AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 08 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USThrasher Get Into The Christmas Spirit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are 16 more shopping days until Christmas and the Thrashers got into the giving spirit while visiting Washington D.C. Saturday night. The Capitals received gift-wrapped opportunities packaged as bad clearing passes off of Atlanta defenders sticks as well as Kari Lehtonen’s. There were even stocking stuffers in the form of Ken Klee screening Kari on a shot that ended up in the net and even one that saw Jim Slater barreling over Lehtonen on another. I’m sure the Caps won’t be rushing to return all of those gifts!
In all honesty, that was just an un-good game played by the Thrashers all around, and credit the Capitals for…well…capitalizing on chances afforded them. But what does stand out is the fact that Kari let in 6 goals in a game that the defense allowed only 27 shots to get through to him. (In fact, the sixth goal was scored on Washington’s 22nd shot of the game). It’s a shame to waste a game that sees the Thrashers give up fewer than 30 shots since they are as rare as straight talk and honesty in the nation’s capital.
In my viewpoint, the last two goals surrendered were the one’s of most concern. The last goal of the second originated from the Atlanta net-minder’s poor attempt at clearing the zone and the last goal, scored in the final period, was clearly due to a focusing faux-pas as he looked outmatch by a shot from his left. Given the late game goals by the Thrashers, the final few minutes could have been somewhat more exciting if those did not occur.
But then again, as my grandpa would say, “Were ifs and buts candy and nuts, we’d all have a Merry Christmas”.
If you’re trying to keep thing in perspective, however, the team is 3-1-1 in the first 5 of December’s 16 games. If that pace were to continue it would put the Thrashers at 21 points for the month going into the game on New Year’s Eve. Also, lost in Saturday night’s pounding on the Potomac were Todd White’s 2-goal performance and Ilya Kovalchuk’s 2 assists. Kovy’s points are his 39th and 40th of the season putting him on a pace for 113. White’s goals tie him with Slava Kozlov for third most on the team at eight.
Atlanta will enjoy three days off before playing 7 games in 12 days leading into Christmas. Let’s hope their seasonal generosity has ended and the defense starts looking more like Ebenezer Scrooge and the goaltending returns to a more Grinch-like demeanor.
Comments
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By Alan
December 8, 2007 11:43 PM | Link to this
I just hope ATL can pull a good defender off of Anaheim for a prospect or something. Recchi might help with the power play, but it’s pointless if our defense has more holes than swiss cheese.
By R. Stroz
December 8, 2007 11:44 PM | Link to this
Once Lehtonen gives up three goals before the midpoint of the second period, he is broken.
The only way to fix the problem is to bring in Moose and see if Lehtonen plays better in his next start.
Lehtonen is either great or the abominable snowman.
By stendec
December 8, 2007 11:53 PM | Link to this
The Capitals scored their first five goals on only 19 shots. Hey KL apologists. That means the so-called No. 1 Thrasher netminder only turned aside 14 of 19 shots. Those are the facts! Not the stuff Stanley Cup dreams are made of. Had Moose been inserted after the third goal the outcome might have been different. Points are too damn hard to come by. Getting zilch points against the WORST team in league is totally unacceptable. PERIOD! There are no excuses.
By Thrashy Thrashy
December 8, 2007 11:59 PM | Link to this
Just a lot of bad goals tonight.
My favorite part of the broadcast was Darren Eliot criticizing Kari’s positioning on the FUBAR’d Klee gift goal. Come on, Darren. Klee set Jeff Schultz (Admit it. We’ve ALWAYS known that guy had it in for the Thrashers…) up for a one-timer and screened Kari. It was a good shot by Schultz, but it was the sort of mindless, boneheaded goal (Havelid’s mistake on the first goal was probably worse) we saw a lot of in the first six games of the season. &%^$ happens, I suppose. We’ll go get ‘em next time.
By Eileen
December 9, 2007 8:18 AM | Link to this
Rawhide, I really enjoy your witty comments. As for the Thrashers, I get tired of hearing “we didn’t show up tonight”. Why not? They are young, well paid athletes who are supposed to show up every night. The other excuse is usually along the lines of “we played two games in a row”. I am sure it is very tiring to travel and play 22 hours later, but pro athletes should be able to play better than the Thrashers did last night. The excuses get very old.
By Rawhide
December 9, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
Eileen - Thank you very much for your kind words.
As for the “excuses”, I have to agree. The Caps played Friday night as well, (in New Jersey)…so it isn’t like they were more rested.
Bob Hartley was ask a few years ago by someone if he thought the reason for a slump the team was going through was due to the travel and schedule. His response was right on the nose.
He stated that these guys were payed very well, flew on chartered planes, put up in luxury hotels and served the finest foods. If they are not performing because they are “tired”, then they are in the wrong field of work.
Last night was a bad effort by the team. No excuses. Each team in the course of an 82 game season will have a stinker here and there. But I think the Thrashers have just about used up this season’s allotment.
