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Monday, February 18, 2008
Thrashers Third Quarter Report Card
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Thrashers are in the midst of a four-day respite from the NHL schedule. I hope they are resting up for the final push toward the post-season. So, how am I spending my time this President’s Day?? At the office? Nope…watching endless hours of the History Channel remembering Presidents of the past?? Uh-uh…I’m busy at work here at Ice Man Central shuffling through the paperwork and notes to bring you the team’s third quarter report card.
Oh, and I’m also watching the New Jersey Devils do us a favor by pounding the Carolina Hurricanes. The things I do for you people….
OFFENSE:
The Good: Whew…this one’s tough. Atlanta was only shut out once during the third quarter of the season. That and Marian Hossa has stepped his game up with 12 goals since the last report card around New Years. Given that the injury to Ilya Kovalchuk’s knee has slowed his production the past couple of weeks, this has been of great benefit. Marian Hossa playing at the level he is capable of combined with a 100% Kovy is a very good thing…if Hossa is still here by this time next week, that is.
The Un-Good: The goal production of the Thrashers has dropped from 2.73 goals per game to 2.57, (23rd in the NHL, tied with Boston and SJ). The power play, which had shown some signs of life, is back to only 17.5% efficiency, (17th), and the shots per games stat has dipped from 26.1 to 25.7, which is only better than St. Louis’ 25.5.
The Summary: Too many times the Thrashers have shown little life on the offensive side of the ice. Goalkeeping has bailed them out many times…but every once in a while it might be nice to return the favor. Down the stretch they are going to have to take some of the pressure off Kari and the defense.
The Grade: C-, (Down from B-)
DEFENSE
The Good: In the first seven games after the All Star Game, the Thrashers only surrendered 12 goals. Even including the 2 games this past weekend the GAA since the break is 2.11. This has helped their overall GAA fall to 3.13 from 3.29. The team also went between January 20th and last Saturday without losing a game by more than one goal, so the blue liners are keeping us in games more times than not. The penalty kill has improved to 79.3%, (up from 77.3% last report card). It’s still only 26th best, but it’s an improvement.
The Un-good: The SA/G has increased from 32.1 to 33.2, (although that is skewed a bit by the 49 taken against us by the Islanders and the 47 by Detroit).
The Summary: This team would be out of it if not for the play of the defense lately. However, you can only rely on them for so long given that they still tend to give up 30+ shots per game…and especially if they don’t get help before the trade deadline.
The Grade: C+, (Up from C).
GOALKEEPING
The Good: Kari Lehtonen. His .918 SV% is bested only by five other goalies in the league right now and his 2.76 GAA is down from 3.10…since the ASG it’s been 1.86. The 36 save shutout in Washington on the 2nd was a beauty.
The Un-Good: Moose sports a 3.30 GAA and .896 SV%, both up from last quarter’s reporting of 3.19 and .879. The Thrashers are, however, 2-0-1 in his last 3 starts, all three going to shootouts.
The Summary: As I have stated before, as Kovy carried this team in the first half of the season, so Kari is…and must continue to do…in the second. If the Thrashers are to make the playoffs, it’ll be on his back. That may not be fair, but that is life for an NHL goalie. If this grade were just for Lehtonen since the ASG, it would be an A.
The Grade: B+, (Up from B-)
INCOMPLETE GRADES
Rookies: There are exactly five Thrashers who are on the positive side of the +/- ratio. Three of them are wearing Chicago Wolves jerseys at this time.
Coaching: I called for Waddell to place a full time head coach behind the bench. It obviously isn’t going to happen this season.
OVERALL GRADE
This team went 9-8-3 during the 3rd quarter of the season. If they do that during the fourth quarter we will be looking at a team with 83 points going into the last game of the season. That will fall short of a playoff spot. They have placed themselves in a position where they must take 28 of the final 42 points available to them to even have a chance. That would be something like 14-7 or 12-5-4. They have won 6 of the 9 since the ASG so these are not impossible numbers. But they no longer have the ability to weather any type of losing streak.
The Grade: C, (Down from B-)
Note: Stats are through Sunday’s games.
