AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 16 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USMow Down In Motown
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First of all, I want to thank all those who came out to watch the game last night at the Jocks-N-Jills at The Galleria! Most I knew, some I met for the first time!! It was a good time, indeed! Great game, great food, great service, (thank you Ashley).
Now, as for the game…
Well…there, THAT wasn’t so hard, was it? You just go into The Joe, thump the Wings 5-1 and come home…ho-hum!
I mean, Detroit WHO?
If I had not seen the game and you would have told me that the Atlanta Thrashers would be out shot by the Detroit Red Wings 47-25…20-6 in the second period alone…I would have said, “Yeah, not surprising”. If you would have followed it up with the fact that the final score was 5-1, I would have muttered, “Surprising we kept it that close given the shots”.
But then you tell me that it was the Thrasher who came out of it with the win…well then…I would have told you that I hope your not driving home because it’s obvious you have had one…no twelve…too many to drink!
However, it is all true as the Bruisers of Blueland took their act to Motown and came away with the biggest margin of victory over the Red Wings anyone has achieved this season. The only time Detroit was even beaten by as much as three goals was a 6-3 loss to the Ducks on October 15. In the last three games the Wings are 0-2-1….losing as many games as they did the entire month of December!
Early on, it was Marian Hossa putting Atlanta’s offense into over-drive as he scored a hat trick in the games first 21:14. The second coming late in the first as he won the puck from Detroit defender Brett Lebda and took it in to beat Chris Osgood. Not a very nice thing to do to Lebda as the Buffalo Grove, Illinois native was celebrating his 26th birthday! How do you say, “Happy Birthday, Brett…SEE YA”, in Slovak?
I wonder if GM/Head Coach Don Waddell carries that contract around with him in his suit pocket…HHmmm??
The Thrashers offense was clicking on all cylinders early on but it was Kari Lehtonen that put his game into over-drive as he turned away 46 of 47 Red Wing shots. Kari has put in 3 solid games in a row this past week, giving up only 5 goals and making 73 saves, (a .936 SV% in that span).
Now, I’m not gonna say just who it was…but someone texted me a question regarding whether or not Detroit had ever been shut out this season…just before Niklas Kronwall scored at 13:42 of the third to deny Kari of his 3rd such blanking of the season…but YOU know who you are!!!!
Of course, it didn’t help matters that I shared the question with everyone at the table up in the loft at Jocks-N-Jills. Oh, the glares and stares I received for breeching the sacred protocol of such hockey etiquette!! BTW, on New Years Eve the St. Louis Blues beat the Wings 2-0 for their only shut out of the season. The Thrashers have been the only team to hold them to 1 goal in a loss, (Colorado did hold them to a single goal in a 1-0 loss just last week).
So, as you can see…our team beat a very, VERY good hockey team. They did it with great goal keeping and an awesome performance from Hossa!
And all is quite from our out-post in Lavonia, Michigan!
OK,….now if you haven’t done so already, treat yourself to a glance at the standings. With Tuesday’s Mauling in Motown also came Carolina’s 5-3 loss in Toronto. Bada-BOOM, bada-BING…first-place in the Southeast Division! In one night’s worth of work, the Thrashers jump from 10th to 3rd place in the conference!
Some will say that being in first is because the division is weak. Ok,…but it’s also because since the 0-6-0 start, (seems like such a long time ago, eh), the Thrashers have gone 23-16-2. That’s something like .585 hockey…which is as good as the Dallas Stars have done this season and they have the 10th best winning percentage in the league.
So, Thursday night we will welcome the, (try to say it with me if you can), Southeast Division leading Atlanta Thrashers back to Blueland.
There, that wasn’t so hard…was it?
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Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By R. Stroz
January 16, 2008 1:53 AM | Link to this
Pucks n Snot - Where are you? Are the Red Wings moving to Kitchener or Las Vegas? Hockeytown looked more like Ghost town.
By Darren
January 16, 2008 1:59 AM | Link to this
Simply put, this was a statement game.
The Thrashers showed they could hang with the best in the NHL, and could get a Brodeur-type performance out of Lehtonen.
This is a huge win going forward in terms of confidence and how good they can be. Now, they have to keep it up.
By R. Stroz
January 16, 2008 2:03 AM | Link to this
A couple of random thoughts:
1) What would the Thrashers won/loss record look like if Hossa displayed the same effort the entire season that he did against the Red Wings?
2) I wonder if Hossa’s teammates asked him why he hasn’t displayed that type of effort all season.
3) I wish I could get paid 7 million/year and only show up for work when I felt like it.
4) Didn’t Hossa show everyone that he can still play well if he wants to?
5) Wouldn’t it be great if Hossa decided to play to his capacity for the rest of the season.
