AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > February
February 2008
Comeback Effort Wiped Away in OT
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday night’s massive comeback effort by the Atlanta Thrashers came up just short as the Islanders flushed out a goal 1:09 into the extra period. Failing to squeeze out the extra point has Thrashers fans seeing any remote chances of post-season play circling the drain.
New York began the game by piling up a 3-0 lead as Atlanta strained to find any rhythm to their game. But a short-handed penalty shot goal by Eric Perrin was followed by slappers off the sticks of Ken Klee, (his first of the season), and Alexei Zhitnik. The three-goal run silenced the groans from the stands.
Ilya Kovalchuk showed a great amount of grit in his play as twice he smeared Islanders against the boards…Bergenheim in the second and Hilbert in the third.
The Thrashers again found themselves behind the Islanders late in the game until Bobby Holik leveled the score again with just 71 seconds left in the final period.
But ultimately it was Trent Hunter’s goal that allowed the New Yorkers to sneak out the back door with the all-important point number two.
Whew…thank goodness we don’t play the Islanders anymore this year. I don’t know if I could push out another one of those.
Un-Good Numbers
The Thrashers are mired in a five game losing streak. They have been out scored 22-10 in those games. Turn the clock back to last fall when they lost the first five games of the season by a combined score of 23-9. As you’ll recall, they went on to drop the next game 4-0 in Philadelphia and Bob Hartley lost his job the next day.
With 1:21 left in the third period of the game played against Washington 16 days and 7 games ago, Alexander Ovechkin scored a goal to tie the game at 2 each. The Thrashers went on to win that game in a shootout. However, since that time Atlanta has played 372 minutes and 30 seconds of hockey in which they have held a lead for exactly 11 minutes and 39 seconds.
Also, since the 5-1 win in Detroit on Jan. 15, the Thrashers have won exactly two games in regulation.
At The Fork In The Road
The great Yankee catcher and malapropist Yogi Berra once said, “When you see a fork in the road, take it”. Well, the Thrashers find themselves at just such a fork. Do they forge on with the intention of pushing for a playoff birth…or do they take the fork, stick it in the ’07-’08 NHL campaign and set their sights on the future?
If they decide upon the latter, and they should, then I would like to see more of Little, Stuart, Kiwi and Pops in the line up to play along side of newbies Armstrong and Christensen.
If they opt for the former, then here is what they are facing…assuming 90 points is still the benchmark to win the Southeast crown and make the playoffs.
To reach that total the Thrashers would need to earn 27 points in their last 17 games, say going 13-3-1. But then, Carolina would then have to go no better than 9-6 to finish at 89 points and Washington would have to finish out 11-6-1 in their last 18 to end up with 89 and Florida 12-3-1 to end at 89 points…..Tampa Bay would have to go 16-2-1 to get to 90 points.
Again, this is all predicated on the fact that Atlanta wins thirteen of their last seventeen games in the first pace…and that’s a pretty tall order. One could say the Thrashers are “overwhelming underdogs”.
While it’s true, “It ain’t over until it’s over”, considering just last week we were in a position to be one off the lead with 20 to go, well, “the future ain’t what it used to be”.
If You Want It Done Right…Do It Yourself
Since it is now abundantly clear that the Thrashers Organ-I-zation isn’t going to place a full-time head coach behind the bench any time soon, I have placed it upon myself to take this matter into my own hands!
My fellow Bluelanders, I present to you…the unofficial, honorary Thrashers head coach for the remainder of the season as named by Rawhide’s Ice Man blog….Coach Jim Mora.
And Finally…
A big, fat, hairy THANK YOU to Maal who fed me some stats while my internet service was out last night. Maal, you are the best-est-est!
The Morning After
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s the day after NHL Trade-A-Paloosa ’08. The deals have been made and the party is over. Where are the maid and the janitor to clean up the mess that was made in here?
In my post yesterday, just after the trade news was announced, my first reaction was one of disappointment. The way I saw it, we had arguably the biggest fish on the trading pond and we failed to address our defensive concerns. I guess I was just looking forward to seeing something different on the blueline then what we’ve witnessed over the course of the season and past three games in particular.
Does this mean I have issues with whom we received in return? No. I am anxious to seeing how they fit into the mix tomorrow night! And, truth be told, the hockey fan in me is looking forward to seeing how Hossa and Dupuis do with Crosby and Malkin. (BTW, Sunday we’ll get a first hand look at that).
My, My…Where Are My Manners?
I focused my comments yesterday more on what wasn’t done on defense as well how the Pittsburgh offense was going to shape up with the addition of Hossa and Dupuis and just skimmed over the players coming our way. How rude of me to not extend a hearty welcome to those our new Thrashers. Let me make amends:
Along with Angelo Esposito, currently in the juniors, the Thrasher will gain the immediate services of two forwards, Colby Armstrong and Erik Christensen. Here is a quick glance at what the two are packing in their suitcase and bringing with them.
Armstrong is in his third year of NHL service and so far in 54 games has 9 goals, 24 points and is a +6. Just by showing up he’ll hold the team lead in +/-. Last season he amassed 12 goals and 34 points in 80 games and was a +2. He was the 21st overall pick in the 2001 draft. In his rookie year he accounted for 40 points in 47 games. Last season he had 3 overtime goals…one against our very own Kari Lehtonen. He is in the first year of a two year $1.2 million contract. If you don’t think he is a hard checker, just ask Saku Koivo…(thank you, Thrashy thrash).
Christensen has 18 goals and 33 points so far in 61 games and is a -3. He’s 14 for 23 in the shootout. Last year in 33 games he scored 6 goals to go with 7 assists. He was picked 69th overall in the 2002 draft and won the Bob Clarke Trophy as the leading scorer in the Western Hockey League notching 54 goals and 108 points in 67 games as a member of the Kamloops Blazers.
Here’s hoping they can provide a jump to our offense.
Oh…And There Was A Game Last Night
And in other news…there was an actual hockey game played in Montreal, KEE-beck last night…and it actually was a pretty darned good one for the first two periods. Score was tied 1-1 coming out of the second intermission and the scoreboard even showed the Thrashers out-shooting the Canadiens 21-18. I’m not kidding…really, honest-and-for-true, it did! But, as the NHL league office insists, they HAD to play the third period.
15 shots against and 4 goals later…
Nah, we didn’t need to upgrade our blueline, did we?
Where Were You In ’04?
This team is now on a pace to earn 79 points…which would be one entire point more than what they finished with 4 years and 3 seasons ago. And back then, we were HAPPY for it!
He Said WHAT?
During the second intermission of the game Ilya Kovalchuk was saying a few words about Marian Hossa and his departure. He had some very nice things to say, not surprisingly. However, he also said something like that he hopes to play with him again.
Uh…excuse me?
Now, I’m quite sure Kovalchuk was just wanting to voice some very cordial thoughts about Hossa and I don’t wanna make TOO much out of it…BUT…seeing that Marian Hossa had made it clear he simply does not to be a part of the Thrashers organ-I-zation, the only way they would play on the same team again would be…if…Oh, Good Lord!
