AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > November > 30
Friday, November 30, 2007
Since I Was Up Anyway…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I hadn’t planned on writing anything about Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Toronto. It was disappointing and I really didn’t know what to say. So I flipped off the tube, flipped off the lights, “flipped off” the whole situation and went upstairs to go to bed. I was just about to sleep when…CRASH!
Seems as though the little gray kitten decided to climb one of the Christmas trees, the one in the living room…the one the boys decorate every year. There were ornaments and tree parts all over the hardwoods and area rug, broken glass bulbs scattered. The culprit perched atop the sofa admiring her work. The time…12:24.
So anyway, it’s now cleaned up and I’m awake…
Where to start? How about that first “goal”, huh? GAWD-ALMIGHTY! I don’t know if Antropov’s stick actually touched the puck or not as it was rolling off the top of the net, but the fact that he lifted it up and over the goal and swiped at it means the stick was indeed over the cross bar, (the determining height)…so I guess the goal judges in Toronto figured that wood never contacted rubber. OK, so stuff like that happens.
The problem is that the next three the Leafs scored were due to some very sloppy play in our zone. Seconds prior to the first intermission, the Pop-a-Zhit pairing got caught leaning toward the same attacker leaving Alexander Steen all alone. Then in the second period, Todd White allowed Mats Sundin to sashay and do-see-do around him on his way to a backhanded tally, (this would be known as “The Re-Charminization” effect). The final goal coming on a 3 on 2 breakaway that might as well been a 3 on 0.
It’s fitting that the two Atlanta goals scored were from Kovy and Enstrom as they have been the most consistent forward and defender on the team respectively. Kovalchuk’s goal at 16:20 in the second snapped an Atlanta goal-less drought of 166 minute and 32 minutes. I had heard that if the Thrasher didn’t score last night, Gov. Sonny Perdue was going to hold a prayer rally at Philips this weekend much like the one he conducted to petition the Great Thunder Maker for rain last week.
After the game, Don Waddell indicated that he may look to have Kari Lehtonen return earlier then he planned from his rehab stint in Chicago. Sure, Kari did look good in his one start the other night, but I think Don’s feeling the heat because after three straight lack-luster defeats he knows he is three more away from six in a row and he is looking over his shoulder afraid that the GM will…. oh, wait, never mind.
So, it’s off to the New York area for two games against the Islanders and Devils, two teams the Thrasher find themselves trailing by 5 and 4 points. It’s time to snap out of this funk.
It’s also time for me to go to bed. Now, where is that cat?
