Ice Man

By Tim

December 30, 2007 12:44 AM | Link to this

And only one bad period on those last 7 start! Not bad uh? :)

By J

December 30, 2007 12:49 AM | Link to this

Woohoo they’re re-airing the game right now on HDNet. Never seen a game on here before, they don’t show the score, PP time during the game, that’s kinda lame. But its in beautiful HD so I can get over it.

I say Moose gets the next start. Kari can ride high with a couple days off through New Years. Let Moose get some action against the slumping Bruins and then Kari can get the 2 HUGE games vs the Canes next week.

5-0 win, the bigger question may be what do you do with Slater now? If you win 5-0 and play the same team in 2 days, I gotta think you stick with the same lineup!!!

I can’t wait to hear from stendec about Kari being garbage!

By stendec

December 30, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this

Morning Rawhide. Have a GREAT day. No one screamed any more for KL than I. A shutout is the apex for a netminder. Well done. Hey, no one wants Thrashers to win more than I. Young Finn was concentration personified. No goal allowed, soft or otherwise, on almost 30 shots. Well, fellow Blueslanders, I am calling it a night. A restful sleep awaits. Talk with all you guys and gals later. G’night.

By J

December 30, 2007 1:08 AM | Link to this

Well that was quick, glad to see that you don’t just post when Kari has bad games.

Just read the game recap…no way was that a sellout!!!!! There were TONS of empty seats!!!!

Oh, and even thought tonight wasn’t his best game, I miss Savard and still think it was a big mistake not to have paid him. If he was still here, I think Hossa would’ve resigned by now.

By Downtown ATL

December 30, 2007 2:30 AM | Link to this

The Ms. and I are headed to Boston tomorrow for the game on th 31st. Any Thrashers fans grabbing a drink near the Garden before the game?

By 12345

December 30, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

I watched the rerun of the game last night.

What got me fired up and MAD were those Boston announcers ragging on how hockey does now do well in Atlanta. It’s been here twice and looks as if is going to fail again in a few years Mr.andy brinkley said with his DUMB boston twang…

Why do you not hear that in S.Florida or Tampa or Carolina ?

No just Atlanta I guess when you have a nice city, nice area of the USA, nice weather,easy access it just P——s you off if you lived in Boston… Thank GOD I do not !

I look for another boston WHIPPING Monday at NOON !

By erock

December 30, 2007 9:42 AM | Link to this

KARI SHOULD START THEM ALL !! HE NEEDS THE WORK !! HE IS YOUNG !! THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME TO REST WHEN THE SEASON IS OVER !! Just start keeping him off the ice at practices.. AS ALLEN IVERSON SAID ONCE..”ITS JUST PRACTICE” !!….ENSTROM IS YOUNG AND LOOK AT HIS ICE TIME EVERY NIGHT AND HE DOES NOT NEED A NIGHT OFF..GO THRASHERS KEEP UP THE MOMENTUM !!

By Shannon

December 30, 2007 9:52 AM | Link to this

It is a rainy day. If you are playing on your computers, don’t FORGET to vote for Kovy for the all star game!

By Scooter27

December 30, 2007 10:40 AM | Link to this

12345, I totally agree with you on those moronic Bruins annoucers.I grew up in New England as a Hartford Whalers fan, and had to listen to there annoying homer biased announcing for years until I moved here.As for knocking our team thats what the Boston media does when there team starts to suck. Also I love the fact they ignore all those empty yellow seats in there arena,and they have been bottom dwellers for the past couple of seasons.But hey whatever… God I hate the Bruins and I love it when we beat the crap out of them.Good job Thrashers and good job Kari. Lets go whip there butts in Boston!!! GO BLUE!!!!!!!!!

By Midfield

December 30, 2007 10:51 AM | Link to this

Not so fast out here. As I had said, Lehtonen is a talented dude, the question is not if he can have an outstanding game, but if he can solidify the team as a franchise goalie he is nominated to be. This question is still very much in the air. By the way, on the off-chance that my skepticism about the sleeping beauty helps any (p** him off enough to be on the edge, scares him off to keep him on his toes, or whatever), so be it. So, Rawhide, you’re not the only one who takes credit for yesterday night, obviously.