Oh, wait! There IS next year’s All Star Game. That’s what you mean Kovy, right?
Kovy?…Ilya?…Kov?…Buddy?….
Hossa And Dupuis To Pittsburgh For…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Today the Atlanta Thrashers made the much-awaited announcement that Marian Hossa was traded away. Having failed in their attempt to sign the soon-to-be UFA, Don Waddell struck a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins as follows:
Pittsburgh gets: Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis.
Atlanta gets: 25-year old forward Colby Armstrong, 24-year old forward Erik Christensen, center Angelo Esposito and a first round draft pick.
Esposito is playing junior hockey in Quebec.
Maybe you can add to what we get in return…”the eternal gratitude of the Pittsburgh Penguin organization and their fan-base”.
To be honest, I was hoping for some help on the blueline…a center maybe…as well as futures. But what Waddell opted for was 3 young “possibles” and a pick. So the real verdict on this deal won’t be fully known for some time. At least on our end.
Meanwhile Sidney Crosby gets to steam into the playoffs with Hossa, his buddy Pascal, Malkin, and, as Hossa said, “a bunch of young talented guys”. He also added, “I’m really looking forward to it”. I’m quite sure he his, who wouldn’t?
It was just five short days ago we were talking about the possibility of being 1 point away from the Hurricanes…with two games in hand…given a win in Carolina that Thursday night. Today, it seems like a lifetime ago.
Maybe in days to come…many days down the road…I’ll look back on this day and smile. Maybe one of these guys will be the 2nd coming of Wayne Gretzky…maybe another Angelo Esposito will turn out to be Philip Anthony Esposito…who knows. Maybe I’ll wake up tomorrow and, with eyes to the future, see things in a little different perspective.
Right now, I’m just not 100% sold on it. If these were young talented defenders…different story.
If the Penguins complete a playoff push that sees them finish atop the Eastern Conference, I certainly do hope they send Don Waddell a “Thank You” card, because they got a couple really good players.
Come to think of it, weren’t we just saying that in reverse just a few months ago after the Mark Recchi acquisition?
Trade Deadline-A-Palooza ‘08!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Good morning and welcome to NHL’s Trade Deadline-A-Palooza ‘08!
Here we are less than 30 hours away from the 3:00 Tuesday afternoon trade deadline and so far…there really is nothing special to report. Marian Hossa is still a Thrasher, Mats Sundin is still a Maple Leaf, (and it looks like he will remain so), Brian Campbell is still a Sabre and Peter Forsberg is still…well…thinking about it.
All around the NHL-world, reporters are dispatched to be first to report the big deals, big trades and big signings. Not to be out-done, we have dispatched into the cyber-field our cyber-reporters ready to bring you timely cyber-reports of breaking updates, news and most importantly, rumors! Lots and lots of titillating rumors and speculations!
They are busy scouring the web sites, listening to NHL Live on XM, frequenting all the blogs affiliated with NHL teams and consuming mass quantities of coffee and donuts to keep up there energy as we move through these tumultuous hours!
But for now, it’s quiet…maybe…maybe too quite. However, they will be posting their reports below for our edification as items arise.
As for my thoughts on the Thrashers and Marian Hossa…I’m still of the thought that he’s all but gone, (DUH5). However, allow me this one ramble again. It is not totally out of the question that Don Waddell may…MAY… be inclined to take the big gamble of NOT trading away the services of the Slovakian winger. If he feels the deal is something short of a no-brainer, slam-dunk, win-win situation for the team, he might choose not to deal him and instead move to add defensive help and maybe even a center.
That would indeed be a huge gamble for Waddell…for certainly the least attractive option for all Thrashers fans would be to see Hossa leave with noting to show for it. The worst scenario would be for him to sign with the Ottawa Senators and join Danny Heatley.
However, as I have opined here before, Waddell understands that his job is on the line in regards to the Thrashers making post-season as well as the way this Hossa situation turns out. Thus, he knows that if the team is locked out of the hunt for Lord Stanley’s Cup, it really doesn’t matter if Hossa stays or goes. He won’t be around to deal with the aftermath.
So, he may just be incline to roll the dice, not deal Hossa away, obtain the few extra pieces that the cap room affords, hope the team can make a push into the playoffs and, in doing so, convince Hossa to resign…saving his job.
Call it his Hail Mary, if you will.
Am I willing to put any wager on if that is what will actually happen? Err…uh….umm…let’s go to our cyber-reporters…
Thrashers In An Un-Good Place
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Hard To Get Happy After That!
Things started off well enough as Atlanta weathered being out shot by the Toronto Maple Leafs 12-5 in the first period, (Actually, allowing only 12 shots was a mighty improvement over the past couple of games). They even took a 1-0 lead into the first break thanks to a Mark Recchi power play goal. But the Leafs scored three unanswered goals, one by Mats Sundin, another by Alexander Steen, (who just signed a 2 year, $3.4 million contract extension), and then the last when Nik Antropov notch the 100th goal of his career.
Toronto ended the season series with Atlanta 3-0-1.
Rubbing a little salt in the wound, Florida scored a game-tying goal with 4 seconds left in the 3rd against Philadelphia and then won it in overtime. That leaves the Thrashers in 4th place in the Southeast Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference…just one point ahead of Toronto in the 14th spot.
Obviously, the frustrating 3-1 loss to Toronto leaves Don Waddell and the Thrashers in an un-good place, to put it mildly. If you simply look at the standings, you’ll find Carolina 7 points better than Atlanta, Washington and Florida a single point better. It’s true that the Hurricanes have two less games remaining on the season than do the hometown Thrashers, however even if they were to win those two it still leaves 3 points to gain.
Impossible? No. Especially considering the Canes will go the rest of the way without their captain Rod Brind’Amour. However, if you include the game in which he suffered the injury back on Valentines Day, they have gone 4-1-1 since. That displays the type of team character that simple stats can never show. Plus, just last Thursday Atlanta could have pulled to within one single point of the division leading Hurricanes with the two games in hand. To go from a possible 1 point deficit to being 7 out in just 48 hours…well…
But it’s not just the points now, it’s that there are 3 teams to climb over in the division and 5 in the conference. Not the place you want to be in going into the last week of February.
And Now…The Waiting
The odds are that Saturday’s game in Toronto will be the last time we see Marian Hossa in a Thrashers’ uniform. Depending on whom you listen to, he could wind up anywhere from Montreal, to Detroit, to Ottawa, to Boston, to somewhere out west…or remaining right here. One of the things Hossa has stated regarding his situation with the Thrashers organ-I-zation is that he wanted to see what direction it was heading in before signing. That he has not signed…and will not sign…indicates that he feels as though the team is not on the right track.
Personally, I can’t say that I blame him. After all, it has been over 4 months since Hartley was released and the team is still no closer in replacing him. Yes, it’s clear the ownership put this in Waddell’s hands to make right it’s woes…but if you’re Marian Hossa and you don’t even know who the coach is going to be, and now the there are clearly questions about who the GM will be…how can you make any intelligent decision on which way the team is heading?
Playoffs? You Kidding Me? Playoffs?