By stendec
January 16, 2008 2:23 AM | Link to this
Well done KL! You were certainly deserving of shutout. Teammates left you out to dry on lone Red Wing tally. To coin the phrase of another blogger I respect (Kari Jekyl was between the pipes this outing not Lehtonen Hyde) or something along those lines. Well done Marian Hossa! A hat trick. So sweet. Truly an All-Star performance. Please decide to put forth effort like THIS more often! Thrashers went to work for a full 60 minutes (minus that sequence in which goal was allowed) not 20, 30, 40 or even 50 minutes. Effort offers future optimism! Ilya Kolvachuk waited until the 12th hour to get a goal but he got one. Sorry Hasek. NOT! Thrashers swiped two needed points in Motown. Must not stumble against Montreal Canadiens. First place at last! Stay on top. Too doggone hard to attain this pinnacle! Which team was once 0-6? Do not tell Hockey Town fans that! Even my insomnia has its limits. Good night Thrasher faithful Sleep (or celebrate) well. GO BLUE!
By stendec
January 16, 2008 2:29 AM | Link to this
See last goal was not by our league leader Mister IK (doggoneit). Must have been giddiness of moment or wishful thinking. Sorry guys and gals. Now, back to Snoozeland. GO BLUE!
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 3:04 AM | Link to this
RH you rule. New blog up in under 6 hours??? AJC owes you some tix or something dude.
Nice win, just finished the replay-wow. Was that “Thrashers Hockey”???
Please say yes.
GO BLUE !!!
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 3:19 AM | Link to this
Also, a few reasons why sweaters are cool
By Thrashernut
January 16, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
Short article @ freep.com (http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080116/SPORTS05/80116018/1053) concerning trade interest in Hossa, and why Detroit might not be able to land him.
By five_hole
January 16, 2008 7:29 AM | Link to this
What a game! Kari absolutely stood on his head. I want to hear from all the naysayers who wanted to get rid of him.
I would also like to know who it was wearing #77 last night. It sort of looked like Zhitnik, but it couldn’t possibly have been him. The guy on the ice was playing defense.
Was it just me, or did Hossa look faster out there than he has this season? It’s one of the things I had noticed about his play this year; that he simply didn’t have the “jump” he had last year. Last night he took it to the house.
By Jim
January 16, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this
Way to Go Blue. Let’s try to shed the “inconsistency” label. Everyone skated and when we do, we are an upper mediocre team. Great the way everyone came back to cover wings and swat rebounds away.
By Russian
January 16, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Yesturday game was UNbelievable GOOD!!! It was really Show OFF. Hossa, Slava, Zhitnik, Klee and Kari showed great hockey. I hope they put together in future. After the game I was just thinking, what in Hossa head? Will he stay or He will go out??? I think he will stay if team will play same hockey as in Detroit. Slava looked good on Center. May be we need to keep him there. Perrin and Dupiu worked very well also. One more thing, we got 3 PP goals with 4 chances. This is just great. Come Thrashers make one more push to Thursday and Friday to make First place secure. :-)
By shoot it
January 16, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this
Certainly it is good to see the win and certainly the Thrashers outplayed Detroit for the first half of the game. But let’s face it, we were just lucky that the goaltender played his best game. The rest of the team just continued to not play a 60 minute game. Yes you have to give Detroit credit for stepping up their game in the second half but we will not go far when we can not play solid defense, puck position, in the second half of a game. Great win but not sure any real statement was made by the ‘entire’ team.
By 30 Year Hockey Fan
January 16, 2008 8:21 AM | Link to this
Take that all you transplanted Red Wing fans!
By UpperDeck4Life
January 16, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
Great game by Kari, he really wanted that shut out and you could tell in his reaction after the Kronvall scored. Anytime a goalie makes 40+ saves in a game, that is a full nights work. Heck ask Luongo from his playing days with the Kitties.
I think the Wings really didn’t want Kovy to score, if Hasek doesn’t sell out to prevent Kovy from trying to score, I don’t know if Kozlov gets that goal from the point. Hasek was out of position.
Hossa…..can you say resume game. The only reason he played like that was to show teams that his performance this season should not be what they should expect if he does hit the trade market. With that said, this is a win-win situation for the Thrashers all around. Win-they won the game, enough said. Win-Hossa just drove his asking price up putting a hat trick on the “best team in hockey.” Win-hey if he resigns that is a win in my book and he should have showed himself that if he plays like the beast he is game in and game out that this team can beat anyone. Last night was a good night for Hossa and the Thrashers. His performance just helped this organization in many ways.
By Sara
January 16, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this
That game ROCKED!! I was actually really p** off when Kronwall scored. If only we could play like that every night. This team needs to quit playing to the level of their opponents and just play to their best abilities every night. Then we wouldn’t have these issues.
