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DEL.ICIO.USKovy, Penguins, Wolves and Rule of 33
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Kovy Comes Through vs. Canada
Ilya Kovalchuk only scored two goals for Russia in this year’s IIHF World Championship. But those turned out to be the two that decided the outcome of the tournament as Kovy and his Russian comrades defeated Canada 5-4 in overtime Sunday.
Kovalchuk scored the game-tying goal with about five minutes remaining in the third period. He then won the game and the gold for Russia 2:42 into the overtime period.
Despite the loss, former Thrasher teammate and current Ottawa Senator Danny Heatley was named the MVP of the tournament and top forward. Heater finished with 12 goals and 8 assists. The goal mark set a new record for the World Championships, besting Eric Lindros’ 11 set in 1993. The 20 points tied Steve Yzerman’s from 1990.
Kovalchuk returned to the lineup after serving a one game suspension for a match misconduct incurred during the quarterfinal game against Switzerland.
March Of The Penguins
Sunday the Pittsburgh Penguins spanked the Philadelphia Flyers 6-0 to take the Eastern Conference Finals four games to one. The Pens will skate into the Stanley Cup Finals with a post-season record of 12-2.
Former Thrasher Marian Hossa finished the game with a goal and three assists. For the playoffs the former Thrashers winger has nine goals and 19 points.
So much for the “MIA during the playoffs” bug-a-boo for Hossa.
Pascal Dupuis also scored a goal for the Penguins Sunday, his second of the playoffs to go with four assists.
Marc-Andre Fleury stopped all 21 shots he faced to earn his third shutout of the post-season.
Wolves On The Attack
Meanwhile, in Chicago…the Wolves have taken the first two games of the AHL’s Western Conference Finals, thanks greatly to a few players that have seen time in Thrashers uniforms.
Game one played on Friday night saw Chicago defeat the Marlies 4-1 behind Jason Krog’s hat trick. Krog, the AHL’s leading scorer, assisted on Darrin Haydar’s goal that opened the scoring then tallied the last 3 scored by Chicago himself. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 26 of 27 shots.
Sunday’s game two wasn’t even that close as Chicago pounded Toronto 5-0. Krog was again instrumental as he notched 2 and added a helper. Joel Kwiatkowski chimed in with a goal and an assist, Haydar had 2 assists and Bryan Little got in on the fun with a goal himself. Opie stopped all 24 shots taken on him by the Marlies.
Game three is on Tuesday in Toronto.
The Rule Of 33
Are we about to witness something in the NHL playoffs so uncommon that it happens only once every two generations or so? What I am referring to is the so called “Rule of 33”. Only twice in the history of the league has a team blown a three games to none lead in a best of seven series.
The first time it happened was during WWII, in the 1942 Stanley Cup Finals. The Detroit Red Wings built up the seemingly insurmountable lead on Toronto only to see the Maple Leafs storm back and win four straights to hoist the cup.
Fast forward to the days of disco music, bell-bottoms and leisure suits in 1975 and you find the second time it happened. The New York Islanders spotted the Pittsburgh Penguins a 3-0 series lead in a playoff series match-up and then pulled the rug out from under them in the same fashion Toronto did to the Wings thirty-three years prior.
Now, 1975 plus an additional 33 years will land you in…well, today… 2008. And here we find the Detroit Red Wings and Dallas Stars. The Wings built up the three game lead required for the “rule” to take effect and the Stars have followed it up by winning the next two. Game six is now set for Monday night in Dallas.
To find out why the Stars have bounced back, look no further than Marty Turco. In game four he stopped 33 of the 34 shots Detroit took in a 3-1 Dallas win. He bettered that performance with a 38 save outing to help Dallas take game five by a 2-1 score.
After Detroit was able to net 11 goals in the first three games, Turco is now stonewalling the high-powered Red Wing attack and giving his team a chance to win. And that is allowing the “rule” to possibly make yet another showing in the NHL playoffs after waiting the required 33 years.
So, is there something to this whole “Rule of 33” thingy? I dunno, but just this last week I witnesses LAC and GaVaHokie agree 100% on something, (bringing in John Anderson to coach and Dave Nonis to general manage the Thrashers). So, if these two can find some common ground on a given subject…something that some may see as a precursor to the Apocalypse… then surely just about anything is indeed possible.
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By PJ
May 18, 2008 7:28 PM | Link to this
First???