“If we cannot beat one of the worst teams in the conference, then we do not deserve to be in it”. Those were the words of Atlanta Thrashers captain Bobby Holik shortly after his team’s loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs when asked about the playoff implications.
Good point.
Other Odds & Ends
Wasted in the loss is the fact that the defense held an opposing team to only 25 shots on goal. In fact, Atlanta was NOT out shot by a team for the first time since…oh heck, I can’t remember, was it the 4-2 loss to Edmonton on the 20th of January? The two squads split evenly the 50 SOGs in the game.
Alexei Zhitnik did not dress for the game in Toronto. That is the third game this season the defender did not play. The Thrashers record in those games? 0-3-0 being outscored 11-4. However, in only one of those games were the Thrashers out shot.
If the Atlanta Thrashers fail to earn a regulation win Tuesday in Montreal or Thursday against the Islanders, then they will finish the month of February with one win not needing overtime. That’s right…one. It came in Washington on the second day of the month.
Last season, the Thrashers lost 28 games in regulation. So far this year they’ve lost 30…and there is are 5 weeks yet to play.
No Excuses For This Loss
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Um…Hey Thrashers, come here a sec. ‘Splain sumphin’ to me here. Saturday night you took to the ice in the Nassau Coliseum to play the New York Islanders. You had left the ice in New Jersey just 21 hours prior after a hard fought, exhilarating 4-3 shootout win against the Devils. You came out flat in the first period of that game allowing 20 shots on goal before the first intermission on your way to losing 4-1 and giving up a total of 49 SOG.
Tail end of a road back-to-backer…third game in four nights…tired. Yeah, yeah, yeah…I hear ya. There were even some in the blog-o-sphere that voiced the belief that the scorekeeper was dishing up some home cooking by adding shots to the total of the Islanders and not crediting the Thrashers with shots that they did indeed take. Even TV analyst Darrin Eliot indicated that he thought that might be the case. Was it? I dunno…but sometimes %$#& happens.
OK…fine. I can dig it. I’m hip to your jive there. NHL hockey players are human beings and I understand legs can get heavy and traveling can sometimes be tiresome. I understand that sometimes the breaks go against you. I’m not heartless….not totally, at least.
But help me make some sense of this…
Thursday night you took the ice in Raleigh, North Carolina after having ONE HUNDRED AN SEVENTEEN HOURS OFF between games!!! Between this and the last game YOU played your opponents played TWO GAMES! And you guys STILL let up FORTY-SIX shots on the FREAKIN’ GOAL!!! Did you give up 20 in the first again? NO…YOU GAVE UP TWENTY-ONE!! The man who faced, and turned away, all 21 shots called it, “…a big joke”. Only…no one is laughing!
You gave up THREE %$#@! Shots LESS on Kari then you allowed the Islanders given NINETY-SIX more hours of rest!!! Hey…maybe if we give you a %$#@& MONTH off you can get it back down to, oh I dunno…THIRTY-FIVE??
Two games…NINTY-FIVE shots on your goalie. He stopped 86 of them, (a .905 SV%…Not awful). Honestly, one of them he was caught behind the net, (someone put a bungee cord on that boy)…another was as lovely a kick-in goal that you’ll ever see…Pele would have been impressed! But I digress.
Where was I? Oh yeah…NINETY-FIVE shots on goals are more then a net minder should face in THREE GAMES…much less two! Heck, the Detroit Red Wings goalies face, on average, that many shots IN FOUR GAMES! Oh for the good old days when you ONLY gave up 33 shots on goal!
In the past couple of games Kari Lehtonen has been struck by more rubber than an opossum on GA-20…thank you.
Grabbing Don Waddell by the neck-tie…pulling him in close…
Hey, Donny…look. You and your GM buddies were all hanging by the pool in Florida earlier in the week. Please, please…for the love of all things good and holy…PLEASE tell me you were nosing into the possibility of getting some help on defense…a Tomas Kaberle or a Campbell…or just SOME-FRIKIN’-BODY that maybe…JUST MAYBE…won’t act like a toll booth worker at the blue line as opposing forwards scamper by. “Exact change…Thank you…buh-bye…have a nice day”!
Please tell me you ventured into discussing anything along the lines of bringing in a big, powerful center that can lead a top line offense, muscle his way in front of the opponent’s net and assist, as needed, to clear players out from in front of ours…HUH? How ‘bout it?
I mean…how in the world is Keith-FREAKIN’-Aucoin THAT FREAKIN’ WIDE OPEN in front of our net!!!! Come on Donny boy! Say it….smaller, faster…ain’t really working out, IS IT? SAY IT…SAY IT!!!
Looking over at the ASG suits trying to sneak outa the room…
Whoa…just a moment there, Bubbas…where do you think you’re going? Tell me, you guys have, what, six and a half mil in cap room? Uh-huh….well tell this guy here, the one fixing his tie, he can go out shopping sometime between now and, oh…say, 3:00 pm Tuesday. Yeah, that’s right…give him your official okee-dokee to go get what he needs…and in doing so, pseudo-justify jackin’ up the ticket price on your most loyal of customers. Yeah, that’d be nice!
OK, ya’ll go get some rest then…tomorrow night is Toronto.
Kicking Complacency Squarely In The…
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
This morning Bobby Holik, was interviewed on the flagship station of the Thrashers, 680 The Fan. The captain of the team was very candid in his remarks regarding the lack of effort his mates tend to show on the ice from time to time…most recently last Saturday night on Long Island. One of the reasons for the inconsistent play, he indicated, was that a lot of the guys have become “complacent” in the attitude toward playing.
“We get paid to play good”, is what I also believe I heard Holik say.
He went on to discuss the fact that players in this league can never allow themselves to become comfortable at whatever level they are at. Even if you are in the Stanley Cup Finals…you can’t be happy to just be there, you have to want to win.
When pressed by hosts Christopher Rude and Perry Laurentino to give ways that players can elevate their level up to a point where, night in and night out, they are putting out a complete and total effort that is needed to compete they way it should, the captain responded in a factual… yet telling… manner. He said that he felt it had to come from within the individual player.
While true, I feel as though this also very indicative of what the main problem has been with the team so far this season. Outside of a defender or center possibly, the talent is there, no doubt…but there has not been that one person who, when it was really needed, could draw forth from the squad that certain “something”…a fire, a desire, an emotion…that was required to prepare them for the battle that was about to be waged on a regular basis.
Last year, there was Bob Hartley. As the head Coach of the Thrashers he knew that sometimes a player needed a pat on the back…other times a swift kick in the butt. Just ask Ilya Kovalchuk, who a few times felt the sting of Hartley’s bite. There was also, Scott Mellanby, the team captain whose presence was felt from time to time by the younger players. But they are both gone now.
Now…who is there? There isn’t a coach…at least in the official capacity. Don Waddell is acting as one…but he is first and foremost the general manager. There is Brad McCrimmon…but when the organization had the chance to place him in the head coach position…they balked, opting instead to elevate him to associate coach. Is essence, they said to him, “We like you, Brad…but we don’t trust you with it…at least not yet”. In doing so they denied him that one final ounce of credibility to the team that comes with being the “head” coach.