I hope Hoss wasn’t just showing up for an audition either. I’d like to see him back to his old self for good.
By The Other Bob
January 16, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Joe Louis Arena seats 20,066 for ice hockey games.
Since Detroit IS, after all, “Hockey Town”…the game MUST have been sold out.
HHmmmm, sure seems as though a lot of Red Wings fans came disguised as empty seats….and how quickly the 17K or so scrambed for the door halfway through the third.
Hockey Town my a$$!!!
By GaVaHokie
January 16, 2008 9:01 AM | Link to this
Funny… that 0-6 start cost Hartley his job, but ever since, almost every team in the league (except Detroit) has had the same skid at some point this season.
I still think it was right to let him go.
I was really impressed with Kronwall and Filppula for the Wings. I was expecting more from Hudler, but I have to say Filppula is the stand-out of their prospects.
Great game! Sorry for the text message ;)
By Rawhide
January 16, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this
Hokie - No probs! Wish ya could have made it, it was a good time, indeed!
By Christy
January 16, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this
Good Morning all.
THAT was a fun game to watch as a Thrasher’s fan. Aside from Kari being fantasting, thought Havelid and Enstrom compared very nicely to their counterparts. Kid had a good game. Kovy had a hardluck night in the sense that he and his line played hard all night, with no points to show for it, though they came really close a time or two or three…
All the trade talk about what we need, etc. — I was wondering about T. Kaberle. NOT to trade Hossa to Toronto for Kaberle, but rather because Toronto might be in a selling mood soon, a la Flyers last year, and with Kaberle apparently unhappy to be there… Would Kaberle be worth a couple of prospects and a few draft picks?
By J(Z)
January 16, 2008 10:08 AM | Link to this
Attendance 17,408 (86.8% full) Interesting!!!!
I just wish this team would find SOME consistancy! We started 0-6-0. Then found our way to 10-10 and have been 13-12-2 since then (still lost more often than we won).
By LAC
January 16, 2008 10:34 AM | Link to this
What an EFFORT all around !!!!!!
This was without question THE BEST GAME KL HAS EVER PLAYED.
If you noticed… his body language was all togather different last night.
He was ALL business, no looking to the roof and a stare that was like a laser beam all night… Just great.
Poor Osgood, what happened ? Rough night Huh!!!!!!
And that Lidstrom looked like an ECHL’er just about at the end !!!!
But WHERE is pucks N SNOT ???
How bout it BABY !!!! Hockeytown ??? How about EMPTY seat town !!!!!!!!!
The last two games are prime examples of what we CAN do… with Hossa signed and another scorer or Dman, we could get very good !!!!!
Bob McKinzie (TSN) says Hossa will not sign here and be traded… Hum ?
But must keep it up MTL thursday night… then Buffalo and we OWE Edmonton an good A— Whipping !!!!!
Then lay a DOUBLE Broadway BEATDOWN on NRY and we have 58 pts !!!
Too bad Lightning look AWFUL, Canes sinking fast, FL who knows and WASHINGTON… Watch out beat Ottawa 4 times this season !!!!!
GO THRASHERS !!! BOO pucks N snot !!!
By Smoothie
January 16, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this
Well folks, what more can you say about the win? Just a great all-around effort by the Thrashers. When I saw the score at the end of the 1st period, it was all I needed to decide to “bounce” over to CNN J&Js for the last two periods. And boy were we glad we did!! BTW, Kovy was flat-out robbed by Hasek in the third…and it would have been nice to see that backhand (yes a backhand!) find the twine rather than the crossbar when he made mince-meat out of Hasek’s aging groin.
With this huge win, the Thrashers now enter the most pivotal stretch of the season. I think the performance of the team will be very tell-tale in terms of what Marian Hossa will decide to do. If the Thrashers catch fire (is this team capable of consistency??) and widen out to a division lead of 6 - 8 points, that might just swing Hossa towards re-signing. If they tank again and continue to flirt with the .500 mark, then Hossa will probably want out at the deadline.
Tell me, how realistic do you think it is that we would “Tkachuk” Hossa and promise to trade him to a contender at the deadline should the team go in the toilet by 2/26? Do you think Hossa would be willing to give us consideration for even a 1 or 2 year “wait-and-see” kind of deal so ASG can prove to him that they are serious about finding the missing pieces to be a serious contender year in and year out??
I wonder if Hossa, afterall he seems like a stand-up character guy, would show us some short-term loyalty if we let him go chase the Cup at the deadline only to return to the Thrashers in June?? I’ve been saying that we were foolish for not trading Hossa sooner, but my Lord, when he plays like he did last night, he makes me want to lock him up for 8 more years!!! HOSSA HOSSA!!