By PJ
May 18, 2008 7:42 PM | Link to this
Rawhide I read somewhere that Kiwi and Krog signed with a Russian League - Looks like they are leaving on a high note……
By LL
May 18, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
You can get all the links to watch all the Canada/Russia game over at Thrashers 411 I am personally happy for Pittsburgh. All the guys who played this season deserve the glory with the exception of Hossa. If Hossa had put his whole hearted effort into the entire season no matter where he was playing then he would deserve it. But considering he slacked until after he was traded IMHO he does not deserve to have his name on the cup or to lift the cup over his head. I would say that about any player who played the way he did this season.
Congrats to the Wolves. Nice to see our boys doing so well. I look forward to seeing these guys at camp this summer.
By Gary Zahara
May 18, 2008 9:03 PM | Link to this
Bill-
If you are going to write for a newspaper, you have to do your homework and fact checking. The Wolves aren’t in the finals, they are in the conference finals. That’s a pretty big slip up buddy!
By Rawhide
May 18, 2008 10:05 PM | Link to this
Gary - Yup…that is correct…the Western Finals.
Thanks, apologies…and the post has been updated.
By Wings fan in Ga.
May 18, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
The Rule of 33…congrats, you watched the NBC coverage of the game today. Do you think you should give credit to NBC instead of taking the credit for yourself?
By dlh562
May 18, 2008 10:27 PM | Link to this
When was the last time 3 Thrashers were on the front page of the ESPN hockey coverage! Awesome! Oh crap, only one of them is still a Thrasher(for now). We all should be pulling for Pascal. He works hard whenever he’s on the ice. We should pull for Illya too when he gets to go to a franchise that goes for the prize.
By dlh562
May 18, 2008 10:37 PM | Link to this
Hossa is going to look good in a Toronto, Montreal, or Ottowa uniform. He’s getting what he wanted all along. A big pay day. Then he’ll do what he did for us- mail it in.
By Rawhide
May 18, 2008 10:42 PM | Link to this
Actually, Wings Fan, I spent the better part of this afternoon finishing up the pressure washing of the back deck…this evening I watched a recording of the game.
The “revelation” of the 33 year gap between blown 3-0 series lead was known to a lot of hockey fans prior to today’s game. In fact, I believe some have even commented about it on this or CC’s blog earlier on.
dlh562 - Agree with you 100% about Dupuis. And I sure hope you’re wrong about Kovy being on another team in a few seasons.
But, what happens this summer will go a long way to determining whether or not that happens.
By Brendan
May 18, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this
In my picks, I took Dallas and Pittsburgh. I’m 9-4 right now. And if Detroit closes out Dallas, I’ll slip to 9-5. I’m battling the “coin flip picks.” The Coin had Philly and Detroit. The coin is 8-5. It looks as if we’ll split and both be 9-5 heading into the Finals. Of course, I have no objections to Dallas winning the series, making me 10-4.
Congrats to the Penguins. Until they made the trade with Atlanta, they had seven “home grown” 1st round picks in their roster. Of course, Hossa is, himself, a 1st round pick. I notice Crosby didn’t touch the Prince of Wales Trophy. There really isn’t any advantage or disadvantage to touching either the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl (Western Conference Championship) or Prince of Wales Tropy (Eastern Conferenece Champions).
In 2003, Pittsburgh traded up to select Marc-Andre Fleury with the 1st overall pick. In 2004, they got Malkin at #2 overall. In 2005, the Penguins won the Sidney Crosby sweepstakes, with yet another 1st overall pick. In 2006, the Pens selected Jordan Staal with the 2nd overall pick.
Hmmn, sound familiar? How so?? Two 1st overall picks and two 2nd overall picks are PRECISELY what Atlanta had when it was “building” its franchise (‘99, ‘00, ‘01, ‘02). Same order, too!! 1st, 2nd, 1st, 2nd. Our picks were Patrik Stefan, Dany Heatley, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Kari Lehtonen.
In the 5th season of the “building” process, Atlanta missed the playoffs, with a record of 33-37-8-4, for 78-points. Of course, this is the season immediately following the “Dan Snyder tragedy.” But even if it never happened, was Atlanta anywhere near ready to make the trip to the Cup Finals, as the #2 seed, in the 2003-04 season?
Can we compare Kovalchuk to Crosby? Can we compare Heatley to Malkin? Can we compare Lehonton to Fleury? And can we compare Stefan to J. Staal?