By Ron

December 30, 2007 11:06 AM | Link to this

Home Attendance 2004 Bruins - 15,070 Thrashers - 15,121 2005 - Strike 2006 Bruins - 16,211 Thrashers - 15,550 2007 Bruins - 14,764 Thrashers - 16,229 2008 (so far) Bruins - 14,537 Thrashers - 15,612

So, basically, the Thrashers outdraw the Bruins, but Boston is the great sports town????

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

Midfied - Obviously :o), and your points about Kari are duley noted and logged. Question for him is indeed longevity. He’s had a good run the past few weeks, now let’s see what he does over the next few months. My basic point was how do we find out if he sits after every less then stellar game.

12345 - I could not agree with you more. The way I understand it, it was late in the game, their team was getting pounded, showing no life and the miserable shred-of-human-debris annuncers were raggin’ on the fans for not acting in a classless fashion by taunting the Bruins the way your average, typical fan would do..

Did you, or anyone else, catch their names…I smell a subject for Monday’s post here. Maybe we can cheese them off much the same way we did the Islander fans!!!

Ron - Can you provide the source for those attendance numbers. I would like to refer to those as I call ‘em out on it!!

By Ron

December 30, 2007 11:45 AM | Link to this

[http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2008] (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2008)

By ron

December 30, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Obviously I don’t know how to put in a link.

By Ron

December 30, 2007 11:52 AM | Link to this

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance?year=2008

By Ron

December 30, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this

Ron learns quickly.

By five_hole

December 30, 2007 12:03 PM | Link to this

I thoroughly enjoyed watching the game last night, but I would like to keep things in perspective; that was Boston’s second game of a back-to-back series for them, and they looked flat (especially in the 1st period) because of it. Hey, it’s happened to us throughout the year.

As I said yesterday, Kari is starting to mature as a goaltender. It’s a matter of focus for him, and adjusting to the longer NHL schedule.

Also, Holik has been looking very good the last several weeks, which I think has been a big part of our turnaround.

And, even though Mr. Zhitnik scored, he is still the slowest player on the ice.

By Thrasher Ryan

December 30, 2007 12:04 PM | Link to this

Hello Rawhide. Looks like your call for KL worked out nicely. Now, once again, WE MUST RIDE KARI L. I think we should let KL start Monday at Boston, and continue to ride him until he has a bad outing. THEN, we MUST play Moose. He HAS to stay sharp. That was my only disagreement with you on starting KL last night. I knew that if he had a stellar outing, we would HAVE to continue to ride him, and Moose would be getting rustier and rustier. I just thought that was the perfect time to get Moose some action. CANNOT argue against KL performance… = Phenomonal!

Wonder if rumor 12345 started about Bob Hartley is true. That would be extremely awkward for me as a Thrasher fan. Hartley coaching the Bolts!???! WEIRD…. Maybe Brendan can confirm when he returns? He was in Tampa area as I recall.

Colin Stuart looked pretty good out there. I too, wonder where this leaves Slater. If I had to guess, I think when Slater comes back he goes right back to 4th line Center. Which leaves Larsen as odd man out. We shall see. Me personally, I think we should try:

Kovalchuk-Perrin-Recchi

Kozlov-White-Hossa

Colin Stuart(or Brett Sterling)-Slater-Dupuis

Boulton-Holik-Thorburn

Lines 3 and 4 can be reversed. Checking Line 3; Speed Line 4. Many of us here agree that Dupuis and Slater played well together. It worked before, so why not keep using it?

Some people have been calling for it for some time now, and I agree… that Todd White fits in more on Hossa/Kozlov line. I would suggest that. He (TW) missed on several easy chances against FLA.

Finally, I am going to take a page out of stendec’s book. IF KL gives up 3 goals in Boston, he MUST be pulled. MOOSE MUST ALWAYS BE READY. His time could come at any given moment. At this time, we cannot afford to get behind in these games. 3 Goal Limit for the Kid.

I will vouch for stendec. I too, only want THE BEST for the Thrashers. At times, when I make suggestions, it is not to sound crass and critical, I am simply just suggesting ideas that I think would improve the team. Sometimes I get frustrated because it seems like obvious things you can do to make adjustments, it either does not get done or it is done, but too late.

Sorry for the novel!

By Midfield

December 30, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this

In case I am too drunk or emotionally disturbed on Monday night: Have a Happy New Year everybody (Don Waddel and Kari Lehtonen included)!