In the early 1940’s, during the battle of Britain, Winston Churchill was the figure that led his nation through its darkest hour. Instilled within each and every citizen was the natural instinct to be resolute and persevere through the onslaught that was being inflicted upon their nation by an army intent upon invading the island nation. It was Churchill that pulled that God-given ability from them and held his nation in tact during the hard times and abated the advance of Nazi Germany.
Later in the war, when the aggressors had to be forced out of Africa, Italy, Belgium and France…back across the Rhine into Germany, it took an army led by a supreme motivator. Someone who not only could kick the tails of every foot soldier…but saw it as mandatory to get all he could out of them in order to conduct and complete the mission. To force out of his men the drive, desire and fight require do the tough job at hand was his duty to them, his army and his nation.
One such type of person…Gen. George S. Patton, Jr.
Today, we need the personification of both of these historic figures in one man…a Coach Winston Patton, if you will. Someone who can set the course and tone of a team, an organization and its fan-base with his calm resiliency and motivational prowess.
One who could do so by asserting, “…we shall not flag or fail. We will go on to the end. We will fight in the face off circle, we will fight in the corners and in the crease, we will fight with growing confidence and growing strength in center ice, we shall defend our home ice, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight in front of our net, we shall fight to win every lose puck, we shall fight along the boards and through the lanes, and we will fight behind the nets, we will never surrender…” as Churchill would.
A commanding figure who could pull from the bellies of players the fire and will to fight in a Patton-esque manner as this…”My God, I actually pity those poor morons we’re going up against. My God, I do. We’re not just going to check them, we’re going to check out their living guts and use them to wax the blades of our sticks. We’re going to score goals by the bushel. The other players are the enemy. Wade into them. Spill their blood, shoot at THEIR goal. When you see a pile of goo, that a moment before was your teammates face, before it was put into the plexiglass, you’ll know what to do. We are attacking constantly, and we’re not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We’re going to hold onto him by the nose, and we’re going to kick him in the butt. We’re going to kick the heck out of him all the time, and we’re going to go through him like crap through a goose”!
This is how they must see their mission…this is how they must play. If you don’t want to lay everything you have out there, then make way for someone who does!
Now, Thrashers…..21 games to glory!
Go EARN it!
Thrasher Math 101
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Thrasher Math 101 class at Blueland University. Prof. Rawhide takes the lectern)
OK, class…settle down… Class? …CLASS? …SHUT UP!
(Ahem)…Thank you.
Smoothie & Ranallo, good to see you both on time…Blue Crew stretching exercise class must have gotten out early…Manley, thanks for parking the tank out back and not on the lawn…Alan, please take off the skates while in here…very tough to keep an edge on the blades otherwise, ya know. Sara…the brownies you baked for the class, very tasty indeed…interesting flavor. Some kind of secret ingredient?
Thrasher Ryan, please take this note to the office and have them fax to Dean Waddell as he is in Naples, FL getting in an early spring break with 29 of his friends. It says, “Sign Kari and Dupruis, NOW”!
Five_Hole, HookyBob, Kracker and Pucksdeep…stop trying out each other’s mouth guards…that’s just…ewww. Please, just take your seats. The same goes for the rest of you…lot’s of new faces in here.
First of all, just a reminder that Dr. Custance is still conducting class in Thrasher Reading 301 and the information he is providing is of great value. Also, I want you all to take time to join Brendan in his Thrasher Philosophy discussions…but make sure you take a recording device as you won’t be able to write it all down. Given the time of year, you’ll want to put these on your agendas.
Brian, your absence recently has been noticed and you’ll have time to explain yourself later.
Now then, last time we met the discussion revolved around mathematical formulas that would get the Thrashers to 95 or 96 points. The theory being that this was the required level to get to the playoffs. We studied the PEG formula and the need to average 15-16 points per month. Yes, you remember…
GaVaHokie, get that puck out of your mouth!
Anyway, do you have those notes with you?? Good. I want you to take them out of your notebooks, crumple them up and toss them away! Why? Because the only way Atlanta is getting to 96 points right now is to gain 34 points in the last 21 games. That would be something like going 17-4 down the stretch. The official statistical term for such odds of that happening is “notgonnahappennowayinhell”…here, I’ll write that on the board for you.
Puckjunque, will you please nudge J(Z) over there and wake him…thanks.
Anyway, what we are looking at now is something around 90 points, maybe a point or two more or less…but the way the Southeast is shaping up, that just might do it.
Rstroz…Roswell Thrasherfan…you two settle down back there. Don’t make me separate you two.
Now, what is the math regarding getting from here to said 90 points? Simple…get 28 points out of the 42 available. Seems easy enough, right?
Well, let’s take out the ‘ol #2s and do some figuring, here. Assume 90 points is the magical number…OK? And take into account that the Thrashers now have 62 points…alrighty? So that would mean that Atlanta has, to date, 68.89% of the targeted total. Then take into account that the 61 games played to date is 74.39% of the 82 games on the schedule…got that?
Now…what that all means is that with right at three quarters of the season gone…the Thrashers still need to gain one third of the points needed…just to have a shot. Or, to simplify this for our special student from Livonia, Michigan, they need to get roughly 33% of the points needed in the last 25% of the season.
NASCAR Dave, your eyes are all glossy…did I just make your head spin? You’ll want to go see the nurse…leave the Daytona 500 Official Program here, please…thank you.
Lastly, the Thrashers got some help the last few days. New Jersey and Boston both beat the Hurricanes, (albeit the Bruins collapse in the last minute of the game allowed Carolina a point), and Pittsburgh’s 3 late goals slapped down the Panthers. This leaves us only three points behind the Canes with two in hand, two ahead of Florida with one game in hand and tied with the Caps with a game to give, (which will be played tonight vs. the Islanders). So, Atlanta has gotten some much-needed assistance during their time off.
OK,…now for the discussion part of class….
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.
Massive Effort Followed By A Stinker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Win In New Jersey A Perfect 10
Every once in a while during the course of an 82 game season you have to steal 2 points from a game you might have gotten nothing from on any other night. Friday night’s 4-3 wild shootout win in Jersey was just such a game. Most of the time when you spot a team like the Devils and Martin Brodeur a 2-0 lead in the second you have just as much chance to win as you do cutting in front of Rosie O’Donnell in a buffet line…thank you.
But the Thrashers circled the wagons as Ilya Superchuk scored his 40th goal of the season just 50 seconds after they fell behind by a pair in the middle frame. The assists came from Chris Thorburn and Eric Perrin, (the Mix-n-Match, Grrr-Animals line). Todd White’s power play goal tied things later in the second and the teams went into the second break even at two.
Things are looking good, right? Not so fast, Jackson!
Jersey took a lead at the 8:45 mark of the third on a Madden-ing goal that went through the crease and off Garnet Exelby. Then the Devil’s defense and Marty-The Magnificent looked to shut down the Bluelanders.
But Marian Hossa pushed in a Perrin shot that had slipped through Brodeur with 18.1 seconds remaining in the game to send things into over time. It was his third goal in as many games to go with two helpers in that same span.