Can we compare the Head Coaches, Curt Fraser/Bob Hartley to Ed Olcyk/Michel Therrien? Can we compare the General Managers, Don Waddell to Craig Patrick/Ray Shero? Can we compare the Atlanta Spirit, LLC ownership to the Mario Lemeiux, LP ownership? I leave that to you to decide.
By LAC
May 19, 2008 1:15 AM | Link to this
Brenden… When you look at Mario and Shero, you see Class and two guys who want and know how TO WIN !
When you look at the shot in the Thrashers section, you see to out of their league GOOF-BALLS who are as STUPID as they day is long, I mean STUPID… STUPID !
Then waddell, I have seen smarter animals at the ZOO than that idiot.
It just kills me and I know a lot of others too, to see how many of our FORMER players are producing and ENJOYING being out of Atlanta.
No NHL player who really wants to win would ever come here. Why ???
A team run by thumb sucking liars who cannot likely dress themselves in the morning and a GM who is as out of touch with NHL hockey as one could ever be, hell you could get one of the ushers and he/she would be heads and shoulders above LOSER waddell !
So… We have 3 players say the franchise is NOT heading in the right direction and a LOT OF FANS.
But the ever stupid Mr.Potty Mouth, a man with NO GUTS, says we are heading in the right direction BS !
Why no coach ? Why no NEW GM ?
You have Wilson & Nonis sitting out there waiting for a chance and a challenge, the Thrashers would be a great challenge to turn around… But NO these LIARS are off somehwere sucking their thumbs and hoping nobody will say more bad things about them.
Well guys, Listen up, You are all Liars and Losers, the Thrashers & Hawks will NEVER contend for a championship as long as you idiots run the show, too cheap, and to afraid to dump the man responsible for the entire mess one don “STUPID” waddell !
Get out of the sports business asg, sell out to a Winner like in Pittsburgh, it would be very refreshing to have players want to come here and play for a winner, but never in my lifetime with you clowns in control, or should I say… OUT OF CONTROL !
By GaVaHokie
May 19, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this
It took Pittsburgh 16 years, five Top 5 draft picks since 2000, one of which being the second coming of Gretzky in Crosby and a deadline deal to pick up Hossa to make it to a Stanley Cup final.
… these things take time.
By Bob
May 19, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
2 years ago the Penguins were the worst team in the Eastern Conference and it looked like Balsillie was going to be able to take the franchise and move it to Canada.
2 years ago the Penguins had the worst defense in hockey.
New GM and new coach install the right players and a good system and voila, these things don’t take time at all
By GaVaHokie
May 19, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this
New GM and new coach install the right players and a good system and voila, these things don’t take time at all
It’s easy when you win the Sidney Crosby lottery and sellout your arena. There’s no way this team is in the same position financially or competitively without Crosby.
By GaVaHokie
May 19, 2008 11:09 AM | Link to this
Oh… and it’s also easy when Crosby is only making $850,000. Your second best player, Malkin, is making $984,000.
Let’s see how this team does when we add another “0” to those numbers and sign an extension with Fleury and Staal. Not to mention their UFA picture.
They better win, or they could be looking at this year as the “Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda” year for a long time… like Buffalo last year.
By Brendan
May 19, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this
As Craig Custance pointed out, why not go after Orpik and Malone? We could do WORSE!! Look at all the former Pens we’ve got as it is. Erik Christensen, Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito, Johan Hedberg, Chris Thorburn, and Mark Recchi. It’s like we’re “Pittsburgh Light,” as opposed to the full calories and carbs. Pretty soon, the Penguins will be able to field the entire Atlanta roster with its “castoffs.”
At this point, it’s just a matter of Ray Shero earning his paycheck. He’s principally charged with maintaining the roster. So, he’s got to sit down and make out a list of priorities over who stays, who goes, and who’ll fetch draft picks and players in trades. How well Shero does on implementing that strategy will define him as a GM in this league.
