AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 17 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USTampa Bay and Other Assorted Tidbits
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Getting Back At It Against the Bolts:
Ok, we’ve had a couple of days to pout about the 7-3 loss in Ottawa that extended the losing streak to four games. It’s time to get back to the business of once again climbing out from near the bottom of the conference and up the ladder towards playoff positioning.
The Tampa bay Lightning hit town Tuesday night at 14-16-3, two points ahead of Atlanta. The Thrashers are 2-2-0 vs. the Bolts earning 4 of a possible 8 but giving back 5. Tampa Bay scores a decent amount of goals, 3.00 per game in fact, which is good enough for 7th best in the league. However, they give up a bunch too. Currently they have allowed 107 goals in 33 games, which translates to 3.24 per game. Only the Boys of Blueland surrender more, 3.47 per game.
When last the two engaged in on-ice pleasantries, the Thrashers won a 5-4 overtime thriller on Todd White’s goal. The hometown skaters had scored twice in the last five minutes to send the match to the extra period via goals by Ilya Kovalchuk and Bryan Little, (remember him)?
We will see some changes to the line up as Don Waddell has chosen to split up Kovy and Marian Hossa for now. Mark Recchi will skate with Kovalchuk and White while Hoss backs up to the second line with Slava Kozlov and Eric Perrin. The hope being that it will produce two strong scoring lines and give Kozlov a better chance to step up his game. Personally, I welcome the move.
Hard to say who will be in the net Tuesday night, Kari Lehtonen is 4-4-2 in 11 starts vs. the Lightning with a 2.58 GAA and .920 SV%. The Moose is 5-5-1 with 3.31 GAA and .878 SV% in 14 games, 12 of them being starts. Maybe you lean toward Kari…maybe.
Other Items of Discussion:
Brett Sterling is playing like he wants to get another shot at playing at Philips. Since going down on the farm he has netted 15 goals and 24 points in 19 games.
The Atlanta Thrashers win 100% of the games in which they lead after the first period. They also win 100% of their games when they outshoot their opponents, (that’s happened, what 3-4 times)? Also, Atlanta wins 88.9% of their games when they hold a lead after two periods and 81.8% of the time when they score the first goal of the game. Hint to Thrashers: Shoot more and get early leads.
The Thrashers are winning 50.2% of face offs. That puts them better then most at 12th in the league.
Reading Assignments:
Here is a nice write up on To-BEE-us Enstrom from NHL.coms’s Dan Rosen. Drafted 239th and playing like a No. 1.
Here’s one on Kovalchuk from Steve Simmons of the Toronto Star. Check out who Kovy “points out” as his one of his favorite players.
Quote of the Day:
General Manager and Head Coach Don Waddell after Saturday’s 7-3 spanking in Ottawa, “We gave up that early goal and it’s almost like we were early on where we’ve become fragile again”…Uh, Don… “Almost”?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Michael Shapiro
December 17, 2007 8:34 PM | Link to this
first and if we’re playing Recchi on Kovy’s line, can he keep up at 39? No prob moving Hoss back with the Professor, if Perrin can get both of them moving like they should be. Still worried that Zhit and Mac have such poor +/- ratings (we have 3 of the worst in the league if you add the captain), and would like to see 3rd and 4th lines mixed up, perhaps with some of the kids if le Don can make the call to Chi-town.
Go BLUE!
By Hockeyfan
December 17, 2007 9:48 PM | Link to this
Toronto reporter says we are forever struggling… what does he call a team that cant compete when there is more than 6 teams?
I like splitting up Hossa and Kovy. Should have been done sooner
By Brendan
December 18, 2007 1:26 AM | Link to this
Pairing Hoss and Kovy together was a move born of desperation to get Hossa going again. We were all wondering just what had happened to last year’s team MVP. I have some theories. Three of them, actually.
(1) I think this future contract has weighed upon Hossa. But much more than that, (2) his “place” in this Thrashers organization also weighs heavily on Hossa’s mind.
Stop. Hossa never chose to play in Atlanta. He was traded here. He’s a professional and he dealt with that. In his first year here (2005-06), he struggled a bit out of the gate and then, on Jan. 2, 2006, vs. Ottawa, (Heatley’s return,) the “Hossa, Hossa” chant was born and his Atlanta career took flight. In 2006-07, he was phenomenal. But by New Year’s Day, 2007, all the “talk” started about locking him up in a future contract. What was Hossa going to do? Would he re-sign, here in Atlanta, for the long haul? Or would he play out his existing contract and explore FREE AGENCY in 2008, when he’d be able to chose his next team?