By Thrasher Ryan

December 30, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

Rawhide—To update you on our 10 game stretch we talked about… After 3 games, we are 1-2. We were shooting for 7-3. That is still possible, but I am starting to think that 6-4 thru 10 sounds a little more “do-able”. So, if we win 2 out the 3 games this week, and 3 of the 4 home games next week, we will be 6-4 thru 10 games. That would be “good”.

By Sara

December 30, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this

Last night was awesome!! Only thing that would have been better was some third period scoring for us cause at that point my alcohol buzz was wearing off - but I suppose I shouldn’t be too picky. ;)

Great crowd last night. It was definitely a sell-out last night. es there were some empty seats but I think sometimes people forget that a lot of attendees hang out in the restaurant areas socializing as well (which is regrettable but hey at least they’re in the building and putting money into Atlanta Spirit’s coffers - and ultimately Thrasher player pockets as well). Plus with the NE/NY game on last night, a lot of people were out watching TVs too. Stuff like that happens.

I’ll second the motions to start Moose on Monday. There needs to be a regular rotation in goal and I think it’s ultimately better to rest Kari after a good performance than a bad one to send the right message.

Happy New Year everyone - here’s hoping for a bright 2008 for our Atlanta Thrashers!!!

By mr. mike

December 30, 2007 12:51 PM | Link to this

Good mornung, all. From the 218 section last night; eveything sure looked great! I wasn’t in agreement w/Rawhide about starting Lehts last night(shows why I don’t coach for a living) but that’s as well as I’ve ever seen him look. Lehts has always has somewhat weak lateral movement, and STILL some funky rebounds last night; but never mind; nice job Kari. Great to see Zhit get off the schneid too; & that was no cheap goal; Zhit looked like he was imitating Kovalchuk out there(and HIS 32nd was a beauty, also). Not sure why the Stuart call-up(as opposed to Little or Sterling)but 1 assist is a nice start. Lastly; I think it’s time to realize Slates just can’t perform at this level. As a buddy of mine puts it; he skates like a man falling down stairs; dramatic/exciting/eye-catching; but to what avail? Oh one last thing: Boy, Savard remains quite the on-ice lawyer/whiner, doesn’t he?

By Brian

December 30, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Scooter27 & Rawhide - the most moronic thing the announcers said all night that had me pulling my hair out was that Enstrom wouldn’t have a good chance at winning the Calder because he doesn’t play in a hockey city like Chicago (gee, it has nothing to do with Kane being a #1 overall pick and playing on offense, he only gets pub because he’s in Chicago). Then the other said “well, Willie Plett did win it here with the Flames” What a couple of idiots, who won it in 2002 from what city!?!?!?!

Thrasher Ryan - Hartley was there serving at most as a scout, nothing more. Although if Torts is on his way out, it wouldn’t hurt BH to bend an ear a little early.

By MacTavish14

December 30, 2007 1:58 PM | Link to this

I missed the feature they ran on the scoreboard last night halfway through the game, but heard a little about it. The Top 10 sports stories Boston fans wouldn’t want to see. Anybody remember any of them? I have some beantown friends I want to sent it to.

By stendec

December 30, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

Hi fellow Thrasher fans. Watching Falcons gag another one away. FYI. Teams with most goals allowed in East: Tampa Bay (130), Carolina (128), Thrashers (127), Toronto (124) and Washington (122). Devils and Rangers have lowest goals against. Shutouts sure are fine in a lot of ways. Oh well, back to F+++++G Falcons. Best to all!

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

Stendec - back to watching the Falcons?? You have to being paying to do that as the game is blacked out! Seriously man, why would you DO that to yourself??

By 12345

December 30, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

Rawhide… You are 100% correct.

They were whining like little babies all night, even the between periods guys Milbury & Pederson… Whine Whine Whine.

Then they went off on Atlanta.

They are not alone either, Others have bashed us on attendance and the team in general.

They went out of their way to point out the Flames left town… But Rawhide you are correct.

Ron has a GREAT point on Their attendance and ours GREAT Ron Thanks !!!!!!!

Just another example of those established northern teams whining about the SE just seems to always be a HOT topic when they are getting their butts whipped…

Let’s whip them at HIGH NOON Monday then laugh at their 7 game losing streak !