By thrashermanfromtoccoa
January 16, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
the sheriff is back in town///FIRST PLACE THRASHERS!!!!!!!!!!YEE HI!!
By ranallo10
January 16, 2008 11:01 AM | Link to this
Come on guys, there were 17,408 at a weekday game against a bottom 8 team in the East…did you truly expect a sellout??
Atlanta’s attendance the last two weekday games were no better.
Tuesday against Philadelphia — 13,047 (70.4% full)
Thursday against Florida — 14,805 (79.8% full)
Detroit is STILL Hockeytown, but at least Atlanta was able to steal two points from the best team in the NHL. Unfortunately Washington stole two from the second best team, but so be it.
Hossa was impressive, and showed how much he actually can help this team. I still feel it’s right to re-sign him.
By J(Z)
January 16, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Personally, yes. I always thought Detroit was a franchise that sold out their arena every game, kind of the Boston Red Sox of the NHL, without all the incredibly annoying Red Sox fans reputation.
By ranallo10
January 16, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
J(Z) — I agree, but wasn’t it this season when they finally broke their consecutive sellout streak? The current state of Detroit’s economy leads people to worry about more things than hockey, but in spite of this the fans are still showing up at a clip far greater than many other NHL cities.
I relish the fact we beat a elite club and had fans in their stands, but I guess it doesn’t matter to me their attendance. Detroit is still a respectable hockey city, probably still the best.
By Nix
January 16, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
To follow up on ranallo10’s point, yesterday was election day in Michigan. Maybe that affected turnout, as well.
By Sharon
January 16, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this
It’s great to see the Thrashers pull off a big win like this in Hockeytown. And yes, it’s still Hockeytown, even with empty seats. That’s what happens when you’re suffering through the worst economy in the nation.
There is a lot to be happy about with the Thrashers performance last night, but the bashing Hockeytown comments are just childish.
By pond scum
January 16, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
47 shots? Doesn’t seem right,alot of those shots looked to have got mistaken by our defense blocking them and the excuse hunters known as the Wings are just trying find a “hideaway”. The game will be replayed today if you need the feel to argue.
Also,the Thrashers did something alot of other team won’t do or try.You know the Wings system is all about puck posseion,so every time the Thrash had it they just said “oh well we are going to the net”… and it was to much for the Wings to handle.Just think,if Kozzy and Kovy had buried their chances,along with Recchi’n ball’s chance……this would have been VERY LOPSIDED to say the least.
I’m very happy for our boys in blue and hope that some of the naysayers all around quit with the overly negative outlooks about this team.How many other teams you see go and start 0-6 and fight their way back into it?
As for Hossa,glad he showed up last nite as he did vs. the Sabres last Sunday. I will continue to root for him while he’s here,but he needs to make up his mind whether he’s in or out…..it’s time to decide.
And as for PUCK’S N SNOT and any other bandwagon Wing fans…… where r you at? Are you hunting for an excuse as to why your team got it’s wig split last nite like so many other Wing fans I know? That’s now 12 GOALS scored for the Thrash against the Wings and now 2 W’s in a row vs. Hockeytown.
Face it,the only thing really ever good to come out of Detroit was I-75 southbound and Motown music.C’mon on out and bump your gums some more you bunch of whine and cheese bags!
By R. Stroz
January 16, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this
The Hockeytown comments are intended to annoy Pucks N Snot who is too cowardly to show up after the Trashers, as he refers to our hockey franchise, beat his wonderful Red Wings.
Pucks n Snot, where are you? HA!HA!HA!HA!HA! - That’s one for each goal last night.
By Top_Shelf
January 16, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this
Great win!
Shows what will happen if the Thrash play with passion for 60 minutes.
Defense really played good positional hockey, did a good job on the dump in and had a spark.
Hossa & Kovy made the Detroit D look sloooow.
This was max effort, play like this 75% of games and the division is sewn up!
By timmythebrave
January 16, 2008 12:25 PM | Link to this
Tony C-Thanks for the link. Love them thrasher girls. Congratulation to the first place Thrashers! Keep it up. What a great game from Kari. I don’t like the way we play when we have a big lead. We lose the lead too many times with the dump and chase. It looks like the other team is on the power play. I know you don’t want to be risky so that they get turnovers and easy goals but we could have lost a 4 goal lead if Kari wasn’t stopping everything coming his way. Go Thrashers!
By Sharon
January 16, 2008 12:28 PM | Link to this
Actually, pond scum, those three Stanley Cups coming out of Detroit were pretty good too.
I love the Thrashers, but I don’t see a Stanley Cup in their near future. I’d just be happy to make the playoffs.
Go Thrashers
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Well….maybe it is going to be a Tkachuk deal with the deadwings…after all, it’s not like DW doesn’t know anybody over there…
I’d stil like to see “Hossa Signs Extension” headline in this section soon.