When the playoffs finally came, Hossa was a big “no show,” and the team had to address why they were swept out by the Rangers. (Hartley’s fault? Lehtonen’s fault? Too old? Too slow? No grit? No heart? No “identity?”) Hossa spent the Summer quietly watching what Don Waddell intended to do for his line in FREE AGENCY, for the foreseeable future. Waddell’s big response on July 1, 2007, was to ink Center Todd White to a four year deal, and later added Center Eric Perrin, from Tampa Bay, for depth.
Well, when Hossa wasn’t re-signed over the Summer, as Waddell had projected, there was no place to “hide” about that. The big question over WHY??? Hossa hadn’t re-signed became a giant Matzo ball hanging out there, for fans and “pundits” alike to ponder. Hossa can’t exactly say, “I didn’t like our offseason moves, especially as it relates to a Tier One center playing on my line.” It sure would have INTERESTING if HAD said that!! Or if he’d used words to the effect of “The Atlanta Thrashers are not catering to my specific needs, and apparently they don’t want to keep me here in Atlanta.” Give credit to Hossa for retaining such hypothetical thoughts in an “inner monologue,” rather than into a reporter’s microphone.
And then (3) there is the issue of “money.”
Huh? You may have noticed that the Spirit Group has the Thrashers budget set about $8 million below the actual cap. And while they very well may finish the year “maxed out,” the fact is that they NEVER GAVE WADDELL the same latitude that other GM’s have, namely, to be substantially closer to the cap limit ($50.3 million).
So, Hossa may well be looking at the ownership and its strapped finances, both now and in the longterm, figuring that he’s not going to get the Center he wants and, down the road, in 2010, the organization will probably do all it can just to retain Kovalchuk, a player they drafted 1st overall in 2001. Is there any doubt who’s LEADING this team?? (It’s Kovy, folks.) Allright then.
Again, Kovalchuk does not play CENTER!! That’s what Hossa wants—A “Kovalchuk-caliber” guy who plays Center. Hossa won’t be willing to wait until 2010 to bring in a $7-$8 million center for his line, when Kovalchuk’s contract expires, and #17 could be potentially lost to free agency. And there it is.
Continuing down the (3) “money theory,” Hossa and his agent may think the Thrashers cannot cough up the “fair market value” for an Unrestricted FREE AGENT of Hossa’s caliber this Summer, out on the open market.
It’s a discussion board. “Theories” are just theories. I didn’t present any of the above as “fact.” There’s a lot to digest here. Let’s get some good Hossa discussion going. Is he playing as well as he did last year at this point? Do you think Hossa will “break out” on a tear soon?
I invoke the 3:00 AM rule, an hour and a half early, for this “War and Peace” post.
By Jim
December 18, 2007 7:55 AM | Link to this
Waddell keeps mentioning that we’re a “fragile” team. I’d change that to a “weak” team, “weak up the middle, weak in overall scoring potential, and weak when the pressure is on”. We get outshot every game and don’t seem to appear in the second of back to back games. We’ve got a bunch of guys who don’t appear to be playing NHL calibre hockey- Holik, Larsen, McCarthy, Zhitnik, boulton to mention just a few. May be time for a “youth movement”.
By Brian
December 18, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Hockeyfan - it took me a second, but great line about the 6 teams…
Jim - regardless of where you stand on players/coach/gm, do you really consider a youth movement when you are only 5 points out of the playoffs and it is not even Christmas yet? Let the gloom & doomers call me a basher all they want, but I just don’t see why everyone is so quick to throw in the towel. Outside of Detroit, what team hasn’t gone through a losing streak this year? And say what you want about us only just getting into the playoffs as a low seed (even though we can still win the division), but the NHL more than any other sport has a solid history of teams from low seeds advancing and doing well in the postseason.
By Alan
December 18, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this
Jim - Maybe time for a “youth movement.”
There’s been one of those. All the youth (Enstrom excluded) has been moved to Chicago.
By Adam
December 18, 2007 10:23 AM | Link to this
I think the line shuffle was needed at the least. So many of the SOG we give up are from such a poor defensive mind set. This is not just from our D-men but the whole team.