Whew…just happy to get a point, right? Not so fast, Wilson!
The OT pretty much belonged to Atlanta as they out-shot the Devils 5-1 and finished the last 1:31 on the power play, (maybe they could have been on the man-advantage for the last 2:20, but apparently Ken Klee’s bloody gash across his face was caused by…absolutely nothing at all). At the end of 65 minutes of play, players were gasping for air and resting on a knee.
But the shootout would be a quick end to the game, right? Not so fast, Wojakowski!
After the three rounds of exhibition-style penalty shots the outcome still hung in the balance…as it did after the fourth…and the fifth…and the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth. Not until Pascal “You-Me-And” Dupuis came through in the tenth round and Arron Asham failed to beat Hedberg did it come to an end.
Great game and a great win against a very good New Jersey Devils team! What a way to finally get to 2 games over .500 for the first time all season.
However…
Too Pooped To Play?
OK, another tongue-in-cheek reference there, but truth be told the only thing that smelled on Long Island last night was the play of the entire Atlanta Thrashers team. To follow up the massive effort on Friday night with the 4-1 stink bomb laid on the ice Saturday was, to say the least, un-good.
It would be very hard to pin this ugliness on Kari Lehtonen as the game was lost by the play in front of him. He stopped the first 16 shots he faced before Miro Satan put New York on the board at 14:52 of the first period. Kari kept the Thrashers in the game in the early goings as he stopped 19 of the 20 shots faced in the first 20 minutes and 15 of the 17 taken on him in the second…one on a 5-3 power play.
That’s right, 37 shots by the second intermission. The Thrashers had 10 SOGs for the entire game! Worse yet, the Thrashers had 4 full power plays in the first two periods and had 6 shots on goal…not DURING those man advantages but TOTAL for the 40 minutes. 8 minutes of 5-4 play should net a team 7 or 8 shots at a minimum.
In the end, the Islanders out shot the Thrashers by…sit down for this…by 39.
Folks, the Islanders could have plucked a descent-sized spectator from stands and suited him…or her…up and placed them between the pipes and, given that Atlanta was out shot by a 5-1 margin, the outcome would have still been the same.
After the game Rick DiPietro took a shower more out of habit than necessity.
Odd Stat Of The Game
DiPietro won the game with a .900 SV% and Kari took the loss with a .918 SV%.
Jersey, The Island & Waddell’s Gamble
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(Sniff) Smells Like A Swamp And A Septic Tank
The Thrashers begin their five game road trip tonight in New Jersey and tomorrow night they play on Lon-GILSLAND. In fact, six of the next seven games will be played on hostile ice. They start the journey tied with Washington at 60 points, two points behind Carolina who beat Pittsburgh last night. To date, Atlanta is 0-2-1 against the Devils and 2-0-0 vs. the team with the big orange turd on their shirts.
Numbers Revision
When we began this season, I had projected that the Thrashers would need to gain roughly 96 points to make the playoffs again. Last year the number 8 seed in the east, the New York Islanders, snuck in with 92. However, as the season has unfolded, it looks more and more like somewhere around 90 or 91 could do the trick.
First of all, the Carolina Hurricanes and the Washington Capitals are on pace to earn about 84 or 85 or so points. I actually think as things progress, it’ll wind up being somewhere in the high 80s for both of them. Thus, as we have discussed prior, 90 points or so could secure the Southeast Crown.
Secondly, if you look at the 8th seed in the Eastern Conference now, the Boston Bruins, they are on pace for 90 points. So again, if Atlanta does well enough down the stretch to crest the 90-point mark themselves it could mean a playoff birth even without winning the SE.
Of course this is still all wild speculation, but hey…what else is a blog for anyway?
Now, what would it take for the Thrashers to get to 90 points? Well simple math puts it at earning 30 points in the last 23 games. Say, 15-8.
Yeah…I know.
Waddell’s Big Gamble
When discussing the Marian Hossa dilemma, there have been two main trains of thought. One is that the Thrasher re-signs the crafty winger, (sha-RIGHT)…or two, trade him prior to 3:00 pm on February 26th for a top-flight defender and/or center and maybe some futures.
May I propose a third alternative?
What if Don Waddell, who knows that failing to make the playoffs would prelude his exit from the Thrashers organ-I-zation, rolls the dice and goes for broke.
What I mean is…he keeps Hossa on the team, he puts on the trading blocks some futures & maybe a young-un or two in an attempt to land a couple of players to address our main areas of concern, (defense and center).
Basically, he adds to the team as is…makes as good a run as he can to not only get in the playoffs but actually advance a round or two in hopes that Marian Hossa sees the potential in the Thrashers future and opts to stay in Atlanta after all…even as a free agent.
Big gamble? Yup, sure is. But Donny is in a disparate situation right now. After firing Hartley he pretty much was given the team he built to run with…win or lose. So, this is all on him.
Besides, what does he have to lose? If the gamble doesn’t pay off… the team fails to make the playoffs and sees Hossa leave with nothing in return…he won’t be around to deal with the aftermath anyway.
Getting Kari-ed Away In Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kari Lehtonen is doing everything he can to help his team win games. Blocking shots, stuffing break-aways, denying shootout attempts…finding open forwards to start fast breaks for important goals.
Whatever it takes, eh?
Fortress Kari stopped 39 of the 41 shots launched on him by the Washington Capitals as he continues this fantastic run of starts. In the past six games played he has allowed only 9 goals on 199 shots in 371:26. The last two of those starts took OT to get the win. Lehtonen, and his .955 SV% over that span, has done just about everything he could do to keep his team in games and allow them time to find a way to win.
But Wednesday he went above and beyond as he not just bought the offense time to get over the hump…he forced the issue. With the score tied at one with just over a minute left in the second, Kari took a shot in from his right then found Marian Hossa up ice and fed a nice pass to him. Washington was caught during a line change and Hossa took it from there as he beat Olie the Goalie to give the home team the lead going into the break.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that the Finnish net minder turned back all of the 18 shots Washington was able to get through to him in the first period alone. Atlanta was only able to get off three of their own on the opening stanza.
I know a lot of people thought I was quite harsh on Kari last week for that one play against Vancouver…but this is the Kari Lehtonen that I knew we could be seeing when properly focused. And at this stage of the game one lapse can cost the team two very important points… thus my state of aggravation.
But, for the record, I will state this once again. As Kari goes, so go the Thrashers from here on out. If the team is to make post-season, it will be on his back. Kari has been leaned on for the better part of 2 weeks now and has for the most part shouldered the weight.
Now if I can only get my two tax exemptions to respond so well to my gentle, loving, fatherly talks.
Three’s Company
With Atlanta picking up 2 huge points and the Caps gaining one, it creates a 3-way tie atop the Southeast Division as the two teams and Carolina have 60 points. Florida, after a 2-1 OT loss vs. Montreal stands only two points behind the leaders.
Good ‘ol Home Cooking
The Atlanta Thrashers came out of the All-Star break two weeks ago with the luxury of playing six of their upcoming seven games at home. Wednesday night’s win completed that stretch of games 5-2-0. Three of those five wins took overtime or a shootout to secure the win. They now play six of their next seven on the road.