By 12345

December 30, 2007 3:29 PM | Link to this

ThrasherRyan… I heard about Hartley on the HOT STOVE between periods of the NYR/TOR game when it was brought up by one of the guys.

They scoffed at it, but maintained if TB stays in LAST place in the East long… something big COULD happen.

That’s them… Not me…Just reporting !

By 12345

December 30, 2007 3:36 PM | Link to this

Rawhide… Their names Jack Edwards and Andy Brinkley they TRY to do the Boston games and are really NOT real good !

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 6:34 PM | Link to this

12345 - Thanks for naming the chowder-heads. And, Ron, thanks for the link to the attendance numbers.

Brian - True…and if I’m not mistaken, didn’t Nabokov of the Sharks of that hockey-tradition rich city of San Jose win it the year prior?

By BruinsBri

December 30, 2007 7:24 PM | Link to this

For your knowledge, here are the bios of the “chowder-heads” whom you claim “are really NOT real good”:

Jack Edwards Jack Edwards joined NESN in 2005 and serves as the network’s Bruins play-by-play announcer. A 27-year broadcast veteran, Edwards served as a NHL play-by-play announcer for ESPN from 1999-2003 and also served as the primary play-by-play announcer for HDNet’s NHL broadcasts during the 2003-04 season.

The University of New Hampshire graduate got his start as a play-by-play announcer for the UNH hockey team, which led to an announcer and anchor positions at WGIR radio and WMUR-TV in Manchester, NH. He worked as a talk radio host for WRKO in Boston and a weekend anchor at WJAR-TV in Providence during the early 80s which led to sports anchor and reporter positions at both WCVB-TV and WHDH-TV in Boston.

During that time Edwards also worked as a reporter for ABC’s Wide World of Sports and served as an alpine skiing announcer during the winter Olympics coverage for ABC (1988) and Olympic Winterfest coverage for CBS (1991).

He joined ESPN in 1991 as an anchor and reporter for SportsCenter and won a national Emmy for reporting. In addition to his work as an NHL play-by-play announcer at ESPN, he also did play by play for the network’s soccer coverage, including the World Cup finals in 2002, and the Little League World Series from 1995 to 2002.

Currently Edwards is a senior partner and executive producer for Fountainhead Production, an independent film and TV production company specializing in high definition productions located in Simsbury, CT

Andy Brickley A nine-year veteran and two-time Emmy Award nominee, Andy Brickley entered the broadcasting world after a 14-year professional hockey career that included four seasons with the Boston Bruins from 1988-92 - the time of Bourque, Neely, Lemelin, Moog, and other Stanley Cup finalists teammates.

Brickley first began broadcasting on radio, providing color commentary for Bruins games in 1996. After just one year, he was recruited to move to television by UPN38, where he served as color analyst for two seasons, ultimately joining the NESN team in 2000.

In addition to providing insight on the Bruins and their NHL competition, Andy has also lent his keen eye and in-depth analysis to broadcasting AHL, IHL, NCAA, and amateur hockey, including three years with the World Junior Championships from Finland, Nova Scotia, and North Dakota. Broadcasting for ESPN at the 2005 WJC tournament gave Andy a preview of young super talents Sidney Crosby for Canada and Alexander Ovechkin for Russia prior to their emergence on the NHL scene.

soooo, an emmy winner and emmy nominee with years of experience are “really not real good” as opposed to your own broadcasting tandem, one of whom is, indeed, a “chowdahead” himself (Dellacamera is from Waltham, Massachusetts).

And you wonder why the North won?

By The Other Bob

December 30, 2007 7:30 PM | Link to this

Hey Bruins-Butthead…you know what you can do with you stupid bios, don’t you?

By Brian

December 30, 2007 7:58 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri - welcome to a Southern hockey blog. Can you defend their comments about Enstrom that I repeated earlier? For all their Emmy’s, did they not know that Dany Heatley won the 2002 Calder Trophy while playing in the city of Atlanta?

I am also curious, do you still live in the Boston area?

By Scooter27

December 30, 2007 8:08 PM | Link to this

Bruins Bri…Um it still dosen’t change the fact that their still two homer biased MASSHOLE REETAADS!!!Oh and that North/South argument dosen’t really apply anymore these day’s.Being that I myself and many others living in Atlanta are from the so called great white north and love the Thrasher’s.I could go on,but I won’t.Also Rawhide I love your blog.I read yours and Craig’s blogs’s all the time.I just do not post often. Keep up the great work RW. GO BLUE!!!