GO BLUE !!!
By FormerIslesFan
January 16, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this
Here is something I have not seen anyone mention yet. With his two assists last night, Kovalchuk is now tied for the league lead in POINTS. Not just goals, points!
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 12:34 PM | Link to this
Glad to see that torontonians are consistently haters on#17
HATERS! …anybody know that dingleberry Cox’s email address?
GO BLUE !!!
By Smoothie
January 16, 2008 12:46 PM | Link to this
Last year, we won the division with 97 points (43 W and 11 OTL) and 93 pts got you the 8th seed. I’m thinking that number will be a bit higher this year, perhaps 96 pts for the 8 seed. So it will be damn near impossible for the Thrashers to pin down the 7 or 8 seed this year.
For the Thrashers to get to 97, they would need 49 more points out of a possible remaining 70 pts (70% of available pts…yikes!). To tie our # of wins from last season, they need 20 wins out of 35 remaining games or a win percentage of 57%. However, that only gives them 88 pts. So unless they manage several OT losses (is 20-7-8 realistic??), they will be hard-pressed to reach 94 pts let alone 97.
Let’s thank our lucky stars that the entire division is struggling and hope that we can dominate our remaining 15 games agains SE competition…there are 11 games against SE div foes AFTER March 1!!If they win say 10 of those 15 games, then they will still need 26 pts (I say 94 pts wins the division) against the rest of the league in 20 games (a pt % of 65%).
No matter what, due to the horrid start, the Thrashers will need to maintain a torrid pace from now until 4/5 in order to return to the playoffs. I’m thinking it will take a record of 20-9-6 over the last 3 months of the season.
Who on this blog thinks we can pull off that feat?? I’m not sure yet if they are capable of such a herculean run, but I like our chances against a beat-up Carolina and an offesively-challenged Florida team. Could Washington be the sleeping tiger though??
By Rawhide
January 16, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this
Sharon - I will echo RStroz’s comments about some of the comments about Hockytown. They are indeed intended toward one very obnoxious person who used to frequent these parts who would harp on the Thrashers and, simply put, just act like an…well…you get the picture! Detroit is one of the greatest hockey towns in the league and come next week, when they are back at their winning ways, may well have just forgotten about last night.
Oh, and I don’t know if I’ve seen you in here before,…either way, welcome!
FIF - true THAT!! In fact, that may be one of the oddest things about last night. It went so well that his point, which now puts him atop the league in goals AND points, when largely unnoticed!
Can we even dare to imagine where this team will be if he stays this hot and Hossa plays like he did last night??
Smoothie - Good points. I’ve commented recently that 90 or 91 points MAY win the SE. Given that, it will be an easier feat to win the division then to via for a wild-card spot.
Hey, it is what it is.
As for last night…I agree with those who wonder if THAT type of intensity and play can be brought to the ice on a consistant nature. I’m not chirpin’ on the Thrashers, but what about this season has lead anyone to think otherwise?
And the fact of the matter, if the two teams played again tomorrow,..the score could easily be reversed! But, on that one night….when they really, REALLY needed to…they rose to the occasion. So good for them!
Plus,…if you count the last 4 meetings with division leaders, (2 w/ Carolina, one with Ottawa, one with Detroit)…The Thrashers are 3-1. That could be 4-1 in the last 5 meetings if you count Pittsburgh as one now…
Looking at Detroit…the Thrashers are 2-0-1 in their last 3 meetings…scoring 16 goals.
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 1:20 PM | Link to this
RH-Who do you think DW deals Hossa to?
By GaVaHokie
January 16, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this
Ranallo… besides the attendance at the game, I’m sure more than 1,200 people watched the game on TV in Detroit… which is the amount of viewers the Thrashers get on Sports South.
Tony C… Eklund has Hossa going to Detroit around the All Star break (E4). Say what you will, but he has a pretty good track record when he gets to E4 and E5.
By Smoothie
January 16, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this
2) I wonder if Hossa’s teammates asked him why he hasn’t displayed that type of effort all season.
3) I wish I could get paid 7 million/year and only show up for work when I felt like it.
Strozzy — tell me about it! Do you think Mr. Holik has confronted him in private to see if he could rattle his cage a bit…at least see if he could get a reaction out of the stoic Slovakian?? Perhaps Holik’s more inspired play of late has been enough to impress upon everyone that the top is still within reach.
Which leads me to wonder if our vets like Bobby, Zhitty and Kozzy are just now starting to get their old-man second winds as we turn for the 1/4 pole in this race. Perhaps it takes them 40 + games to really hit their stride from a hockey conditioning standpoint after a long summer of resting and cold compress. I’m sure these savvy vets know they need to pace themselves during the 1st half so they can ramp it up in the second half. And I’m sure having to hit the after-burners to play catch up in Nov did not help matters. Hopefully, the recent play of those three vets is an indication of what’s to come for the coming weeks as they fight for their playoff lives. Buckle up Blueland!!
