AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USCuzin’ Cletus Reportin’ For Rawhide
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hey ya’ll…I have to tell ya… When Cuzin’ Rawhide aksed me to be guest-bloggin’ this week while he wuz down in Florida…I ‘bout plum came outa my huntin’ boots. I haven’t had nuthin’ like this happen to me since I won the squirrel skinnin’ contest of aut-3 at the County Fair. High honor, that’s for sure. Now, I live out in Alabamastan, (ain’t gonna tell you exactly where ‘cuz I know how this kinda fame and fortune can attract certain people and I don’t want any “groupies” showin’ up on my front porch…I DON’T NEED IT)…but I promised him I would look at that Thrashers game on the big satellite dish out on the front porch and be able to deliver a well thought out write-up about what I seen.
Now, lessen you think I’m all nervous ‘bout communicatin’ to an audience that must number in the dozens, I do have experience writin’ for the Alabamastan Monthly Inquirer in my column, “Possums: Hunting and Recipes” as seen on page 5 of that fine paper. I took it over last year from my brother, Randall, after he had an unfortunate accident when he relieved himself on farmer Jenkins’ ‘lectric fence. Darn near took two hours of shoveling dirt on him to stop the smolderin’. Needless to say, he just ain’t been right since.
Anyway, about that game up in Carolina …Whoo-Doggie! I gotta tell you, I ain’t seen so many grown men bumpin’ into each other since Grandma Martha fired up her white-lightnin’ still and we all had us a swig. My girlfriend, Loretta-Lynn Carter, was over watchin’ with me and aksed me what those five big circles was all about out there on the ice. Golly, she can be so silly! I said to her “Loretta-Lynn, them there are targets showing where they can drill holes for ice-fishin’ after the game”. She really is a great gal….she’s typin’ this here up fer me ‘cuz she’s a much better typer then me seeing as though she wuz born with 11 fingers and all.
As for what I thunk about the game? Well, let’s start with that Ily-er Kov-AL-Chook. Man, he danced through them red-shirted Carolina fellas like Clem McMichael did when he won last years square-dancing contest. And that Slav-er Kosmonaut dude scored a right pretty goal a-spinnin’ around an whippin’ that puck into the goal, like that. I like the way that Mark Recchi jammed his goal past the goldie like the way Aunt Eunice takes a broom to the cats when she wants ‘em outa the kitchen and all. That Bobby Holik guy scored fer the third game in a row, too. But the hero was that Maryann Hosser with the one goal in over time!!! Man, that was as thrillin’ as the time I got one of my Cameros in the front yard to actually start up.
But, the one thing I did take some exception to was when those announcer guys had said that our goldie, Jo-Ann Headburger, had been a “quality number two”. Well, I don’t reckon I know all that much about this ice hockey deal, but I don’t think ‘ol Jo-Ann would cotton well to being referred to the thing like what’s on one of those Islander jerseys!
Hey, I got a question for ya’ll out there, though. I ain’t that good in math and all, but if the other team takes about three times more shots at the goal the do you, ain’t you just aksing to get yer butt whooped? Maybe, I’m thinking, them Thrashers just snuck outa Carolina countin’ there blessin’s
Anyway, I hear them boys are gonna met up again Friday night at Atlanta’s barn to do this all over again. Maybe me and Loretta-Lynn can hop into the pick-up and come on down to the big city and see one of these ice-hockey games with our own eye-balls.
.JPG)
-1.JPG)
Services »
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Russian
January 3, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this
to Rawhide Come in at Friday. I hope we can shoot puck more than 14 times.
By Scott
January 3, 2008 8:55 AM | Link to this
Insightful comments delivered in a vernacular not seen much around here (‘round these here parts).
PK - great in the first. We were really pursuing the puck and not allowing them to get set up. Daren Elliot (you know, the announcer who wasn’t a total homer) even said they were not working the puck well along their blue line. I credit that to the puck pursuit - there point men were always being rushed and did not have time to make good passes. Later in the game the Thrash were back on their heels, content to go after rebounds (sometimes only half-heartedly).
One thing DA failed to point out when he mentioned that the PK had been very effective for 5 weeks, was that the Thrashers were not taking a lot of penalties during that stretch. 7 minors is WAY TOO MANY
14 SOG - PATHETIC, ‘Canes had five more shots in the third than we had in regulation plus 4:30 of overtime.
It’s not just the shots, it’s the puck possession in our zone that generates those shots. You cannot hope to win consistently if you give the other team that much time in your zone.