By Alan
December 9, 2007 12:28 PM | Link to this
I’m with Eileen here. There are some games where we play spectacular or have a huge effort on the part of our players. Then there are others, where it’s like everyone is playing sleep-hockey as the worst team in the league scores a total of six goals on us.
I’m glad to see White put two in the net though. He was overdue.
By Barry
December 9, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this
I agree. I’m getting tired of the back to back nights and not showing up excuses as well. I think sometimes it’s just the other team is sooo prepared and ready that the “flat” team just can’t deal with it. We did it to the Caps the last time we were in their building. Now I guess it was their turn to come out firing on all cylinders and stick it to us in their building.
By five_hole
December 9, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this
As rarely as this happens, we all agree; the team took a night off. You would have thought that forwards “on the bubble” (Haydar, DuPuis, are you listening) would have put in a better effort, considering they’re about to get some competition. Frankly, I would have thought that, if you’re playing back-to-back games, give the forward that’s been sitting out (Larson) a chance.
So, we started out 0-for-6. Then, after Heartley, we went on a tear. Since then, we’ve been playing .500 hockey. Our PK has been better, but our PP is all but dead. We struggled to score on a 5-on-3 (and almost didn’t).
It was nice to see Holik wake up. He finally didn’t suck last night. I actually thought Zhitnik didn’t suck, either. I suppose those are my bright spots.
By kracker
December 9, 2007 2:50 PM | Link to this
“Stuff” happans, off day, tired team, road ice, momentum goes the other way….however you want to say it, we lost the game. I hate the not being in it all game more than the losing.
The Thrashers opened the season with six losses. The Senators just lost seven straight. The difference was the Sens lost close games, going 0-4-3 and earning 3 points for their seven losses. The Thrash have to keep them close enough to steal a few points by coming back to tie some games after three periods. If they fail to win in OT, those single points can be huge at the end of the year.
By Brendan
December 9, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this
Another great blog, Rawhide. I’m not sure what our record is in the second game of successive nights, but it can’t be all that good. In fact, I don’t recall the Thrashers winning the back end of successive nights all season.
By Rawhide
December 9, 2007 9:06 PM | Link to this
Brendan - 0-5-1 in the second game of a back-to-backer…..that would be….UN-GOOD!
By Brendan
December 10, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this
Wow. That’s one (1) point out of a possible twelve (12). That’s very ungood. But thanks for the research!
I voted for Kovalchuk on the recent poll question, regarding which Thrasher has been your favorite this year. But not all that surprisingly, Toby Enstrom is right up there with #17.
By Off the post
December 10, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this
so what are you guys saying? we finally got rid of the weekend sellout jinx so you had to go start a new one?
By Jsmooth
December 10, 2007 12:10 PM | Link to this
Rawhide — once again, and as usual, highly entertaining stuff and on back-to-back blogs no less! No back-to-back game excuses for ‘ol Rawhide!! Too bad our boys in Blue can’t seem to make it on the flight out of town for the back end of these consecutive game contests.
It was a pleasure meeting you down at Gorin’s before the game Friday night. I look forward to doing it again this week before the Toronto game…hope traffic doesn’t throw a wrench in our well-laid plans!
By Jsmooth
December 10, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
PJ — certainly don’t want to forget the lovely and talented Puckjunque! Great meeting you too! So nice to shoot the breeze with such passionate Thrashers fans. And kudos to you once again for your wonderfully thoughtful holiday gesture!
By kracker
December 10, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
I voted Enstrom for fave player this year. I intend to vote for Kovy next time and then to alternate thereafter.
By Rawhide
December 10, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
JSmooth - Thanks…Friday was fun, indeed! Nice to meet you, Rone, Zilla and FormerIslesFan, (who I happened across outside), as well.
It was great to be down there with ya’ll and PJ and RStroz….we’ll havta start calling that area Blogland. I think Ranallo was looking for us as well but didn’t see us, hopefully next time….
By Thrasher Ryan
December 10, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this
Rawhide—Mission FAiled, but not by too much. New Mission = Thrashers MUST win next 3 games to stay in mix. All 3 teams we play this week are playoff bound. Thrash Must creep up the playoff ladder. KL let me down Saturday night. I agree with the bloggers here that state DW should have brought in Moose for Period 3. No more excuses for KL! Ondrej Pavelec is waiting in the wings. Moose will be Moose. Friday night, 1st 2 goals on Moose were softies. He was too far out of the crease. That is what you learn in Bantam hockey; as a goalie do not venture too far out of the crease! Moose did better the rest of the game though. I think Larsen is odd man out. I will get off Slates case for awhile; while he is still not scoring like Waddell said he would when he drafted him, he is assisting and thus he IS contributing. Slater and Dupuis on Line 4 works quite well. MUST WIN NEXT 3
By R. Stroz
December 10, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this
Tony C - After receiving sales literature from Direct TV today and placing said literature into the shredder, I wondered if you were smiling.
By Tony C.
December 10, 2007 6:06 PM | Link to this
sTROZ
Thanks buddy!
By Tony C.
December 10, 2007 6:11 PM | Link to this
Why not put Recchi with Slater & Dupuis??? Maybe he can show Slater what “finishing the play” looks like
GO BLUE !!!