By Jschmoove

December 30, 2007 8:32 PM | Link to this

Rawhide — gotta give you your due for supporting Kari so vehemently in your previous blog…I didn’t get to see much of the game (Taco Mac would only put the game on one TV and I was too busy flirting to pay attention) but I reckon Kari was pretty sharp in net. Perhaps he is turning the corner and returning to form after an injury-marred start.

At this point, I say leave him in against the B’s in the rematch and hopefully keep the good mojo going. If he stonewalls the B’s in the first period and we get an early lead, it could really mess with the Chowda-heads psyche and propel us to another very important W. And it looks like all of the breaks we didn’t get against the Kitty Kats certainly evened out against Bahstahn.

Here’s my prediction for this coming week: Kovy nets at least one hat-trick and / or scores 5+ goals. I’m thinking a hattie against the Hurricanators on natl TV Tues night.

How’s that for going out on a limb? It would be if Kovy wasn’t on pace for 70 goals!! ;-)

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 8:48 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri - The bios are impressive indeed. I’m quite sure the two have forgotten more about hockey then most will ever know and that their qualifications are numerous.

However, that is not what is in question here. The fact is that they openly questioned whether or not Atlanta fans don’t “get” hockey because we didn’t sing that asinine “Na-na-na-na, Hey-hey-hey, Good bye” song while we were putting an old-fashioned beat-down on the Bruins.

First of all…what professional athlete, hockey or otherwise, is going to get upset because the fans are “taunting” them so? Were the NESN announcers suggesting that the Bruins were going to cower at such behavior? “Oh, let’s get out of here…they are singing the Na-na-na-nah, hey-hey-hey, good-bye song..I’m so embarrassed”! …PUH-leeze! It’s so overdone anyway!

The hockey fans in attendance Saturday night did indeed “get it”..and they “get it” far more then the two gentlemen in the Bruins TV booth. What we “get” is the fact that the Thrashers were doing to Boston what a true contending team should have been doing to a team in the midst of a mid-season tail-spin. Beat them and beat them soundly. I mean, it wasn’t like we were throttling at team like Ottawa or Carolina or Minnesota or New Jersey or Dallas or the Red Wings…you know, good teams. We were beating a team that came into the game 1-6-1 in their past eight games and sent them out of town with yet another loss.

And as Brian pointed out, did playing in Atlanta keep Danney Heatley, then a Thrasher, from winning the Calder in ‘02?? Don’t you agree that was an off-base comment for them to say otherwise in the case of Enstrom?

Another thing that Thrasher fans in Atlanta “get” is “out to the games”…compare attendance numbers my friend and you will find that the Bruins seem to be a much tougher sell in Boston then Edwards and Brickley care to talk about…follow the link Ron provided and you will see that the Thrasher are…and have out-drawn the Bruins since ‘03. So it’s much easier to make some narrow-minded, steriotypical comment about a city in the south then dwell on that, isn’t it?

Speaking of attendance.. Tampa Bay, Dallas, San Jose, Anaheim, Carolina and LA are all out-drawing the Bruins as well. Are they all more of a “hockey town” than Boston?

No, of course not…that would be ridiculous to say!

So,…I tell you what, BruinsBri - if it makes us more of a “hockey town” in the eyes of Edwards and Brickley to sing that silly, stupid “good-bye” song…the next time the Bruins are in town and the Thrashers are putting another 5-0 type beating on them…I will personally stand up…turn myself toward the masses at Philips and direct them all in singing that insipid song just to make them happy!

After all, we in the south like to make our guests feel welcome…even in the midst of beating the snot out of ‘em.

By Jschmoove

December 30, 2007 8:57 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri — damn Bri, you got served! Rawhide will no doubt protect “his” house when need be. Perhaps we shoul start calling him Bill “the Sherrif” Tiller. Oh wait, a certain someone with a crooked nose might take umbrage with that.

How about Bill “the Blog Bruiser” Tiller? That’ll work for now!