By John
January 16, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this
Great win, no doubt about that with some stellar play during the first half of the game. Especially good to see the real Marion Hossa show up finally, hopefully he decides to stick around for the rest of the season (and beyond!).
They did seem to get a little lax though after Osgood was pulled. Detroit seemed to carry the play for the most part after that, maintaining a presence in our zone for extended periods of time and peppering Kari with shots. Giving up 47 shots is ungood even in a win.
By Smoothie
January 16, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this
Folks, the Thrashers did not get “lax” during the last 30 mins. When you get a 4 goal lead, most teams go to a trap and try to force the other team to take some chances which thus leads to turnovers. We may have given up a lot of shots, but I remember at least 5 or 6 good scoring chances for the Thrashers as a result of the relentless pressure the Wings were generating after the 4th goal. You knew it was coming and all things considered, I think the defense did a good job of fighting and scrapping to win battles in the corner and clear loose pucks in front of Kari’s Krease. If it were not for that one bad pass by Toby, it’s a shutout!
By Rawhide
January 16, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
TonyC - I know I am in the minority here….but I don’t WANT him to be traded at all right now.
audible gasp from the room
I still think the Thrashers should be in the “buyers” market…not the “sellers”….adding to what we have…replacing only on the D line where needed.
Now, that being said,…if DW was just flat out sure he could NOT get him signed and that it were in the best interest for the team to deal him…my #1 desire would be to get a top line…I mean TOP LINE.. D man in here….Foote comes to mind in Columbus…but there are others.
A big center would not hurt…but right now we gotta find a way to stop our keepers from facing 40+ shots on a regular basis. So the blue line is the priority.
Of course, after watching the last game in Carolina…..Hossa for a couple of those cheerleaders doesn’t look so bad!
IT WAS A JOKE!!
By John
January 16, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Actually, if it wasn’t for an extremely stellar game by Kari, we are looking at a much closer game if not a loss, trap or no trap.
Just look to any of several games in the past month (Boston and Carolina come to mind) where we played good hard 1st periods only to come out in the 2nd period “trapping” then lose the lead and ultimately the game.
By ranallo10
January 16, 2008 2:22 PM | Link to this
RH — Agreed. I WANT Hossa to stay in Atlanta, and don’t WANT him to be traded.
The trade market is non-existant this year in terms of getting proper return for a talented player (look at the Bryzgalov situation as exhibit A). Most moves have been made by Anaheim, and have been minor deals (MacDonald for Weight the exception) involving fringe players for fringe players, and equal salaries. I don’t feel that it’ll be easy to get proper return for Hossa, no matter who they trade him to.
I’d like to be proven wrong, but I don’t feel players like Filpula and/or Kronwall are enough for Hossa.
By Smoothie
January 16, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
Against Boston and Philly, they just stopped skating, period. It didn’t matter if they were trying to protect a lead, they didn’t put forth the effort to beat a college team from Hockey East in those games.
Last night, they probably could have been even more aggressive in taking away the blueline, but the forwards were actually working hard on the back-check and several would-be shots were broken up in the slot. And a lot of the shots given up were from poor angles on the wing and other than a few sequences, I never felt like the Thrashers were just standing around hoping Kari would stop the puck. Perhaps a 4 goal lead will do that to one’s perception, but then again, I’m generally very hard on the team no matter what the score!!
By John
January 16, 2008 3:06 PM | Link to this
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like seeing a team, especially a team like Detroit, filing for homestead exemption in our zone.
By pond scum
January 16, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this
SHARON- Glad you brought up those 3 Cups. Seems hard for the Wings to basically buy them now doesn’t it?
And outside of the Predators,who up until this season has been a force in the central besides the Wings/Preds? Exactly,nobody.
If memory serves correctly,only the Panthers haven’t made the postseason out of the SE division in awhile….and the Bolts and Canes have won Cups also.My point is,NOW that you can’t go out and “buy” them but rather earn them the hard way…..how many quick exits have the Super Wings been dealt now?
I know,go ahead and bash the Thrash some more.Compare a 9 year franchise to an original 6 and what not.
The bottom line is,when it comes to the Wings losing and their loudmouth over anxious fans eating crow…..they don’t want to be served it but yet love to dish it out.
When they can learn that they aren’t the universe…..they might get some better respect.
We get bashed as a sports town for not supporting mediocre or losing teams,but yet here is a team that’s an original 6 team,won this many Cups,best record in the league and on and on……but’s it’s OK for their to be empty seats in their barn?