I’m I the only one that is tired of watching the offense reset by skating the puck back into our D-zone? I don’t see that done by many other teams. I think it comes from a complete lack of focus and direction. I think would rather watch dump and run over and over than see the puck skated back into our D-zone for a reset only to not make it back out more than 1/2 the time, because of the opposing teams forwards defensive pressure, resulting with a SOG.
I don’t think I saw a forward or D-man skate or pass the puck from center ice back into their own D-zone once in the Wings Caps game last night. Look at the shot total in that game…
By Midfield
December 18, 2007 10:26 AM | Link to this
Brendan, Hossa waiting for a Kovalchuk-caliber center to start playing sounds pretty ridiculous, with all due respect. Kovalchuk is not waiting for anybody. He plays better now than he used to when Savard was centering him, by the way. Yes, the team would be better with a better center. Also, the team would be better if Hossa played better. Just a deep thought from Jack Handy.
By stendec
December 18, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this
Morning all. Getting primed for big game tonight. Most would not place in must-win category but I do. Last thing team with teetering psyche needs is another loss. Especially a lopsided one. Even I would start KL after last Moose debacle. What choice is there? However, if team has surrendered three goals at midway point yank his A++. Believe Thrashers must light things up four or more times to win. Need two points but would definitely require one. Shoot the puck at every opportunity. Fire from inside offensive zone, from center ice, from defensive zone or even from behind own goal. JUST SHOOT THE PUCK. Boomer once said 100 percent of shots not taken do not go in. Penalty killers must be aggressive. Seek those with puck to upset timing while shorthanded. About Thrasher power play. Is it possible to DECLINE penalties? Is Bobby Putridwino our power play strategist? Would not be surprised. Oh well, let us all enjoy the game. All it takes is one triumph to start a run the OTHER way. Merry Christmas!
By Russian
December 18, 2007 11:28 AM | Link to this
After Capitals played with Detroit last night, I just realize that we are in DEEP DEEP A* Hole. And we never come back for this season. Brendan talked a lot about Hossa situation. I always enjoy his comments. I will resume his speech to few words. NOBODY wants to play with Losers! Means that Hossa will not stay and will not play good hockey here. Split Hossa and Kovy is just bad for #17, because he missed good passer as Hossa.
By puckjunque
December 18, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this
Let’s try having a little faith and Amen today’s prayer.
bow your heads, hands joined on the keyboards
Oh Heavenly Father, thank you for listening to our prayers. The Thrashers need your guidance today to restore their competitive spirits, renew their strengths and be driven to win. Please help them shoot the puck more, get an early lead and sustain it to kick some lighting a$$! AMEN!!
By Tony H
December 18, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this
AMEN!!!
By Rawhide
December 18, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this
A-FREAKIN’-MEN!!! Thanks, PJ!
Let’s go make the BOLTS walk the GREEN MILE!
By Alan
December 18, 2007 11:50 AM | Link to this
PJ - Amen!!
By PJ
December 18, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this
Thrasher Ryan
Faith consists of believing when it’s beyond the power of reason to believe……Voltaire
By Brendan
December 18, 2007 11:55 AM | Link to this
Midfield, you’re absolutely right. If Hossa were playing better, the team would be benefitting from that better play. But you have to admit, “something” is weighing on his mind. This is not the same Hossa we saw last year. Midfield, I welcome your theories as to “why” Hossa isn’t playing better. There must be a reason for it? He’s always been one of the better power forwards in the entire World.
If the reason really is/were that he just doesn’t want to play here, then that’s disappointing to hear, but is correctable via trade. All he’d really have to do … is “privately” tell Waddell where he’d like to be traded. Then let Don “work his magic” to get an appropriate return. As unpopular as that would be with many fans, Waddell could counter-argue … that we were going to lose him for nothing, at least this way we fill some gaps on our roster. Eventually, the fans would come around and realize we live within the confines of the salary cap, just like everyone else. Anaheim didn’t really want to trade Andy McDonald, they make a “salary cap” trade. And with Hossa gone, the natural assumption will be that Kovalchuk ought to be locked up in the Summer of 2009, when he first becomes eligible to re-sign with the Thrashers.
Discuss.