By Jschmoove

December 30, 2007 9:04 PM | Link to this

You know what the Boston Bruins commentators apparently don’t “get”? They don’t get how to take an old fashioned butt-spanking without the whiny chorus of “yeah but, we’re better than you because it snows here!” kind of nonsense. Take your beans back to Beantown and leave that crap there. We’ll gladly bring the butt-whoop with us when we venture up to the Fleet Center for another round of “get your a$$ kicked”. Peace!

By The Other Bob

December 30, 2007 9:08 PM | Link to this

Smoothie - I just think ‘ol Rawhide was telling it like it is. I mean, in the post-lockout era that is the NHL, the Bruins look more like an expansion team then an origional six-er, don’t ya think??

Rawhide- Nicely put,…but I think BruinsBri can still take those bios and shove ‘em up his a-….uh, his Ted Kennedy-hole!

By Smoothie

December 30, 2007 9:24 PM | Link to this

da utter Bob — nicely put Bob. Good luck finding his uh, you know what…just listen for the hot air that spews from his posterior I spoz.

I think I should officially change my handle to “Smoothie” as I must confess, I am hardly “smooth” on most days. And then days like today I feel like a “schmo” for drinking too much the night before. Hence the “Jschmoove”…

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 9:33 PM | Link to this

Other Bob - “Ted Kennedy”-hole?? LOL!! That’s classic! Request permission to use it!!

JSmooth - Schmooth - Smoothie, whatever! Keep the comments a-comin’!! We know who you are!!!

Scooter27 - Thanks, and it’s nice to have you around!

Ya know, I was going to use up an entire blog on those two NESN Knuckleheads, but BruinsBri made me fire my load! ……&%$#!&-it! Now I gotta work up a new one!

Oh well, they really aren’t worth it anyway…we’ll just let the scoreboard do the talking!

By BruinsBri

December 30, 2007 9:46 PM | Link to this

Okay, okay, I recognize when it’s time to switch goalies… and well put, most of you. (And yes, my last comment was uncalled for)

I just wondered where the outpouring of anger towards Boston was coming from. There seemed to be a ton of “I HATE Boston and love when we beat the Bruins” on the list, especially for a team we’ve never faced in the playoffs. It just sounded like, several times now, people from Atlanta have bent over backwards trying to zing Boston. (I mean, jeez, is it because JD Drew won a world series here than with the Braves?) In particular, it was the “Top 10 sports stories that Boston fans don’t want to see” schtik on the Thrashers jumbotron last night, and the skit they pulled earlier in the month poking fun at the whole Patriots spygate affair, that leave a bad taste in my mouth, especially the former. “David Ortiz on steriods” or “Tom Brady breaks leg during Giants game”? C’mon, that’s pretty classless, let alone unfunny. God forbid we retaliate with ACTUAL Atlanta sports headlines and reference the Heatley crash or the Vick dogfighting affair. (both horrible acts, but proving my point).

I agree it was a MAJOR oversight from Edwards & Brickley to overlook the Heatley Calder bid. It just seemed odd to me that so many people would get so riled up when their team had just won soundly, and for the most part, JE and AB are one of the higher-regarded TV crews in the game and I felt the need to defend them a bit. I think had they stated how difficult it was for a defensive player to win a major award as opposed to an expansion-franchise player it would have been better made. And as far as the Thrashers crowd… well, even your own coach made comments on how he never saw people sitting down during a fight before. That sort of things leads to comments that label the fan base apathetic, even if they’re not.

Also, last time I checked most TV crews are directed to paint the rosiest picture for the HOME crowd, even when that picture is of a steamin’ pile of putrid sauce that was the Bruins performance last night. I’d imagine the Thrashers crew would do exactly the same 9 times out of 10.

As for attendance, it’s a very tough call so far… the Bruins have played the fewest home games in the league, and at least 6 of those went up directly or indirectly against Pats football or Red Sox world series games and parades. Not to mention a snowstorm game against the Devils that had a whopping 1500 people. That COULD skew the numbers a bit too. So while Boston sells out every football, baseball, basketball game and has some trouble attracting a crowd for certain Bruins games, what’s Atlanta’s excuse? The Falcons? Braves? Hawks?

BTW, it’s now the TD Banknorth Garden. Hasn’t been the FleetCenter for a few years.

I can’t blame anyone down there for NOT singing the “Hey hey hey goodbye” song. The ONLY time I have heard that in Boston was after we whupped the Canadians last season, a team that we have 80 years of experience playing against. We wouldn’t bother playing it for a team that’s only been in the league a few years. :)

Here’s hoping to a greater game between both teams tomorrow, and perhaps a playoff matchup to settle the score in the new year!

