AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 20
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Atlanta Thrashers: NHL Team of Mystery
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK, Sick As A Dog Now
The Atlanta Thrashers continue to be as mysterious a team as there is in the NHL. How can a team go from beating Detroit on their home ice to performing as flat as they have over the past three games? Quite frankly, this past weekend has made me ill watching our team not just lose…but lose by a collective score of 14-3.
Really, about the only bright spot I could find in Sunday’s 4-2 loss to an Edmonton Oilers team that had been struggling was that recent call-up Joel Kwiatkowski was able to get a point in his first game as a Thrasher. Somebody find out what they’re serving on the Chicago-Atlanta flight because everyone who gets a call up from the Wolves seems to get on the score sheet in their first game after getting the promotion. Kiwi played as Zhitnik sat and he helped the defense hold Edmonton to 24 shots. It’s the one thing the team did well all day.
It’s Frickin’ Freezing In Here, Mr. Bigglesworth!
The only thing colder in Atlanta then the temperatures outside has been the play of the Thrashers, especially in their own arena. So far this month they have played seven of ten games in Philips Arena and have a record of 2-3-2 in them to show for it, gaining only 6 points and giving back 11 as one of those two wins took a shootout to gain the “victory”.
After slapping the Red Wings around on their home ice last Tuesday, the Thrashers have gone 0-2-1 in the three games since….being outscored 16-5, (17-5 if you count the “point” earned by Montreal in their shootout win Thursday).
If they don’t find a way to heat things back up soon, do I think that we’ll be enjoying springtime in Blueland?
How about no, Scott!
Who Does Number Two Work For?
The No. 2 two goal worked out by the Edmonton Oilers Sunday resembled a jailbreak as the Thrashers were caught in an atrocious line change. 18-year-old Oilers Rookie Sam Gagner slipped the puck into the net as Kari Lehtonen lay flat out on the ice. It was particularly crappy due to the fact that it came just 66 seconds after Slava Kozlov had tied the game at one each. It was the type of goal that brought from the crowd a series of grunts and groans.
Ouch, Baby! Very Ouch!
There is a litany of things that have hurt the Thrashers of late, one being the power play. In the last three games it has produced a single goal on fourteen attempts. Sunday, Atlanta was 0-5 on the man advantage, one being the 4-minute variety. Those numbers are particularly frustrating as the team had improved the PP to 19.0% effective, 8th best in the league, following Tuesday night’s game in Detroit…a game in which they were 3 for 4 on the man advantage.
When on the power play, they simply need to FIRE THE LASER!
Somebody Help Me. I’m Still Alive But I’m Very Badly Burned
The play of the Thrashers this weekend has placed them again under the .500 mark for the season, (23-24-3). If they were able to simply gain a point Sunday, it would have put them in a first place tie with Carolina in the Southeast Division. As it is, they are in second only 2 points better then the surging Washington Capitals who have gone 7-2-1 in their past 10 games. The Thrashers are back to the 10th spot a couple points under the playoff line.
Like a turtle pokin’ it’s head out, Atlanta held possession of first place in the division for a couple of days then returned to their shell with poor defensive play, weak passing and less-then-par goaltending.
The good news here is that we are still alive and in position to compete for the division title as well as a conference playoff spot. And as the Oilers proved a couple years ago, you really only need to get in and then you have a chance.
As The French Would Say, That Certain “I Don’t Know What”
I don’t know what has happened to Ilya Kovalchuk of late. He has gone goal-less with a single assist in the past 4 games. Sunday, he looked tired…. just didn’t have that jump he has had all season.
Honestly, it would be tough to expect him to continue on the pace he has set all season long without having some sort of slump. Let’s just hope he finds some time to recharge the batteries during the All-Star break, even though he will be a big part of it.
This Is My Happening And It Freaks Me Out!
My family and I enjoyed Sunday afternoon’s game with friends who live near us as well as the RStroz clan. It will come as no surprise that there are several children who sat nearby that will require a great deal of professional counseling from what was seen and heard.
To their parents I offer my apologies.
