OK kids…We’re blogging in bed again this morning, so be mindful of the flannels as you sip your coffee and don’t slop any milk from your bowls full of Sugar Puffs! Puckjunque…nice reindeer slippers!

So, I hope Christmas brought you all the wonderment and blessings you desired and that you’re hearts are filled with love, peace, and…. Oh, OK, I’ll cut the crap. I hope you got all the goodies and gifts that you wanted or, if not, you’ll be able to exchange them for something that you like better.

Me? Let’s see, I got some DVDs…The Green Mile…The Producers, (funny flick)…Patton…Apparently the word hasn’t gotten out that I already sit around too much on my fat a-…Oh look, Schindler’s List! How festive!!!

Anyway, as I was saying, I hope Christmas was good for you and that you’re well rested. Because, you see, it’s time to put down that 14th helping of pumpkin pie and the Chunky Fruitcake Surprise that you’re Aunt Mildred UPS-ed you from Rochester and return your attention to our Atlanta Thrashers!

The Thrashers play four games between Christmas and New Years. Tonight the season resumes in Columbus, Ohio as we pay a visit to the Blue Jackets. Their 15-14-6 record has earned them 36 points, which is good enough for 4th place in the Central Division and 11th in the Western Conference. Columbus scores an average of only 2.40 goals a game, but only gives up 2.34 which is 5th best in the NHL. The Blue Jacket’s power play is struggling at only 14.1% but their penalty kill is the league’s 4th best at 86.3%. So, scoring a lot of goals against this team might be as tough as chewing that fruitcake.

Returning from the Christmas break we find our Thrashers still riding high on a 4 game win streak that put them one game above .500. They will play tonight attempting to go two over the break-even mark for the first time all season. A victory, combined with a Hurricane loss to the Rangers, will also bring them to just 2 points behind division-leading Carolina and allow them to pull into a tie for first tomorrow by beating the Florida Panthers. Yes, that’s what I said…the Thrashers could be on top of the division tomorrow night! How’s would THAT be for a late Christmas present?

Now, here are some reading assignments for you guys while I surf the Internet after Christmas sales ads…

The recent play of the Thrashers is good enough to move them up seven places in SI.com’s Scott Wraight’s Power Rankings.

Outdoor hockey in Buffalo…Gimmick or greatness? Espn.com’s Scott Burnside and Damien Cox hash it out.

Speaking of outdoor hockey, here is how they converted an NFL field to a hockey rink.

Permalink | Comments (63) |

Advertise here »