By The Other Bob

December 30, 2007 9:49 PM | Link to this

RH - Permission granted! Carry on, soldier!

By Downtown ATL

December 30, 2007 10:02 PM | Link to this

The wife and I are in a hotel within eyesight of the Garden Can’t wait for the game.

It’s snowing, but not cold enough to stick yet. Kind of a suprise since it gets dark at 3:45. We’ve already run into another set of Thrashers fans in the hotel, so there’s at least four of us

Hey BruinsBri if you see a couple getting abused make sure you stick up for us. The wife is still trying to muster the guts to wear her Enstrom jersey

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 10:11 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri - First of all, kudos to you for responding. You have already represented yourself and your team better then the Islander fan earlier in the season.

Now, to your quandry regarding why so many Atlantans seem to like pulling the “zingers” on Boston fans… don’t take that personally, we do that to ANYONE from the northeast! LOL!! Seriously, it’s because of the arogant type of comments that Edwards and Brickly spewed out…it’s the attitude of origional six teams looking down their noses at any team south or west of them…regardless of their own franchise’s condition.

Oh, and J.D. Drew….ouch! Personaly, I was glad to see him go.

Now, as for your comments regarding announcers “playing to their crowd”…I’ll give you that, but then are you saying that the Boston crowd is that steriotypical and crass?? I know a lot of Boston transplants and Bruins fans and I don’t see it that way.

“We wouldn’t bother playing it for a team that’s only been in the league a few years”…ok, that was funny!

As for attendance at other sports team’s games…the Braves, no excuse…especially playoff games….The Falcons, personally, I haven’t attended a game since they moved indoors. I mean, the most beautiful time of year in Georgia is September and October and they play football in a dome? It’s a joke! Of course, so is the product…..the Hawks…if a mediocre team is put on the court, a basketall ticket is the toughest ticket in town. They are looking better this year, but not quite as much as the Celtics.

You mentioned the antics on the jumbo-tron….were you at the game or did they mention something about that on TV too?

A playoff match-up this April? Now, wouldn’t THAT be nice!

By Rawhide

December 30, 2007 10:15 PM | Link to this

Downtown ATL - I expect to see a “Rawhide Rules” sign waving about from you!!!

By Smoothie

December 30, 2007 10:40 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri — thanks but I do realize they have a new name for the “Garden II”. As a transplant from the NE myself, I refuse to refer to the arena as the TD waterhouse banknorth Garden replica. That’s just stupid. It’s bad enough that every arena has to have a corporate name these days. So Fleet Ctr it is…short and easy to say. I won’t call the Georgia Dome the “Dome Depot” when the name inevitably changes in a few years…it will always be the Jawja Dome to me.

Good luck to your team the rest of the way, please beat the Sens and Leafs as much as you want. Heck, win as much as you need to in order to get the # 8 seed. Hopefully, you’ll still be looking up at the Thrashers in the standings come April 5th. Oh, and someone remind Savard to stop effing around with Kovalchuk…it’s not a fight he should be fighting. He should stick to being a flawless passer and steer clear of fights with superstars.

By Brendan

December 30, 2007 11:29 PM | Link to this

Phew! You guys have been busy! Well, I missed three games: (1) The loss at Columbus. That was painful to watch. The Blue Jackets just executed their game plan. I credit them for that one. In the (2) Florida loss, it looked like we had a shot, despite it all. And the 5-0 beatdown of the Bruins (3) was just too sweet. Credit Rawhide for his urging to start KL. I cheered his blog to keep KL between the pipes. “We will sink or swim with Kari Lehtonen.”

PJ, truthfully, I lost track of the team’s record when playing before sellout crowds. But it’s a phenomenon that I cannot explain. Obviously, the team never wants to lose a game. But it’s particulary bad to lay an egg in front of a packed house. All those folks go home with that, “why did I get suckered into coming back here again?” groan. Keep the faith, folks.

