - a special thanks to you as I will have a safe Thanksgiving today.
By Brendan
November 22, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
Levenson starting his Thanksgiving Day a wee bit early last night, me thinks. That sure was a “fun” interview he gave with Darren Eliot, who did his level-best to remain composed throughout it.
By AL
November 22, 2007 11:32 AM | Link to this
brian just a reminder Check back tonight or tommorow morning, I will post a pic you can use for your desktop wallpaper. Thanks, AL
By Brian
November 22, 2007 11:44 AM | Link to this
AL - I TOTALLY FORGOT!!! Let me do it right now, I got home a little late after the game last night…
By Brian
November 22, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
AL - you are going to be unhappy with me, but it is on my work computer and I don’t have my laptop with me. I tried to do it here but it is not formatting properly. Forgive me, but I will have to get it later…
By Brian
November 22, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
AL - ok, I think this will do it for you. Click on the link. You will see the pic, right click on it and hit set as background. Then close all your windows, or minimize them. Right click somewhere on your desktop and hit properties. Click on desktop at the top. In the lower right, on the dropdowns, select center and for the color pick white. Let me know if that doesn’t work or is distorted, we can work on it. I have to run to dinner now…
By AL
November 22, 2007 1:20 PM | Link to this
Brian oh yeah boy that is a NICE desktop! Much appreciated.
By AL
November 22, 2007 2:22 PM | Link to this
We whooped’em so bad the caps fired their coach! Now I feel bad :-(
By Waffleboy
November 22, 2007 4:29 PM | Link to this
Vote, vote, vote! We gotta get the message out ther for Kovvy, he deserves to be a starter! He’ll make the team, no doubt, but he deserves to start. Voting for Enstrom is fine, but focus on Kovvy and the guys in front of him (Briere, Alfredsson, Crosby, Lecavalier, Heatley and Ovechkin). Brian was right, don’t vote for those guys. Crosby has 94,00 votes already to Kovvy’s 26,000. Vote for Kovvy ten times a damn day. Also, we need to get the word out in other mediums: call the radio stations and get people aware of this. Hell, write letters, put a bumper sticker on your car, get people at work to vote. If Kovvy doesn’t start, it’s because we let him down.
By R. Stroz
November 22, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this
Something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving Day:
Our children didn’t turn out to be like Sean Avery!
By Brendan
November 22, 2007 10:30 PM | Link to this
AL, thanks for the Capitals update. Looks like they promoted Bruce Boudreau, from the Hershey Bears. What do we know of this guy? GM McPhee declared, “The rebuilding is over. The shift now is to winning.” If the Capitals could snare another high 1st first round pick, think how pretty they’d be sitting in the coming years with Tavares or Doughty or Stampkos? Plus Semin, Ovechkin, Poti, Pothier, Kolzig, etc. Boudreau should be very motivated to turn the Capitals around. He’s only an “interim” Coach, as I understand it.
By Brendan
November 22, 2007 11:05 PM | Link to this
In this article Waddell discusses Hossa’s contract, negotiations, and fan attendance in Atlanta. Waddell is at his entertaining-best in this one. The article advances the idea that other teams have already called Don about a trade, if he decides to move him. Waddell added, “(but) I’d rather not.” As in, not trade Hossa. Waddell said, paraphrashing here, “Winning games is the best leverage I have in these negotiations (with Hossa).”
By Brendan
November 22, 2007 11:25 PM | Link to this
Okay, is there a Blackhawks fan in the house? Who is this Patrick Sharp fellow? He just scored a beautiful short-handed goal. Apparently, the Blackhawks already have 10 shorties on the young season. CBS.SPORTSLINE.com has him (Sharp) power ranked at 15th-best Center in the NHL.
If this Blackhawk team finishes 2nd in the Central and makes the playoffs, we’ll all see what a “hockey Mecca” the City of Chicago truly is. If you can recall the names Bill White, Pat Stapleton, Bobby Hull, Pit Martin, Keith Magnuson, Tony Esposito, Billy Reay, and Stan Mikita, then you know what I’m talking about.
Decades of mismanagement have dampened enthusiasm in Chi-Town. Officially, the Blackhawks are on the clock, with their last Cup win coming in an upset, back in 1961.