The Thrashers were lucky to get the two points. Perhaps they can earn two on Friday.
Props to Kovy - 1 goal, 3 assists, an incredible performance. His assists were all meaningful assists also in that he actually did something to set up the goal. (perhaps a topic for another post).
Lastly - I think it is way too premature and the East is way too tight to declare that only one team from the Southeast will make the playoffs. Nobody (with the possible exception of Ottawa) has distanced themselves. It’s going to be the teams that make good moves before the trade deadline and get hot in February and March that make it in, and it could just as easily be 3 teams from the Southeast as 1. DA needs to wait a month or two before making that statement.
By Sara
January 3, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Am I the only one who heard Larry the Cable Guy’s voice in their head while reading that?? Priceless.
By 12345
January 3, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this
Some great shots of game last night at [www.newsobserver.com/sports/hurricanes/photos/story]
Like the shot of Hossa scoring the winner and the Canes skating off past the victors !
By J
January 3, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this
Sara, I did too. All I can say is WOW. That was pretty amusing to say the least. I didn’t think he could pull it off for the whole blog, but ya did! Nice!
Now, for the game. When it was 3-1, the Thrashers weren’t even interested in putting pressure on Carolina. It was like some crazy game of hot potato/keep away. And we didn’t want the puck. We certainly didn’t want to shoot it! They get in this habit of trying for the perfect goals. Well, tonight they got 5 of em, but you can’t play like that!!! And if they do, I may have more heart attacks than we have wins the rest of the year!!! This team is so inconsistant it drives me crazy! And we actually won this game!
Marian Hossa may have gotten the game winner, but he seemed completely invisible to me the first 64 minutes. He happened to be in the right place for Kovy’s setup. He didn’t deserve the #2 star. That may have been the best I’ve seen Kovy play. Those 2 assists on Hossa and Holik’s goals were things of beauty. Not to mention his goal. Even on Sportscenter (#4 in the top plays) they said “how are there 3 plays better than that?” And there weren’t. They were all lame basketball plays.
By Pucksdeep
January 3, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
Rawhide (or Cletus), you’ve really outdone yourself here. Hysterical.
Agreed. The Thrashers are indeed “countin’ there blessins’” or at least they should be. Too many penalties for sure but my heavens, that feed from Kovy to Hoss to the back of the net was a thing of beauty. That’s the stuff highlight reels are made of.
GO BLUE!!
By LAC
January 3, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this
What is with Darren Elliot ?
Saying Hossa’s goal was his first in 14 games… NO Darren he scored the WINNER in St.Louis 12/23 to WIN That game…
Forslin the VS announcer is The Regular Carolina announcer on ALL their games… Was a bit Home Boy last night for me !
Great Win however, but take it in Regulation Friday night…
By Maal
January 3, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Oh muh GUH and here I done thinked I’s the only person round here done talk lahk that all the durned tahm! Cletus, y’alls should come on down some time f’some of our damned fine moonshine, we soak cherries in ours, and we’s can watch us some good ol’ hockey on that thar telly-vision! We even got the camo netting to hide that thar satty-lite that takes up the whole front yard!
Har har, quality number two, that’s funny right thar, I’ont care who y’are!
Cletus, I think I love you! Y’all come back now, y’hear??? Tell Rawhide to take more vacation times!
By ranallo10
January 3, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this
I’d bet $5 that Loretta-Lynn is related to Cletus…
As for last night, Kovalchuk’s goal (and entire performance) was just damn impressive.
Hedberg giving up 5 goals sucks, but it’s par for the course with this defense. I noticed Zhitnik and Klee on the ice all too often when the other team scored. Zhitnik was lost on the first goal, utterly lost.
Eh, I’ll take a win, let’s hope for another one tomorrow.
By Festus
January 3, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this
Cuzin Cletus, Best not be thinkin bout’ takin off with Loretta or I’ll put a load a birdshot in yur hide faster than you can say squirrel stew. Member wa happen last time? Eulabelle had to shave yur backside just to get all the pellets out.