Is This Good-Bye?
With the Thrashers playing on the road for the next two weeks, Wednesday night’s game will be the last played in Blueland before the trade deadline. So, if Marian Hossa is to be dealt, then we have seen him in a Thrashers home jersey for the last time. If you believe the most recent rumors, Hossa will soon be sporting the red and blue of Montreal. Of course, he’s been THIS close to going to any number of teams in the past several weeks, so we’ll see. Oh, in case you were wondering…the trade deadline is 3:00 eastern time on Feb. 26. The Thrashers will be playing that night in…Montreal.
I’ve Seen That Movie, Too
Eric Perrin used the exact same move on Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig as he did two Fridays ago to beat Buffalo. If called upon to participate in the skills competition that decides games, does he dare go to the well one more time? Stay tuned.
New Word In This Blog’s Lexicon
I would like to add a new word to be used in here alongside of “un-good”. It was used during Wednesday’s “Yes, you did”, “No, I didn’t”, “Yes, you did”, “No, I didn’t”, hearing on Capital Hill by Roger Clemens.
The word: Mis-remembered.
You know, like, “Oh sorry hon…I mis-remembered it was Valentines Day”.
Well…DON”T! Make sure to remember that beautiful person in your life today.
Happy VD everyone.
The Good, The Un-Good And The Ugly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, as I was sitting on a big-‘ol Delta jet preparing for take-off, I closed my eyes and silently lifted a quick petition to The Great Thunder Maker In The Sky. I think it went something like, “Please Lord, don’t let this long metal tube with wings attached to it and packed full of highly-flammable jet fuel fall out of the sky whilst rocketing it’s way toward Miami and explode in an a fiery inferno that would render my physical body charred beyond recognition to the point that not even Bruce, my dentist, would be able to identify it”.
You know, the basic flyer’s prayer.
Anyway once done, the older gentleman sitting next me nudged my arm and said in a kind, fatherly way, “Don’t worry son, you aren’t going anywhere until it’s your time”. To which I responded, “Fine…but what if it’s the pilot’s time”?
He didn’t say a word to me for the rest of the flight.
And now, the latest GU&U:
The Good
Sitting Near The Top: After all that has happened this season, the Thrashers find themselves a mere point away from the top of the Southeast Division. That’s one teeny-tiny point away from the third seed in the playoffs. One good run of games, say an 8-2 tear, could put us on top with some distance from the rest of the pack. All you can ask for going down stretch is to have a chance…and it’s good that we do.
Kari Lehtonen: Don’t look now, but Kari’s string of strong starts since the All Star Game has moved him to #15 in the league in SV%, (.916 to be precise). That is a thousandth of a point behind Martin Brodeur and Martin Biron and two thousandths of a point behind five others. If you consider his work in his past five starts, he has a 1.40 GAA and a .956 SV%. Very, very good.
Ilya Kovalchuk all but carried this team on his back during the first half of the season. If the Thrashers are to see post-season action again this year, especially if it takes winning the division to do so, then the young goalie will have to “Kari” the team to the “Finnish” line. (Sorry).
SOGs Down: The Thrashers have played two consecutive games giving up only 28 shots on goal. The way rubber has flown in the face of Atlanta net minders this season… this is a minor miracle. This good trend needs to continue.
The Un-Good
Sitting NEAR The Top: Yes, you see that correctly. I placed this in the “Good” section as well as the “Un-Good”. Why? Simple…while it is, indeed, good to be in this position the fact is we have been saying that since the beginning of the New Year. Yes, it’s good to be in the thick of a division crown race again…but truth be told, a team playing slightly better would be running away with it right now.
In fact, the top four teams in the Atlantic and Northeast divisions would be leading the Southeast right now. 11 of the 15 teams out west could be leading the Southeast right now. I know much of the record has to do with the unbalanced scheduling, but look at it this way…had the Thrashers simply won one more game each of the first four months of the season, then they would hold a 7 point lead over Washington right now. Only Detroit enjoys a greater cushion between a 1st and 2nd place team.
Oh, and right now, the team that looks the most like the one ready to take charge is the Caps…the team we play next.
The Chances That Waddell Is Employed In Atlanta Next Season: Un-Good. If the Thrashers don’t make the playoffs The Don is gone for sure, (some may choose to place this in the “good” section). How the Marian Hossa deal is handled, or mishandled, could determine DW’s future here regardless of whether or not the team makes the post-season.
To be honest, I’m really getting a queasy feeling in my gut right now, (and it’s not from the little Cuban Cafe I had lunch at down here on Monday). It has more to do with the fact that I believe more and more that the closer we get to the trade deadline, the more Waddell is going to be feeling the pressure to move Marian. However, if seen by others as dealing from a position of weakness, we could be getting offers based on the “Hey, it’s better then having him walk and then you have nothing” side of the road.
That would be un-good.
Don’t get me wrong…I’m not a card-carrying member of the Don Waddell Hater Club. And I still would rather have Hossa sign and stay. But that is looking slimmer by the day and the clock is ticking…
The Ugly
Richard Zednik’s severed carotid artery that was accidentally caused by Olli Jokinen’s skate in Buffalo Sunday leaving a trail of blood as he left the ice defines the word “ugly” more than anything I can think of right now. Sabres fans saw this same thing almost 2 decades ago when Buffalo goalie Clint Malarchuk took a skate blade to the throat.
As gruesome as the scene was on the ice Sunday, I certainly am glad that Jessica Zednik is able to be with her husband right now and what she witnessed in the TV was not as heartbreakingly ugly as it might have been.
I’m sure as she stepped on the charter jet to Buffalo Sunday night she was saying a prayer or two herself.
Zhitty-Zhitty-Bang-Bang!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Holy Zhitnik, Batman!
Alexei Zhitnik’s game winner at the 1:26 mark of overtime Saturday night will go down in the books as an unassisted tally. However, let us place an asterisk on it and note that an unofficial assist goes to Kari Lehtonen who, just prior to Zhitty’s game winner, stoned Tampa Bay’s winger Jason Ward cold on a point blank redirection. Otherwise, the game would have been over!
Kari turned away 27 of 28 shots and continued his string of strong starts. He has allowed only 7 goals in his 5 starts after the All Star Game, a 1.40 GAA during that span. Even after a Vinny Lecavalier goal in the second, Lehts held fast and gave the offense enough time to try and get their act together. In all honesty, on that goal, Nic Havelid left him all alone with the prolific scorer after a terrible give-away.
It took a blast from Marian Hossa 4:18 into the final period to finally get Atlanta on the board and tie the score. From that point on the defenses and goalies clamped down and denied the other team a chance to win it in regulation.
Then, in the extra period, Zhitnik carried the puck out of the defensive zone and over the Lightning’s blue line, drifted left then lifted a shot past Johan Holmqvist.
Now THAT’S some good Zhit, man!