Thrasher Ryan, I heard no rumors of Bob Hartley heading to TB. I think the Bolts have lost seven of their past nine (7/9). So, the waters are chummed up for possibly replacing Tortorella. Let’s not forget, folks, that Torts and Hartley were “1-2” in the Hockey News’ picks for coaches likely to get the “ax” in the 2007-08 season. But as I understand it, Hartley is still under contact, and is being paid, by Atlanta, through the Summer of 2009. So, TB would have to get Atlanta’s permission to talk to and hire Hartley. If you’re DW, do you do let Hartley go, just to get his salary off your books? Or, do you say … “Sorry, your a division rival, shop elsewhere.”

mr.mike and Shannon, welcome to the blog. Don’t be strangers.

Midfield, I think Kari gets a 2-year deal in the offseason. It shouldn’t cost all that much to retain him. But I’ll agree with you that he hasn’t been the Godsend that we all hope a 2nd overall pick should be. It was a gamble by Waddell on Draft Day 2002. But I think Kari deserves one last contract with us, simply by virtue of the facts that (1) we are already so heavily invested in him, (2) he’s still very young and developing/could lead another franchise with a “fresh start,” (3) he won’t cost all that much to retain/doesn’t have excellent trade value at the moment and (4) we’re not entirely sure that Pavelec is our next “franchise goaltender.” If Kari had established excellent health, consistency, and sharp mental focus, any talk of him of leaving would be insane. He hasn’t done those things. But I’m not ready to quit on him just yet. If there’s an RFA offer sheet, (lately, they’ve been quite egregious,) I think DW should consider the draft picks. The alternative is to match the offer and overcommit to years and salary. I don’t need to remind anyone that we live in an era of salary cap and such decisions face intense scrutiny and bear consequences for years to come (Think Holik’s 3-year, $12.75 million deal after the lockout that continues to plague this franchise).

By Brian

December 30, 2007 11:36 PM | Link to this

BruinsBri - when you stated the Bruins have played the fewest home games in the league, and at least 6 of those went up directly or indirectly against Pats football or Red Sox world series games and parades. Not to mention a snowstorm game against the Devils that had a whopping 1500 people. That COULD skew the numbers a bit too.

If you are going to complain about your low number of games played so far (which doesn’t effect an average) or any other factors for this year, let’s look at last year’s full year numbers.

2007: Atl - 16,229 Bos - 14,764

By Sarah

December 31, 2007 12:06 AM | Link to this

Jack Edwards is the worst broadcaster in the history of the universe. I hope the scurvy catches up with him.

By Brendan

December 31, 2007 12:27 AM | Link to this

When I watch CENTER ICE, I do rather enjoy Kathryn Tappen (weekends) and Hazel Mae (weekdays) on NESN intermissions for Bruins games. Jack Edwards?? Well, I don’t make any conscious effort to catch his broadcasts. :)

By ben

December 31, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this

i hope that bh does get the ‘ning job. he was a very good coach with a bad boss. enstrom will a mainstay in the league for years, and does not need a calder to prove it. on balance dw might be an average gm, who’d thunk it!

By The Other Bob

December 31, 2007 12:36 AM | Link to this

Oh looky-here at this little ditty

By The Maid

December 31, 2007 12:58 AM | Link to this

Hé Brendan. ..you comme Kathryn Tappen et comme Hazl Mae si beaucoup ? Bien, peuvent-ils faire CECI?

Maintenant sur à Rawhide de monsieur nouveau blog avec vous tout…

By Jeff Toms

December 31, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

BruinsBri - The comment Waddell made about people sitting during a fight was meant to suggest that it never hurts to get the crowd pumped by dropping the gloves.. which is exactly what happened. It had nothing to do with people actually sitting because trust me, there was not one person in the house that was not standing and cheering as we won both fights.

By Jeff Toms

December 31, 2007 11:36 AM | Link to this

BruinsBri - The comment Waddell made about people sitting during a fight was meant to suggest that it never hurts to get the crowd pumped by dropping the gloves.. which is exactly what happened. It had nothing to do with people actually sitting because trust me, there was not one person in the house that was not standing and cheering as we won both fights.

By WW4

December 31, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

WELL, HERE WE ARE - IT IS MONDAY AND THE HEAD CASE LET-EM-IN HAS GIVEN UP HIS USUAL 3 GOALS IN SPITE OF A GREAT TEAM EFFORT A COUPLE OF NIGHTS AGO. HE IS EVEN HAVING TROUBLE STAYING IN POSITION AND HOLDING ON TO THE STICK. GO MOOSE!