By Brendan
December 18, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this
“Faith” is the belief in something for which there is no evidence. It should apply to a team which earlier this season went 11-4-0 in 15 games.
But I’ll add an “a-men” to it, PJ.
By ToF
December 18, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this
AMEN PJ
After reading that Kovy article, I had a thought. Dallas wanted Kozlov to help out with scoring, why don’t we give them Hossa and ask for Zubov back? I really don’t think they would have too much in terms of objections, Dallas is pretty deep in terms of d-men and a Hossa + Modano combo sounds pretty shweet.
By Nix
December 18, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this
Amen, PJ.
Let’s go, Thrashers!
By Brian
December 18, 2007 12:30 PM | Link to this
ToF - when did we ever have Zubov? You don’t mean Stefan do you?
I just really hope we find the right combination tonight…
By Midfield
December 18, 2007 12:36 PM | Link to this
Brendan,
I don’t know what is weighing on Hossa’s mind and I don’t care. There are things weighing on my mind and I still find it in my heart to get up and clean my teeth every morning. As long as he gets paid big bucks he has to perform. If he’s not motivated to play hockey, perhaps, he should try escapades on ice or something.
By Thrasher Ryan
December 18, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
PJ—Thanks! I am forwarding your message to Kari right now.
By Brian
December 18, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this
Midfield - nice point. If Hossa drops off in anyway, all he is going to do is bring up the old questions about his lack of performance in crucial games (his playoff numbers are horrible). The more I hear this guy complain, the more I want to say good riddance and get us someone who will score in the postseason. At least last year we could say he got us to the postseason even though he didn’t score there, but now we have to question that. I know there are a lot of Hossa fans here, but this guy has to show up soon. He is racking up points in blowout losses.
Also, Michael Farber had an interesting twist on why we shouldn’t fear the possible new Russian league
By R. Stroz
December 18, 2007 12:53 PM | Link to this
I think I know what is on Hossa’s mind.
DON’T GET INJURED!
This will probably be Hossa’s most lucrative contract for the rest of his career. So, what is the one thing that could seriously hurt (pun intended) his value, an injury.
As a result, Hossa isn’t barreling toward the net this year, going full speed between defenders, using his body to shield the puck, and on and on.
More than likely, Hossa isn’t going to play tough hockey again until he has signed a mega-contract. In the meantime, we get see Hossa playing not to get injured.
By Russian
December 18, 2007 1:17 PM | Link to this
to R. Stroz Point taken. Absolutly agree with you. Hossa, Kovy, Yagr, Modanno, Hashek are Professional players. It is first, but second, which more important, they are people, men. I am just put myself on Hossa spot. I get $7MM salary. My contract is up on next summer. I got 100 point last season. GM’s and coaches like me and know me. What can I do??? First option: Bust my a* every game and try to pull bunch of Losers from hole. This is option is not very good, because I amd get hurt and bad injury. Second option: Play easy hockey. Score sometimes and keep my records Up. Wait until February is coming and go to play in Detroit, Ottawa or NYR with young brother. After the trade play great hockey. Probably get Cup and talk about BIG, FAT, JUCY CONTRACT. You see, Fans!!! Simple procedure. What do you choose? Think like simple man, person. Of cause, second Option. Hossa saw the team every day and he understand, that Thrasher wil not go anythere with this roster. Thrasher is not a Ottawa that had 7 loosing gamea and pick up a game and win 5 already. Fans, We are not see Hossa game fogr this season. Should I say AMEN???? :-)
By Thrasher Ryan
December 18, 2007 1:22 PM | Link to this
Holik to the penalty box at least 2 times tonight… (E5)
By Brian
December 18, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this
stroz - very nice point, sad but true…
By ToF
December 18, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Brian I meant that we would get Zubov in return for trading them Hossa. I didn’t mean that it would be Zubov’s second stint with ATL.
By ToF
December 18, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this
Brian I meant that we would get Zubov in return for trading them Hossa. I didn’t mean that it would be Zubov’s second stint with ATL.
By ToF
December 18, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this
GAH, darn you double posts!!!!!!!!!!!!
By Brian
December 18, 2007 1:41 PM | Link to this
ToF - that’s ok, because I really didn’t understand it the first time. Now I got it…
By R. Stroz
December 18, 2007 2:15 PM | Link to this
Thrasher Ryan _ I kind of like the idea you started.
