AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > January > 22
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Thrashers Face Test vs. BEST TEAM IN NHL!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Several years ago, when my oldest tax exemption was in elementary school, I had a sit down with his teacher. She was good friend of ours and so we were able to speak openly and honestly about him. It seems as though she was concerned about the way he approached his work assignments. She told me that every time papers were given out for the class to complete, as she came by his desk, he would ask, “Is this a test or just class work”?
“Well”, I inquired, “What is the concern with that”?
“When it’s a test, I tell him so and he does well”, she said adding, “However, when it’s simply class work or a practice sheet…well, he just doesn’t seem to put into it the same effort and attention that he does when it’s a test. That is why his grade isn’t what it should be”.
“The answer is very simple”, I said. “You tell him it’s a test…every time you hand him a paper to do…it’s a test”!
“But…that would be lying to him”, she protested.
“Your point being…”?
She took my advice and his grades improved. You see, he has this habit of performing up to the task IF he thinks it’s important.
With that little story in mind, let’s turn our attention to the Atlanta Thrashers.
Tonight in New York, the Thrashers face a HUGE test as they face the BEST TEAM IN THE NHL.
Uh-huh, that’s right…that’s what I said. The New York Rangers…tonight…are the BEST team the league has to offer! They are hot! They are fast! They score goals by the dozen and don’t even get me started on just how tough their defense is to get through.
Detroit? Chumps in comparison to these Broadway Bullies!
Ottawa? Weak and pathetic are they in light of the Blue Shirts!
The NHL standings show them at 22-21-6 overall and 2-6-2 in their last ten.
THAT’S A %$#@& LIE!!!
In truth they are 50-3-2….and they have ONLY played 49 games! THAT’S how good they are. They are 9-0-1 in their last ten, (you know…like Pittsburgh was when we played them 10 days ago). In fact, they are SO good that if we do beat them this evening…they will STILL be 9-0-1 in their past ten when we play them again on Thursday!
Got that, Thrashers? They are GOOD!
The league stats show them as having scored 118 goals and letting up 128 so far…AGAIN, THEY LIE!!
The Rangers are so good, that they have 197 goals on the season thus far! They’ve actually scored more, but they donated 34 to charity last month just to get a tax write-off! And you would have an easier time playing “pick-up-sticks” with your butt-cheeks then slipping a puck past Henrick Lundqvist, who boasts a .054 GAA and a .998 SV%. (Don’t bother looking up the stats. They lie too).
So, in order for the Thrashers to play with these guys…it’s gonna take a full team effort! Every player is going to have to give 110%…NO…120% ….NO…. INFINITY % tonight!
I’m not just talkin’ about Ilya and Enstrom giving their normal all-out effort. Not just Marian Hossa, (when he feels like it), or Kari Lehtonen, (when his head is in it), or Bobby Holik, (when he’s peeved-off enough), or Alexei Zhitnik, (if he plays and if the mood hits him, and it’s a Wednesday on an odd numbered day of the month, and the moon is in the correct phase, and Jupiter aligns with Mars…).
I mean EVERY-FREAKIN’-BODY! Anything less and Friday night’s 10-1 thumping is going to look like a nail-biter!
Yes, Thrashers…tonight is a TEST! Thursday night will be a TEST! EVERY night is a TEST!
Oh, and next week when we play the Penguins….THEY will be THE BEST TEAM IN THE NHL!!!
