AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 24
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Devils and Penguins and Whiners, (Oh, My)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
After reading some of the comments following Friday night’s game against New Jersey I had to rub my eyes, scratch my head and review what I THOUGHT was true regarding the Thrashers recent play. Had Atlanta lost four in a row coming into the game against the Devils? No, those were wins. Had they lost 7 of the previous 8 before they took to the ice at Philips? Ah, no…quite the opposite. Losing streaks lately? Nope…not one time since Don Waddell took the reigns behind the bench have the Thrashers lost more than one consecutive game, (think what you will about him but them there’s the facts). Had our team been out scored 34-23 in the month of November going into Friday’s game? Negative.
So, good, my mind hasn’t degraded as much with my aging as I had thought, (whew)!
The way I saw the game Friday night was that Atlanta got sucked into a classic New Jersey Devils type of game. Put Marty Brodeur in the goal, get a lead by hook or by crook, close off the middle and … s l o w … everything down. They took their lead on a less-then-highlight-type goal by Rod Pelley in the second period, added to it a 5-3 power play goal and then limited the Thrashers chances to almost nothing. Kovy had a point blank shot stymied by Brodeur just after New Jersey’s second goal and Pascal Dupuis’ breakaway attempt with nine minutes left in the third met the same fate via the left skate of Marty the Magnificent. New Jersey’s defense didn’t force him to make too many saves, (22 in fact), but when he was called upon, he came through for them.
Hard loss? Absolutely, especially in front of a sellout crowd that was stoked to cheer on the Boys of Blueland that night. But the disappointment experienced in that game is not the norm of late…rather it is the exception. So, let me prepare everyone for a dose of reality; there are 4 months left in the season and, brace yourselves, there is the great likelihood that Atlanta will indeed lose at least a couple more games along the way. One loss after four straight wins does not equate to falling skies. Let the team lose three or four in a row or seven out of ten before commencing with the whaling and gnashing of teeth about the players or Don Waddell.
Fortunately for the Thrashers, the schedule has afforded them a chance at redemption tonight in Pittsburgh. Ah, Scarlett O’Hara was indeed correct, “Tomorrow is another day”.
Tonight’s game pits two of the NHL’s biggest stars on the ice, Ilya Kovalchuk and Sidney Crosby. Kovy enters the match with 19 goals, (leads the league), and 33 points while the Penguins’ top scorer has 11 goals and 20 assists. Not to be ignored is Evgeni Malkin’s 9 goals and 20 helpers.
Atlanta catches the Pens as Pittsburgh is slumping a bit, (3-6-1 in their past 10). However, they are fresh off a shootout win in Ottawa. The Thrashers are also playing to remain in the thick of the conference playoff standings as their 22 points tie them with Tampa, New Jersey and the Islanders for 8th place. Two of those two teams, the Lightning and Devils, square off tonight down in Tampa. Also, with Florida’s win last night, Atlanta has fallen into third place and need a win to leap back over the Panthers for second in the division standings.
Lastly, there is this All Star balloting issue being highlighted in tonight’s match up. When the NHL released the vote count, Crosby led the east tally with 94,118. Kovalchuk sits at seventh among forwards with 26,628. Folks, the leading goal scorer in the league to-date needs to start. So…get out there and vote!!!!