By Rawhide
November 23, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
BRENDAN - I watched the Blackhawk game in Clagary last night, (Oh I just loves-me my Center Ice package). Sharp’s shortie was his 5th of the year, (all in November, I think),…and Chicago has 10 so far this season. Both of the Blackhawk goals were short-handed.
Chicago is 6 behind Detroit and 4th in the conference…7-2-1 in the past 10. Makes our win against that team a few weeks back look all that much more impressive.
Chicago has becoame my official team to watch out west…
By Brendan
November 23, 2007 12:31 PM | Link to this
Every year or so, I “adopt” a Western Conference team to watch/root for. This year, that team, for me, is the Los Angeles Kings. But my next choice would be Chicago. Normally, I don’t “cozy up” to such “big market” teams, as I’m predisposed to thinking that they’ve had every advantage handed to them.
But, when I figure in that the Blackhawks and Kings haven’t exactly had a “happy” 30+ years or so, I soften up a bit on them. The Kings only trip to the Finals occurred in 1993. I think the last real success of any kind for Chicago was reaching the Western Conference Finals in 1995. Their last trip to the Finals was 1992. And their last Cup was the aforementioned 1961 upset of Detroit. To be “fair,” I think the Blackhawks may have been favorites in 1971 and 1973 to win the Cup. But the Habs took both of those, thanks to Ken Dryden.
With Toews, Ruutu, Kane, Khabibulin and others, Chicago’s guns have been steadily reloading. Even though the Blackhawks are an “Original Six” era team, they only have three (3) Cups to show for it. I find that somewhat surprising. They’re hardly the only “Original Six” team that has struggled, though. Toronto is Cup-less since “Expansion.” That is, since 1968. Boston’s last Cup was 1972. The New York Rangers have won one (1) Cup since 1940. Since 1955, the Detroit Red Wings have just three (3) cups. By “Hockeytown” standards, that’s a most disappointing stat. Edmonton, which entered the league in the 1979-80 WHA expansion, has five Cups since 1984. That include seven (7) trips to the Finals. The Oilers lost in 1983 and 2006. Let’s not also forget that they lost the Conference Finals in 1991 and 1992. Okay, enough of the hockey history lesson.
By Midfield
November 23, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this
Did you guys ever discussed Tortorella’s 10K fine by the league following his rant about the officiating in Atlanta on Monday?
By David
November 23, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
Brian, I appreciate your views and the answer to your question is - MORE than you. I have forgotten more hockey than you will ever dream of knowing. Blog away, it all means nothing. Believe what you read in te paper’s about DWs leadership _ drink the coolaide. I have spent enough energy dealing with people that don’t have a clue and never will.
By Rawhide
November 23, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this
MIDFIELD - I did not hear about that….he’s such a whiner…good to hear he got hit in the wallet!
BRENDAN - Good stuff. I have looked at the Kings too this year, but I hafta say…Chicago looks tough…and with the young-uns, could be so for a while.
PUCKJUNQUE - Prayer? the whole blog-nation is counting in you,…no pressure!
By puckjunque
November 23, 2007 2:32 PM | Link to this
Allright Everyone, lets have some AMENS!
Bow your heads, hands joined on the keyboards
Oh Heavenly Father, Thank you for the many blessings that you have bestowed upon the Thrashers. The Thrashers need another victory tonight. Please empower the team with the confidence and determination to win and to kick some Devils a$$. AMEN!!
By Rawhide
November 23, 2007 2:38 PM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN!!! Well done, PJ!
Now, let’s go SWAMP NEW JERSEY!!!!
By Brendan
November 23, 2007 4:02 PM | Link to this
Swamp ‘em. Stomp ‘em. Whatever works. A-men, PJ.
By Roswell Thrasherfan
November 23, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this
oh great, just as we got rid of Bob, sage and lac, “david” shows up telling us all how much he knows about how bad waddell really is. so tell us again david what that little black thing is called that they shoot around the ice? after all, you know more than the rest of us have forgotten
By Tony C.
November 23, 2007 6:01 PM | Link to this
Wow.