By stendec
January 3, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this
Hate to be Nilly Willy nit-picker after victory but…Thrashers gave away point they may regret giving away as regular season draws to close. If a 3-1 third period lead is not safe then Thrasher D (so to speak) needs to be thrashed! Team which averages less than five shots per period (about a shot every four or so minutes) does not deserve to win. Glad it did. Boom Boom turned over in his grave! Moose in net? KL in net? Does it really matter? Thrashers have enough defensive breakdowns to cause any goaltender nightmares. Thrashers pass puck out of prime scoring zones more than any NHL team! Have seen Thrashers blindly throw pucks behind them on breakaways. Yes, breakaways! Three words of advice for a possible playoff run. Shut the puck. SHOOT the puck. SHOOT THE DAMN PUCK! Thank you for your time. GO BLUE!
By PJ
January 3, 2008 11:19 AM | Link to this
Ranallo-10 - Moose only gave up four goals - FYI.
If KL was in net last net last night I fear he would have colapsed after we lost the lead and would have let in quite a few more. Snaps to Moose for keeping it together and not giving up more goals when our defense let him down.
By ranallo10
January 3, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this
“Thrashers have enough defensive breakdowns to cause any goaltender nightmares.”
Well said.
Are you inadvertently admitting you MAYBE have been giving Lehtonen a little too much crap for things that might not be entirely his fault?
Anyways, I agree, the defense is oft to blame for giving away a two goal lead. Brain farts aside, more times than not it’s bad positioning and bad passes that hurt this team the most. The defense (aside from one line) needs a lot of work.
By ranallo10
January 3, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this
PJ, thanks for the correction, I’ll blame it on New Year celebrations…
By Russ
January 3, 2008 11:42 AM | Link to this
I didn’t get to see the game last night thanks to Versus only being offered on Dish Network on an overly-priced package…Thanks for that great TV contract Mr. Bettman. Anyway, the Thrashers are at the halfway point of the season with 41 pts. in 41 games. I’ll look into the crystal ball and say it will take 93 pts. to get into the playoffs. That means the Thrashers need 52 pts. in the next 41 games. Lots of work ahead…good luck.
GO THRASHERS!!!!!
By five_hole
January 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
I was watching the game at a Friday’s. I was by myself and the other people were watching whatever was on the other TV’s. When Kovalchuk scored, I yelled; the others stopped to see what I was excited about, and they couldn’t believe the move he made. If they would show Kovy making that move on the 5/6 PM news, it would attract more people to the game.
Yes, I understand that Zhitnik’s +/- is improving. I still cringe every time I see him on the ice. He is slower than the Zamboni and constantly takes hooking penalties putting us at the disadvantage.
By J
January 3, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
52 points in 41 games may be tough. That would be something along the lines of 25-14-2. Maybe its not that unpossible, we’re 20-14-1 since the 0-6 start.
By R. Stroz
January 3, 2008 11:59 AM | Link to this
Klee and Zhitnik should be renamed Slow and Slower.
Wouldn’t we be better off getting Popovic and Valabik more NHL time than watching Klee and Zhitnik blow the over/under on the SOG stat?
By Thrasher Ryan
January 3, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
Hi Rawhide. Having fun in Jacksonville? I predict it will rain there around 5:00pm. Anyways, we were talking about going 7-3 thru 10 games. We are 2-3 thru 5 games. That means we need to go 5-0 in the next 5. ALL OF THEM IN OUR HOUSE! No excuses, no monkey pucks, JUST DO IT!!! These people pay good money to see their team, now give them a quality show!!! No more quitting halfway through!
Going 5-0 sounds tough, huh? Well, IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE PLAYOFFS, you MUST POSITION yourself now. Heck, I would be happy with 4-1. Regardless, you MUST win in your own house. THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR LOSING IN YOUR OWN HOUSE!
I don’t care who’s in goal as long as they set up a legitimate rotation schedule so both of them can keep fresh.
If it was my call, I start Moose again on Friday and take it from there. Kari gets action very soon.
As LAC would say, the time to make roster moves are right now, NOT AT THE DEADLINE. Come on Waddell, pull some dang strings, would ya’?
Kovalchuk-Perrin-Recchi
Kozlov-White-Hossa
Stuart-Holik-Thorburn
Sterling-Slater(or Sterling)-Dupuis
GO BLUE!
By Thrasher Ryan
January 3, 2008 12:21 PM | Link to this
Sorry, that last line should read:
Sterling-Slater(or Little)-Dupuis
GO BLUE!
By R. Stroz
January 3, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
ranallo10 - We are half way thru the year, don’t you think it’s time for J.P. Vigier nominees?
My nominees, in order, are:
Holik, Zhitnik, Klee, and Hossa.
By Jitney
January 3, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Stendec is right on net on all points. Especially the one regarding giving away a point. That was the first thing I thought of. This was a win for us but these points are glaring.