Let’s do an over/under estimate on the number of penalty minutes tonight for Holik, Zhitnik, and Klee.
I’ll take eight minutes.
By Brian
December 18, 2007 2:21 PM | Link to this
Stroz - I’ll take the under on 8 PIM for those 3 combined. What’s the wager?
By Brendan
December 18, 2007 2:44 PM | Link to this
Klee - 2 mins. Zhitnik - 2 mins. Holik - 4 mins. Eight exactly.
By Brian
December 18, 2007 2:51 PM | Link to this
Klee - 0, Zhitnik - 4, Holik - 2, take the under…
By R. Stroz
December 18, 2007 3:02 PM | Link to this
One Dollar - from Trading Places
By kracker
December 18, 2007 3:09 PM | Link to this
Brendan
Clarity and Brevity in Web Writing
Sorry, Brendan, I couldn’t resist. It’s a quick read.
Me, I thought the Big Line was a great idea at the time. I see now that flexibility is also the key to a successful team.
By kracker
December 18, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this
How about this? Holik makes himself useful and gets a 5 minute fighting major and a 10 minute game misconduct?
Well, I’m off to the game. I really am expecting a win tonight. The first guy we need to get right is Kari.
By PJ
December 18, 2007 4:20 PM | Link to this
Hey if any of you are watching from home tonight (and not playing guitar hero) can you post me some updates? I won’t be able to watch or listen tonight so a recap of the highlights would be nice….PLEASE?
By Russ
December 18, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this
How about the over/under for how badly the Thrashers get out-shot tonight. Tampa’s aggressive forecheck usually gives Atlanta fits, so I’ll establish the line at 14 extra shots for the Lightning.
GO THRASHERS!!!!! Let’s put an end to this losing streak right now.
By Rawhide
December 18, 2007 4:55 PM | Link to this
Russ - That’s VERY high. On the average, the Thrashers get outshot 32.5 to 25.4. That’s a margin of 7.1….so if your setting the bar at TB +14, I’ll take the under.
By Brendan
December 18, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this
Kracker, see my 2:44 PM post.
And for record, if you look over the past 20 or blogs, in most of them, someone has posted more words and more paragraphs than me. :)
By Brian
December 18, 2007 5:00 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - I actually think Russ is on the money. You are looking at the average, which means that if we outshot 4 teams, 4 teams got >14.2 shots in a game against us. Of all the teams in the league, TB would be one of the teams that would put up more than the others. I think it is going to be at least +10, although I’m gunshy about taking the over.
By Jameson
December 18, 2007 8:23 PM | Link to this
Okay, guys… Sorry I didn’t get this on the last blog. However, I am a real person, and if you paid any attention to the few posts I’ve made over the past couple of years, you’d see that I’m more of a Waddell apologist than most. Certainly more so than Bob… Definitely somewhere between Sage and Brian.
Anyway, I know I lurk a lot, but I mostly get on here while I’m at work, and usually someone else has already brought up whatever I was interested in talking about. Case in point - I was going to bring up the fact that Kovy named Crosby as one of his favorite players in that Sun article.
If anyone still doubts my existence, I’ll be at the game on Thursday. It will be my birthday, so come by and buy me a drink.
By stendec
December 18, 2007 8:49 PM | Link to this
KL has looked strong over 40 minutes. Only one mental lapse on UGH shorthanded tally. When teammate has BOTTOM portion of net covered the goalie MUST protect top area. NEVER GO DOWN TO EXPOSE ONLY AREA IN WHICH TO SCORE! Oh well, no major complaints. KL has excelled thus far. Just NO third period collapses. A 4-1 lead looks mighty sweet with 20 minutes remaining. GO BLUE!
By R. Stroz
December 18, 2007 10:21 PM | Link to this
On the over/under:
Penalty Minutes:
Klee = 2, Holik = 0, Zhitnik =0
Total = 2
Shots on Goal Differential = 10
By R. Stroz
December 18, 2007 10:28 PM | Link to this
McCarthy looked a lot better paired with Exelby than he did paired with Zhitnik.
By The Maid
December 18, 2007 10:39 PM | Link to this
Oh mon ! Votre toujours ici? Aller à Rawhide de monsieur nouveau blog!
RStroz, s’il vous plaît l’arrêt fixant upn mon décolleté!
giggle