Sorry,as much smack that has been dolled out towards my team by those “bandwagon” fans that wear red and white……it’s time to get their humble pie.Heck atleast we made it the old fashioned,southern way and was nice enough to bring it to them all the way up in Motown last nite.
By Tony C.
January 16, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
RH-
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t WANT to see him go, but it seems like Hoss has decided he’s going to test his value on the market. I say you cannot lt a player of his quality walk. Period Yes even if it means shooting down our playoff chances. Yeah I said it. Because basically, we’re not going to have him in the playoffs as his numbers histroically drop by at least 40% (adjusted for length of postseason vs. regular)…so it’s not like we’d be loosing much-Just remember back to last April-Hoss was a no-show…granted he may have been nagged by the knee and certainly he was te target of NYR’s best defensive efforts, but uh….a guy who can play like he did last night should do better than 1A in 4 games.
It seems like he wants to go…so where’d you send him (personally I’d like to see anaheim give us some players and their 1st round picks).
GO BLUE !!!
By Sharon
January 16, 2008 4:56 PM | Link to this
Pond scum - Bash the Thrash some more? I’m a Thrashers season ticket holder, even back when they didn’t have a chance in hell of making the playoffs.
Buy the Cup? Check the Wings draft records and rosters. Also, their ability to make good trades. Surprise, they BUILT a great franchise.
Weak competition? The Wings have a very good record vs teams OUTSIDE of their division.
History? Nine years is PLENTY of time to build a team into a winner.
Attendance issues? There are bigger concerns in the world than a hockey ticket, like losing your job or house in a crappy state economy. Yet, Wings attendance is STILL higher than others.
Obnoxious fans? Just like you.
If you’re going to spew forth an argument, make it a valid one. Above all, make it a factual one.
Kudos on the machismo-fueled, smack-talkin’ tirades! Now what was it that you were saying about respect?
Go Thrashers
By Sharon
January 16, 2008 5:20 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - Thanks for the welcome. I’ve actually been around for quite awhile, I just don’t post a lot.
I was here for the worst of Pucks n Snot. Clearly, he has issues… on many levels. He’s an embarrassment to Wings fans.
Great blog, by the way!
By ranallo10
January 16, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
To his (Pucks n Snot) credit, he hasn’t been on this board since the offseason…at least not with his typical pen name.
By Thrasher Ryan
January 16, 2008 6:57 PM | Link to this
Pucks N Snot or Snot Punk as I like to call him has not been on here in awhile because his Mommy cut off his dial up internet service. thank goodness.
By wktiller1436
January 16, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this
Sharon - Well good to have you joining the discussion. And thank you…but the reason this blog is so good is all of the comments below my posts! These dudes…and dudettes…are great!
TonyC - I really don’t know if I can say excactly where I would like for him to go IF indeed he is to go.
If he does, then what I want in return is someone(s) to address the immediate needs. Case in point, an Adam Foote from the CBJs…or a quality top line center if a blueliner is not to be had.
Now, what I DO NOT want to give him up for is “future picks” at the expense of this season. We have as good a chance to get in the playoffs as just about anyone…even as a division winner! To toss it out the door because he would not sign a contract & chuck him for a handfull of draft picks??? No, can’t see that!
Even if that means keeping him here for the run at the cup.
Up side of that: Maybe as the season plays out and we are still atop the division, he gets that fire in him to play…HERE! Then he signs then contract.
Of course the down side is that he goes after the season and we get a lot of nothing in return.
Either way is a gamble. But I just think that if DW deals him away for nothing quality in return…it signals waving the white flag on the season.
That sort of step backwards would mean disaster for the club.
By Brian
January 16, 2008 8:27 PM | Link to this
Rawhide - I wouldn’t mind future picks/prospects if we then took those and turned them around and traded them to someone else for a player. Say we trade Hossa for a bunch of picks/prospects, but then trade those picks/prospects to get player X from team Y? I have to think there is going to be more than 1 trade at the deadline anyway…
By Rawhide
January 16, 2008 8:50 PM | Link to this
Brian - That is a very good point! And depending on who the “X” player(s) winds up being is the issue with me.
As long as the organ-I-zation is dealing in a manner to address the needs of the team for this season’s playoff run, then fine.
If they are simply looking to dump him because he hasn’t signed a new contract and throw in the towel for this year, forget it.
But honestly, I do not think the front office is going to do that. Making the playoffs is as important this year as it was last…maybe even more so.
By LAC
January 16, 2008 9:38 PM | Link to this
Loved Thrasher Ryan’s anology of the one known as pucks N snot… Right ON !
A Little help from Philly tonight 5-3 over Florida.
By R. Stroz
January 17, 2008 12:55 AM | Link to this
After reading the article on Brad McCrimmon with emphasis on the following comment:
A team, like his farm, is built around trust, respect, discipline, accountability and individual sacrifice.