By Jsmooth
January 3, 2008 1:14 PM | Link to this
I agree with Ryan on this one, it’s time that Perrin get rewarded for his consistent, gritty play by getting moved to the first line. He wins more face-offs than Charmin and he is more apt to get to the net when Kovy is wheelin’ and dealin’. Still would like to see our top two lines do a better job of keeping possession of the puck…would it kill us to exert the effort required to forecheck and cycle the puck??
Anyone know the status of Boulton? Day to day I reckon? Perhaps Slater’s recovery will be expedited as a result of the injury.
Kovy — Perrin — Recchi
Kozzy — White — Hossa
Stuart — Holik — Thor
Larsen — Slater — Dupuis
Time to rest Zhitnik for a game or two and get Pops some work.
By Thrasher Ryan
January 3, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Reading Craig’s new blog…. it states that an AHL call-up is expected and Slater is still not ready. Could this be the perfect oppurtunity to call up Jordan Lavallee? I know Brendan* would like to see him. I would too. Or will it be one of the 2 I mentioned above?
Also in agreement with Jsmooth—Zhitnik needs to sit (or be traded) and Popovic needs to be back out there with Klee.
By Tony C.
January 3, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Russ- I’d be happy to sell you Comcast service…we carry VS. (in HD for certain events -like last night’s game- too boot)!
We also do internet service.
Throw away the dish… …You have no idea the powwahh of the DrakSide.
Seriously, shoot me an email and I’ll see what I can do for ya if you’re interested in Comcast service.
For everybody else: Centre Ice will offer the half-season plan after the All-Star Break. HD content is going to be spotty until the playoffs. Next season their is talk of Centre Ice HD (for an extra $10-15 I hear).
Man that #17 goal just gets prettier the more you slow it down huh? He didn’t even get all of it on his shot….what a season he is having
GO BLUE !!!
By Jsmooth
January 3, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this
Did anyone notice that between periods, Jonesy and Engbloom did their best to elevate Ilya to MVP candidate status? They were raving about how far he has come in the past year or so and mentioned how he should be considered a complete hockey player who gets it done on both ends of the ice. While I still think Kovy has room for improvement when it comes to defense (more back-checking) and forechecking (sometimes it is wiser to grind than play for the perfect goal / setup), the NHL should hand him the MVP trophy right now. We would easily be the worst team in the league if not for # 17. Kovy for Kaptain!!
By ranallo10
January 3, 2008 4:58 PM | Link to this
Stroz — The Second Annual J.P. Vigier award has been narrowed down to the following:
Holik
Zhitnik
Klee
Slater, Larsen and Rucchin all BARELY missed the cut, and Klee is teetering on the edge of being removed from the runnning. Slater due to his propensity to fight, and the “Greek Gods” statement was removed due to his sense of humor. Larsen’s intensity for finishing a check no matter how far out of position he becomes is what removed him from the list, and Rucchin has had his best season in ages this year while being out with his concussion. Addition by subtraction rules out Rucchin.
So yeah, it’s between Klee, Zhitnik and Holik…but those are the three front runners as of today.
By Russ
January 3, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Tony C. - I currently have my phone company as my internet provider. Once my contract runs out with them in a few months I am going to get rid of my phone line completely and am going to look at a dish or cable service for TV and internet. What’s your e-mail address? If you don’t mind giving it out here, that is.
By Brendan
January 3, 2008 5:34 PM | Link to this
Thrasher Ryan, it won’t be LaVallee. We’ll have to keep waiting on that one. I think I read it would be Kevin Doel?
By Thrasher Ryan
January 3, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this
Brendan—Yeah, true that. My media guide lists Doell as a Center. Where does he fit in? I would guess:
Kovy-Perrin(or White)-Recchi
Kozzy-White(or Perrin)-Hossa
Stuart-Holik-Thorburn
Larsen-Doell-Dupuis
We will see. Perhaps DW is bringing these guys up to showcase them for an upcoming trade? If I were Larsen and Slater I would be a little leery right about now…
By R. Stroz
January 3, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
They should have brought up Desbiens to replace Bolts.
By Tony C.
January 3, 2008 6:43 PM | Link to this
russ-
hispeedtest@hotmail.com
By Jameson
January 3, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Sorry, I know this is way off topic, but I can’t help it… Tony- I’ll be happy to switch to Comcast as soon as you guys stop pulling things like sending RST packets to people who are trying to seed legitimate content on BitTorrent.