Guess somebody’s parents didn’t react well to his coming out.
PJ Hallelujah!!! Amen!
GO BLUE !!!
P.S. yall better be LOUD. I is ever so jealous of those that are going to the game.
By stendec
November 23, 2007 10:06 PM | Link to this
HATE TO BE SHUT OUT! Damn. Knew when Moose let in KL-like goal the jig was up. Thrasher offense CAN be good. Can also be TERRIBLE! This was a terrible night. Moose lets in softie from side of net. Game over! Thrashers have wide open net time after time but shoot damn puck wide. Very discouraging showing. Empty netter only added insult to injury. When I saw that first goal I thought KL was back from injury and had exchanged uniforms with Moose. Awful! Oh well, maybe Kid will get team back on right track. Damn sure hope so!
By LAC
November 23, 2007 10:52 PM | Link to this
Brilliant Donny really showed us tonight what this team is made of. They couldn’t do a single thing all night and he wouldn’t let the Beast do anything to change the flow. When are we going to let the real coach step up so we don’t have to have nights like this?
Looks like we are back to another 5 year plan unless these owners WAKE UP NOW!!!
By Bob
November 23, 2007 11:24 PM | Link to this
Brilliant Donny really showed us tonight what this team is made of.
Spot on. If Kovalchuk doesn’t score a hat trick every game, Wadell didn’t give himself anyone else to go to.
They couldn’t do a single thing all night and he wouldn’t let the Beast do anything to change the flow.
The only problem there is that a defensive team like New Jersey can just sit back while we can’t do anything against them. With our horrible track record of drafting and bad free agent signings, we will never be a contender.
Hopefully something can happen with this court case so our ownership group can make the necessary moves to right this ship.
By Tony C.
November 24, 2007 1:52 AM | Link to this
Yeah was afraid of NJD scoring first, they just fall back to their blueline…but I also think that we may have seen some post-thanksgiving sluggishness from our guys…sometimes the home cookin’ isits heavy.
I thought we had our chances but Brodeur was…well, Brodeur. I also am seeing some things from #17 that rankle a bit. But I suppose it’s a tough line to walk-going from getting the green light only in certain spots to being told “just do what yu want” and having a perpetual green-light. Thought he dangled a bit too much, but hey I’ll take the one night every 3 weeks without a point if we keep seeing our guy avg way better than point-a-game.
Tough loss, but I’m sure they will come out snorting fire next game.
By Brendan
November 24, 2007 2:54 AM | Link to this
Fellas, c’mon now. This was one game. This team is still 11-5-0 since making “the switch.” The Devils played their system to darned near perfection. And yes, I’m sure Moose is more than a little frustrated over that first New Jersey goal. But I hardly thought that would be enough to “do us in.”
Bryan Little had a couple of looks. Someone hit a goal post, can’t remember if it was Little, Larsen or Perrin. Shoot, even down 2-0, Enstrom and Dupuis had that beautiful ‘give-n-go’ in the 3rd period that was still a highlight reel play around the country, even if it wasn’t a goal. Brodeur wouldn’t be “Brodeur, 502 NHL wins,” if he didn’t make quality saves like that one on Dupuis.
Dupuis and Kovalchuk had a nice sequence in the 2nd period at the tail end of killing that 5-on-3, which did net NJ one PPG. Just as the second penalty expired, Dupuis swooped in and made the Devils defenseman cough up the biscuit, and Kovy got a nice chance, “point blank” on Brodeur.
What if either of those chances had gone in? It’s 2-1, with half a period to go in regulation, or thereabouts, for Dupuis’ chance. And a full period to go on Kovalchuk’s. It’s a little disheartening that the team seems to falter in front of the PACKED HOUSE, especially on a weekend night. But I think they’ll rebound nicely vs. Pittsburgh tonight. If we get shutout again, I’d be very surprised.
Don Waddell said Pavelec will get the start. I think this will be his sixth (6th) game. So, he gets to play as many as three (3) more before that 10th game, when the clock starts officially ticking on Ondrej’s path to restricted free agency.
By kaladonis
November 24, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this
Is it just me, or do some of you guys only post after a loss when you can spew gloom and doom?