I wondered what McCrimmon thinks about Hossa’s intermittent performance this season.
Hossa’s overall performance this season doesn’t match McCrimmon’s ideals as a person or a player.
From McCrimmon’s perspective, if McCrimmon does go on to become the head coach, does McCrimmon want Hossa on the team?
By Tony C.
January 17, 2008 5:18 AM | Link to this
Stroz I was wondering the same thing
By pond scum
January 17, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this
Sharon- You claim to love the Thrash so well, but are so quick to defend the Wings……why is that? Are you too “bandwagon” as many other Wing fans are? My attempts to draw out a certain poster didn’t work,but you sure did take offense.So it seems the shoe does fit in your case.
And please, the WHOLE COUNTRY is in an economic down fall,not just Michigan.Yes,their attendance is better……but who has the moniker “HOCKEYTOWN”? Not the ATL.In fact,Minnesota with “the hockey state” outdraws Hockeytown…..and they even lost a team once already.
The Wings have feasted on an expansion team and 2 other downtrodden franchies for quite awhile now,8 times each to be exact a season.If the Wings don’t have this,then where do they end up at the end of each season…..you still believe it to be in the top 3 in the west?
And it’s a FACT the Wings at one time had one of the TOP PAYROLLS in the league. (Anywhere from $80-100 million).Yes they traded for Shanny and others…..but by OUTBIDDING OTHER TEAMS for those players services…..they BOUGHT themselves a few Cups. That’s why we now have a salary cap,to make the playing field alittle more even.
Shanny could’ve stayed easily in Motown,but the Wings now can’t afford to do that.
There is your facts and I don’t think alot of folks would disagree with them other than maybe yourself.It all depends on how you look at it.
And yes, I’m an obnoxious fan…..cause it’s folks like you who think you know it all,that there isn’t another view to be seen.
The “sun belt” teams catch to much flack and no respect what so ever by those up north and it’s time to end it.When respect is given,it will be returned.
By Sharon
January 19, 2008 7:34 PM | Link to this
Pond Scum - Nice try. Your junkpile of misinformation and generalizations still doesn’t qualify as a legitimate argument. Now let’s get acquainted with fact.
Bandwagon? I was born and raised in Detroit. More so, I worked for the Red Wings video crew for seven seasons. I’ve also worked on crews for the Thrashers, the OHL, the CCHA and even high school hockey. Did you say “bandwagon”?
Bad Economy? Let me simplify this for you. Michigan has the worst economy in the nation. Then there’s the unemployment rate and foreclosure rate. Dozens of my coworkers and friends and myself have lost jobs (or multiple jobs) just in the last decade. I was lucky to find a good job in Atlanta, but many still haven’t recovered. And there are thousands upon thousands more. Care to educate me more on an economy I experienced first-hand?
Hockeytown: Clearly you don’t understand that Hockeytown is a trademarked marketing gimmick. Regardless of whether their attendance is the highest or not, the metro Detroit area is a great hockey community, as are many other cities. The Hockeytown moniker is just good marketing. Does Blueland ring a bell?
Performance and Payroll: The Wings ahve had a solid core of homegrown talent for years. Even with salary cap parity, they’re still dominant. Chalk that up to excellent drafting.
Of course a team can benefit from weak(er) division rivals. In fact, the Thrashers are depending on that to squeak into the playoffs. As for the Wings, healthy competition in their conference is not an issue.
You’re damn straight the Wings pumped money into their teams. They also pumped solid draft picks into their teams. Now that’s the best of both worlds. Build a winner and the profit, playoffs and Stanley Cups will come. The past worked for the Wings, and now parity does too. Why haven’t either worked for the Thrashers? Will you find the answers in the above paragraphs?
Shanahan: After Yzerman’s retirement the team evolved. Shanny’s exit was never a monetary issue. He simply stated that it was time to move on. Is that clear enough?
Facts? You could be showered with facts all day long and it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. Much in the same way that your un-facts don’t matter. History dictates, not you.
Fans? Pucks n Snot, meet Pond Scum. You’re both the worst of what fandom has to offer. A fine mix of obnoxious know-it-all and gleeful gloater. When you grow up you’ll realize that fortunes change. A team goes up, a team goes down. Ten years from now the Thrashers may be a dynasty, while the Wings may be bottom feeders. Remember Tuesday’s big victory? How about Friday’s big defeat? Obnoxious gloating, ain’t it grand?
As a longtime hockey fan, and employee, I’m well aware of the nasty fan comments between teams, regions and countries. What exactly does your ugliness accomplish? Does it make you a bigger, better fan? No, it ruins the fun for the good fans.
None of you haters deserve an ounce of respect. And that, sugar, is a fact.
Go Thrashers!