Southeast Log Jam Continues
The win Saturday, combined with New Jersey’s 6-1 pounding of Carolina brings the Thrashers into a tie with the Hurricanes atop the Southeast Division after 58 games. Florida’s 6-3 win over Boston brings them into a tie with Washington a point behind. The Panthers have a game in hand, the Caps two.
With Kari, Either Way I’m Wrong
In the four months I have handled this blog I have posted 75 entries. During that time I have found that the two best ways to be told just how “wrong” or just what “an idiot” I am is to:
1). Defend Kari Lehtonen and insist he go back into the nets after a poor outing…and,
2). Slam Kari Lehtonen for making a bone-headed move in a close game.
Doesn’t matter if I defend the kid or call him out, either way, I’m “wrong” to some. That’s OK, this year I will celebrate the 19th anniversary of marriage to the divine Mrs. R…so I’m used to being wrong regardless of which way I go.
A Sign Of Things To Come?
The Thrashers defense held the opposing team to under 30 shots for the second consecutive game. This is a trend that needs to continue. If the offense can find a way to get their SOG production to the upper 20s to low 30s on a consistent basis, all the better.
Looky-There On The Big Screen
Did my eyes deceive me…or was that FormerIslesFan up on the big screen?? Dude…wave next time! Oh, and Stephanie, pleasure to meet you as well.
Mullet Night Success
The Thrasher won Saturday on “Mullet Night”. Last year they won against the Hurricanes on “Mullet Day”. HHHhhhhhmmmm…I sense a trend. Everyone in favor of growing a mullet for the Thrashers and has enough hair to do so, please step forward. (Not so fast RStroz).
Kari, We Need To Have A Chat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Uh…Kari? Yeah…um, can I come into your room here for a second? Yes?…OK, good…yeah. No, no…you’re not in trouble, son. I just think we…you and I…yeah, we need to have a little one-on-one talk. Can I just sit over here in this…no, no, don’t get up…I’ll just sit right here in this chair…you stay right there.
Huh, what? No, it’s not THAT talk…it’s just that, well, I couldn’t help noticing something that happened last night during, you know, the game. Yes, yes…that’s right, the Vancouver game. See, first of all, if you look at it on the whole, you really didn’t do too terribly bad. I mean, if you simply look at the stats you did stop 26 of the 28 shots that you faced. That’s good. Oh, and while we’re at it…how about those friends of yours playing defense holding the Canucks to just 28 shots, eh? We’ve always said that anything under 30 is good, haven’t we, son? Yes…yes we have.
And since the All Star break, you’ve stopped 124 of the 130 shots taken on you. They tell me that’s a .954 SV%…and that’s really, really good too. I mean that, son.
Oh, and also…if you can go the rest of the season only giving up goals at the rate of 6 every 4 games, I’m quite sure Coach Don… or is that GM Don…or Coach/GM Don, or…oh, never mind…anyway, Don will be extremely proud of you for that. I mean, who wouldn’t like his starting goalie sporting a 1.50 GAA down the stretch, right?
So…all that is really very, very good….
But getting back to my point here…see, there was that one really critical point in the game. The score was tied…there was about nine or ten minutes left in the third period. Yeah, you know…what you and I have talked about as “crunch time”. Yes, that’s right…you remember.
OK, this is what I feel I need to talked to you about…
When the puck is floating near the goal you’re protecting…and the game is tied…and your teammates have played really hard to get a win…and then a stick come sort of near your mask…while the puck is still in play…near your goal…well…
DON’T FREAKIN’ PLAY MR. HOLLY-FRICKIN’-WOOD ACTOR AND GO DIVING ON THE ICE LOOKING FOR A PENALTY!!! THE LEAGUE HAS THAT SIDNEY CROSBY KID FOR THOSE KIND OF ANTICS, FOR CRYIN’ OUT LOUD!!! WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE…CHEVEY-FLIPPIN’-CHASE?? JUST STAY ON YOUR &%$# SKATES, BOY, AND KEEP YOUR EYES GLUED TO THE PUCK!!!
Oh, no…don’t you start showing me that pouty-lip, my friend!!! You need to hear this!!!
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THINGS GOOD AN HOLY, SON…WHAT WERE YOU THINKIN’???? THAT’S IT…YOU WEREN’T THINKING, WERE YOU??
Don’t you roll your eyes at me young man…you DON’T want to go THERE!
By the way…do you know that IT WASN’T EVEN THE STICK OF A VANCOUVER PLAYER??? NO…YA DIDN’T, DIDJA?? NO…it was that PERRIN KID, I believe…
AAAAAAAUUUUGGHHHHHHH!!!!! What am I gonna DO WITH YOU, boy?
You’ve got such great potential!!! You have been given this incredible God-given talent…BUT YOU JUST SEEM TO GO OFF INTO YOUR OWN PRIVATE IDAHO…and ALWAYS at the WORST of times!!
I’m about ready to tell those nice people who made that VERY COOL new mask for you to JUST KEEP THE %#$@& THING!!!
Ah…ah…ah…don’t you give me that look, mister! This is for your own good!
No, I’m not going to ground you…but I have NO IDEA what Coach, er, GM, er..ah, WHATEVER….no idea what Don is going to do with you. I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts you in a BIG TIME-OUT while that Moose boy plays Saturday! Me? I’d put your butt back out there and MAKE YOU WORK YOUR WAY BACK INTO MY GOOD GRACES!!! But that’s just me!
Anyway…I’m finished here. Now, you just sit there and think about what we have discussed. Oh, and let’s keep the Lil’ Jon down to a minimum volume, OK?
Trade Rumors? I Got Your Trade Rumors
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s just after the NHL All Star game and before the trade deadline. Ah yes, ‘tis the season to fire up the ‘ol NHL trade rumor mill! Now, I know we are all glued to our computer screens awaiting the announcement of the Hossa deal that would send him to Ottawa or Pittsburgh or Nashville or Montreal or Anaheim or the Islanders or Dallas or Kitchener, Ontario… and it could come at any time now. But there are a plethora of other rumored deals that are being not so subtly bantered about the cyber world as well.
So, seeing that names and deals are being dangled out there like a Michael Jackson baby and credible sources are as sparse as stray cats near a Chinese restaurant, let’s delve into the practice of trade rumors ourselves, shall we?
Keep in mind what you’re paying for this service and the fact that I, or you, will probably wind up as close to anything as anyone else.
Rob Blake: The L.A. Kings are said to be shopping the 38-year-old defender as a rental to a contending team. He’s got 5 goals and 26 points on the season. He is 6’-4” and is currently tied for 17th in assists for defensemen. This might be worth a future pick or two.
If your thinking about this as a possible Thrasher pick-up…look at it like this going into a playoff run…I present you with Klee, Zhitnik and Blake. Pick two.
Brian Campbell: The Buffalo Sabres are in the same pickle with this defender as the Thrashers are with Marian Hossa. The 28-year-old Strathroy, Ontario native has amassed 4 goals and 31 assists so far this season, is a +1 and puts in 25:16 TOI. He also has only 6 PIM…what, no stupid penalties?
If a Hossa/Heatley-type sign and trade deal could be worked out between the two clubs, we could swap the two…put Campbell’s defensive prowess on the blue line and replace Hossa with Stuart or Little.