By The Other Bob
January 3, 2008 9:33 PM | Link to this
Shoot-FIRE thar Cletus! That wuz some dern-good blogging fer a first timer!
I thunk them Thrashers were a tad bit luck getting outa Caroline with 2 points on just 14 er so shots! But heck….I’ll take ‘em!
YEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-HA!!!
GO THRASHERS!!
By ben
January 3, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this
Prediction:
Hossa will be gone at the end of the year, Don will still be here. No playoffs, top 10 pick, an upgrade in the budget will be enough to get a legit scorer.
Lehts shall be here one more year. Someone should up the Moose for a couple years, but no one will. In two seasons there will be a new goalie tandem. That Waddell stuck around this long is shocking!
By Brendan
January 4, 2008 1:51 AM | Link to this
Tonight, the Bolts did not get good goaltending from their young rookie goaltender. Montreal won, 6-3. Has Tortorella been fired yet? What’s this now, eight losses in Tampa’s last 12?, as the Bolts slip farther and farther behind.
For those who gambled on the “over/under” for Mike Keenan getting fired in Calgary, the season is half over, and he’s still here. Not only that, the Flames are 11-1-4 in their last 16 games. Iginla and Huselius are tremendous. Phaneuf made a great play in overtime to set up Iggy for the winner vs. San Jose. Ron Wilson is still behind the bench for San Jose. Stay tuned.
Islanders goaltender Rick DiPietro got caught using non-NHL approved goalie pads. By rule, DiPietro is supposed to be suspended for two games for the infraction. Unfortunately, the Florida Panthers won that game vs. the Isles, to get back to .500. Atlanta must win to keep pace with Florida, while challenging for the division lead against Carolina.
Don’t look now, but the Phoenix Coyotes are two games over .500 and are doing BETTER than the Thrashers. Looks like their acquisition of Bryzgalov off waivers has paid some dividends. Actually, Tellqvist was in net last night for the win.
Finally, Mark Recchi has 12 points in 12 games for Atlanta. Getting a point a game on average is an excellent return on a player who costs just above the “league minimum.”
By Brendan
January 4, 2008 2:11 AM | Link to this
Ben, Waddell’s tenure with the Thrashers isn’t all that shocking when you factor in the ownership. Other GMs might tell the ASG, “I won’t participate in an organization whose Opening Night Budget is $8 million below the cap.” While no one should be MAXED OUT to begin a season, (as a matter of “strategy,”) being a whole lot closer to $3 million shy of the cap limit seems a bit more reasonable.
But Don Waddell doesn’t grumble. He says, “Okay, I’ll take your $8 million challenge. And I’ll still get you into the playoffs.” So, the ownership LLLLOVES him. How many other GM’s are chompin’ at the bit to get to Atlanta to work for the Atlanta Spirit Group?
Off in the distance, a coyote howls, as some tumble weeds roll by. Perhaps, some crickets begin to chirp. And the domestication of the dog continues, unabated.
While I’m sure there are those who will argue that ANY a*******istant GM would take ANY full-time GM position, WHEREVER and WHENEVER one becomes available. I’ll turn the question around, “But what ‘big name’ GM is interested in coming to Atlanta? Oh c’mon now, is Pat Quinn really the answer?
Don Waddell is and will be here, in my opinion, until the Atlanta Spirit Group no longer WANT him to be here. And have they really “soured” on him?? Personally, I think the Atlanta Spirit Group have a “pin up calendar” tacked to their wall that features Don Waddell for all 12 months of the year. And their magazine subscription has Don Waddell as the “centerfold,” every single month. And the special “Anniversay Issue” lists him as “GM of the Year.”
By Jsmooth
January 4, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
Now that Ryan Smyth is out for 8 + weeks with a leg injury and Joe Sakic is on the mend out in Colorado, does anyone else think they would make a logical trade partner should we decide to part ways with Mr. Hossa? I’m thinking something along the lines of this for a trade:
Hossa & McCarthy (or Popovic)
in exchange for:
M. Hejduk & JM Liles (or Scott Hannan) and a 2008 2nd round pick
Thoughts?? Feedback?? Talk amongst yourselves please.
By The Janitor
January 4, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this
What’s all this?….Beer cans….cigarette butts….WWF magazines all over the floor?
(sigh)….Cletus!
Ya’ll move on over to Rawhide’s new blog….it’s a little bit cleaner over there.