By Brendan
December 10, 2007 6:22 PM | Link to this
Tony C., “Ouch!” But the comment was right on the money. C’mon Slater, get a goal, will ya?! Blueland is rootin’ for ya.
By Tony C.
December 10, 2007 6:46 PM | Link to this
Brendan-yeah that was kind of cold…but still, c’mon you remember Slater’s 1st goal??? it was a thing of beauty!!!
I don’t know if Slater suffered from hiBob’s lash as KL has (mentally I mean)….but seriously, I would love to just see Slater put the puck on-net….half of his shoots are roofed to the roof of the building….I’m actually a big fan of Slater’s-he’s a nice guy (ran into him and JPVJ last year @ this cafeteria off of Sattelite Blvd “Sally’s” if memory serves), very civic-minded and just seems like the type of guy you wouldn’t mind hanging out with.
Anyway, I think the combination of speed, grit and (hopefully) scoring could be a really good line.
I dunno mix it up I say.
GO BLUE !!!
By Jared
December 10, 2007 7:55 PM | Link to this
I’ve given up on KL. He is way to inconsistent for a playoff hockey team and Pavelec looked much better. Moose as #1, Pavelec as #1.5 (hes that good) and a defensemen from Anaheim and hello playoffs in april
By Brian
December 10, 2007 9:14 PM | Link to this
Jared - I don’t think you will find many people who think you are totally off base. However, if it is our intent to trade KL, how much should we play him to either improve his value or showcase him? If the whole league knows we want to get rid of him, we will get as much for him as the Ducks got for Bryzgalov…
By Brendan
December 10, 2007 10:35 PM | Link to this
I think we’re going to sink or swim with Lehtonen. Either as our presumed starter or as Pavelec’s backup. Folks, I hear the frustration out there. Don’t think that I don’t. But Waddell invested a 2nd overall pick in Lehtonen. It’s still way too early to quit on the kid.
Remember how long it took for J.S. Giguere? I think he was drafted in ‘95. It wasn’t until 2003 that his stock rose to anything truly noteworthy. This is the inherent danger in drafting a goalie this high. It takes YEARS and YEARS of development to see the return. I’ve got a Penguins fan in the office who isn’t exactly thrilled with young Fleury, taken 1st overall in 2003.
I can’t say that it’s always “wrong” to take a goalie with a high 1st round pick. It works, sometimes. I just think it’s better, conceptually, to use the high 1st rounders to build the team in front of the goalie. Every year, there are goaltenders available on the free agent market. They’ll cost a pretty penny. But at least you’re not incurring the years of investment. At that point, you’re paying for a proven commodity.
So when is the best time to draft a goalie? I don’t think there’s some “tried and true” formula out there. But I’d say that anytime you’ve reached the “crapshoot” area of the draft, say picks 15 and beyond, that’s the time. You can find some late in the 1st round, early in the 2nd, in the 3rd. Pasi Nurminen was a 6th round pick. Hasek, Khabibulin and Nabokov were all latter round draft picks.
By Brendan
December 10, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this
Tony C., I agree with you on Slater. Seems like a really nice guy and fan-approachable. We’d all like to see this kid make it in the NHL. But if doesn’t get off the schneid soon, he could find himself bouncing from team to team and between the AHL and NHL. Slater’s speed is his best asset. But until he starts scoring on chances where a goal should be scored, then he’s never going to see the big money and the longterm deal. Slater was signed for hundreds of thousands of dollars below his qualifying offer, which I think was $990,000. I believe Slater has a year left on his contract. After that, Slater’s future in the NHL is very uncertain. In his “contract year” he’ll really have to turn it on to secure his future in the league.
By Brendan
December 10, 2007 11:03 PM | Link to this
Maple Leafs spanked the Lightning, 6-1. That’s good. One wonders just how many times Coach Tortorella is going to escape these kinds of outings. Torts came into the season with his neck on the “chopping block.” He and Bob Hartley were the two coaches thought to be among the first ones fired in the 2007-08 season.
By stendec
December 11, 2007 12:26 PM | Link to this
IF Thrashers are FORCED to sink or swim with KL they are shark bait. I am not talking about that group in California. NOTHING demoralizes a hockey team than working like Hell to score a goal only to have goalie give it back within minutes (or seconds). Mark my words. No Stanley Cup run with KL! Moose or Kid may not be answer but KL far too inconsistent to become type of netminder Thrashers CRITICALLY need! Six goals to worst NHL team. Need I say more? Merry Christmas all. God bless.
By five_hole
December 11, 2007 5:34 PM | Link to this
I was sorry to see them send Little down. I understand why; only he and Engstrom have options left, and they want him to be able to play 20 minutes/night (plus he wasn’t scoring). Still, he played well defensively, and he showed offensive flashes. I think he just wasn’t comfortable.
So I assume this means line#2 will be Koslov-Perrin-Recchi? Or would they promote Thorburn to line#2 and put Recchi on line#3 with DuPuis & Holik?