But, nah…we are just fine on defense.
Peter Forsberg: It has been reported that the Detroit Red Wings were interested in Forsberg’s services. However, they were rejected quicker then I was by Debbie Hesslefielder in the 11th grade, (and with a lot less condescension and laughter, I might add). I know it seems odd… I mean, a team like the Wings? Who wouldn’t want to play for them?
Well, my unnamed source tells me that Peter explained his decision by saying, “Well, yeah…I mean Detroit is a great team and all. But I’ve heard about this whack-job from near-by Livonia who feels the need to chase the team bus and stalk the players as they leave the practice arena. If you let him get too close he has a tendency to drool on his team idols. I’m too old to deal with that %$#&”! …Good point.
OK, now you give it a try…
Big, Fat, Super Letdown Tuesday
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Let the record state that Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee were not the only ones who left the state of Georgia winners. The Philadelphia Flyers came to town and turned this night into Big, Fat, Super Letdown Tuesday. It was the ninth consecutive win for the Flyers over the Thrashers.
The 3-2 loss to the Philly wasted another strong effort by Kari Lehtonen as he turned back 33 of 36 shots including a shorthanded breakaway attempt by Mike Richards with 8:20 left in the third that kept the score at 2-2 at that point. In his 3 starts since the All Star break, Kari has faced 102 shots letting in just 4 for a .961 SV% during that time.
Just as voters massed at the polls Tuesday, Flyer forwards flocked to the front of Atlanta’s goal, launching 16 shots. Lehtonen let in only a power play goal to keep the Thrashers in the game at the first break.
As well as Kari played, Philly keeper Antero Nittymaki was just that much better. He came into Atlanta with a 7-0-0 record against the Thrashers sporting a 1.58 GAA and .947 SV%. Eric Perrin probably checked his locker after the game to see if Nittymaki had his watch and wallet because he robbed him twice on the ice. Once on a quick backhand in the second and then again on a wrister from the slot with 6:10 left in the third. He finished the game by denying Marian Hossa’s attempt on the far post with just seconds left to play.
The good news out of Tuesday is that Ilya Kovalchuk was successful in his campaign to convince team doctors and Don Waddell that he was healthy enough to play after a two game absence. He contributed a goal on three shots in 19:37 worth of ice time.
The Thrashers gave Philadelphia seven power play chances and were burned on two of them. When you give a team like that as many opportunities on the man advantage, your begging for bad things to happen.
Fortunately, the Nashville Predators gave the Thrashers a bit of support by beating the Carolina Hurricanes 1-0 in Tennessee. Combine that with Washington’s 4-3 OT win in Columbus and Florida’s building of a snowman in Toronto and you find quite the log jam at the top of the Southeast as one point separates all four of those teams…Washington and the Panthers with games in hand.
In fact, the Caps have a chance to leap frog over both Atlanta and Carolina tonight when they play these same Flyers in Philadelphia.
So, much like the way the Presidential campagns are going…this thing could see four contestants battling to the very end…the very bloody, messy, nasty end.
Let’s just hope that in the end it’s a Fat Tuesday-like party that will be going on in Blueland.
Flying “P”s & Power Rankings
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Visualize Whirled “P”s
As the Thrasher face the Flyers tomorrow night at Philips, they will be attempting to sail into unchartered waters. Not once this season have they risen to two games above .500. Yet Atlanta is tied with the Hurricanes for first place in the Southeast Division and could move into sole possession of the lead depending on how the Canes fair against Nashville.
But it’s not going to be easy. The Atlantic Division-leading Flyers are 7-2-1 in their past 10, boast the league’s second most effective power play, (24.7%), and are 3rd in G/G with 3.26.
The Thrashers have done well since returning from the All Star break and have been lucky that no one has yet to take charge in the division. But with Carolina being a factor to the end and Washington playing well, good fortune will not advance Atlanta to the SE crown. Hard work and solid play night in and night out will.
Hossa Rumor Mill Crankin’ Up
While the team continues to fight for the division lead, they are also certainly dealing with the Hossa trade rumors that are flying around. Personally, I still think it’s 50-50 if he is dealt or signs in the next couple of weeks. I’ll just reiterate my thought that if he is, indeed, traded that we get players in return that can help address the defensive/center concerns of our teams.
As I have said before, if the trade signals throwing in the towel on this season, rather than bolstering our team to push into the playoffs, it would be a disaster.
Rawhide’s Power Rankings
Now, with that in mind, let’s re-examine Rawhide’s Power Rankings and see how the Thrashers rate with the rest of the league. (For comparison, here is last month’s RPR).
- Detroit Red Wings - NHL best 2.02 GA/G, NHL best 34.6 S/G, NHL best 23.6 SA/G…NHL best period…(unless playing the Thrashers).
- Ottawa Senators - They are 3-7 since Heatley separated his shoulder in Detroit.
- Montreal Canadiens - A win vs. Ottawa could bring them to within 1 of the Sens.
- San Jose Sharks - Won’t let Dallas pull away in the West.
- Philadelphia Flyers - 3.26 G/G, 7-2-1 in last ten.
- Dallas Stars - Lead in West due to playing 4 more than SJ so far.
- Minnesota Wild - Starting to take charge in Northwest.
- Pittsburgh Penguins - Holding their own during Crosby’s absence.
- New Jersey Devils - Given up Eastern Conference low 125 goals.
- Calgary Flames - 13-9-7 at home, 13-9-1 away. That’s balance.
- Colorado Avalanche - 18-8-1 against visiting teams in the Mile High City
- Boston Bruins - Righted the ship after a near collapse prior to the New Year.
- Nashville Predators - 6-2-2 in past 10 have them back in playoff contention.
- Vancouver Canucks - Fallen on hard times, but undefeated leading after 2nd.
- Phoenix Coyotes - .500 at home but 16-11-1 on the road to stay in the mix.
- Anaheim Ducks - On pace for 89 points after last year’s 110.
- New York Rangers - Down 3-0 to Montreal but rally for 5-3 win on Sunday.
- Atlanta Thrashers - 1.68 GAA in last 4 games. Good way to start playoff push.
- Carolina Hurricanes - 4-6-0 in last 10 but are ready for a scrap in the southeast.
- Washington Capitals - Ovechkin and Co. are surging, but need help on defense.
- New York Islanders - Could finish last in Atlantic but still make playoffs.
- Columbus Blue Jackets - Terribly average team, but Nash could carry them in.
- St. Louis Blues - 2-6-2 in past 10. Get the fork ready ‘cuz they could be done.
- Buffalo Sabres - Think they could use Briere’s 20 goals and 50 points right now?
- Florida Panthers - Hanging in there but not enough offense.
- Chicago Blackhawks - Strong start in the season failed to maintain momentum.
- Edmonton Oilers - Unfortunately they have 4 teams over .500 in their division.
- Toronto Maple Leafs - Hockey Mecca will be left out again come playoffs.
- Tampa Bay - Tortorella is still coaching in Tampa?
- Los Angeles Kings - They seem to be very comfortable in this spot.