Also, he’s got several UFAs and RFA coming up in 2009 that are eligible to be re-signed on July 1st, per the terms of the CBA. Continuity of roster is important to all teams, not just Pittsburgh. In that regard, Shero has to manage not only this Summer’s roster for next season, but the 2009-10 roster, as well. His “inaction” to address the 2009-10 season could cost him dearly. The price will only get higher. Locking up a player a year AHEAD of schedule sends a message to the players, to the fans, and to the rest of the league about how serious Pittsburgh is about being called a “dynasty.” The pieces are in place for them. And the ownership is quite committed to winning Cups. Let’s see what they do. But know this, also. Some players that ought to be kept will leave Pittsburgh. There are various reasons for this. The player could make more money elsewhere. The player could get more ice time/better development elsewhere. The player may have his heart set on playing in another market. Or, quite possibly, the cap limit has been met and there’s just no more room for the player’s salary. Etc.
By Bob
May 19, 2008 12:43 PM | Link to this
The Penguins arena and their deal on it is awful and even though they sell out, they lose money big time. It’s why the franchise was going to have to move without the deal they got for a future new arena.
Plug Kovy in for Crosby, plug Heatley/Hossa in for Malkin, plug Lehtonen in for Fleury, plug Stefan in for Staal (oops). Waddell has had every pick they’ve had. The difference? They brought in a new GM who brought the right added pieces and the right coach to mix the batter. We have Waddell (oops).
By GaVaHokie
May 19, 2008 12:45 PM | Link to this
Brendan… we could be the “second chance” Penguins, so when they lose to Detroit in the Final and can’t field the same team next year, we can take some of the supporting cast and give them a second run at it. :)
I like Malone and Orpik as well. They’ll be highly coveted this summer.
By Bob
May 19, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this
Forgot, they have Hossa too (oops)
By Brendan
May 19, 2008 1:02 PM | Link to this
It’s ‘fine by me’ if Atlanta raids Pittsburgh’s roster, Hokie. We’ve got to do something. Of course, silly me would still like to actually “attempt” to use the draft talent in Chicago to rebuild the franchise. But then, we lose Ilya. He won’t hear of rebuilding … AGAIN. But if Ilya’s already gone, then what GOOD would trying to appease him do? Ilya Kovalchuk is not stupid. He understands the financial picture in Atlanta.
What would you do, if you were a Tier I SUPERSTAR SNIPER who wanted to work for an NHL team committed to spending at or near the Cap every year, in a legitimate attempt to win the Cup on an annual basis? Would you choose the Atlanta market for that purpose? If you said, “no,” then don’t get angry at #17. Who failed who? Did Kovalchuk only put up 20-goal campaigns, as a 1st overall pick? Or has he got four (4) 40-goal or more seasons, and counting ….
Ilya Kovalchuk is celebrating a World Championship for his country. He scored the game-tying and game-winning goals, to secure the Championship. With the winning tally coming in Overtime. I’m sure that was a “rush” for Ilya—and he’ll only want more of that in the years to come. Ilya Kovalchuk looks at the Atlanta Spirit, LLC, and sees an ownership group that cannot even figure out that, after finishing in the bottom third of the Conference seven times in eight seasons (7/8), it needs to make a change at the GM position. As disappointing as it might be to Thrasher fans, try to see his side of things. Any team in this league would want Kovalchuk. In 2010, Kovalchuk gets the “right to choose” his next team. He’s fulfilled his obligations from Draft Day 2001. He did the best he could for this franchise. He didn’t fail the franchise. The franchise failed him. Two 1st overall picks. Two 2nd overall picks. Two 8th overall picks. A 10th overall and a 12th overall pick. It is what it is.
By GaVaHokie
May 19, 2008 1:29 PM | Link to this
Bob… I think the “Woulda Coulda Shoulda” year for the Thrashers was 2005-06.
We missed the playoffs by 2 points that year.
That was the year of the 5 goalie rotation. Let’s take a look at the Roster shall we.
Modry and DeVries don’t look so bad when you compare them to this year’s defensive contribution.
By Bob
May 19, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this
Brendan, I have little doubt that if Waddell is still here, Kovy is gone, just like Hoss. And I would not blame him one bit.
By Brendan
May 19, 2008 2:12 PM | Link to this
Nor would I, Bob. Ilya has to do what’s best for him. The GM has to do what’s best for the franchise.
Waddell was twice been in this position before. With Dany Heatley, the words “trade” and “doing what’s best for the franchise” didn’t seem to mesh. But it was a different “type” of situation. With Hossa, it was truly a failure on the part of the organization to manage its assets properly. The “Heatley substitute” simply cannot walk out the door. So, the franchise engaged in an “asset salvaging mission.” The results of which are that Angelo Esposito, Erik Christenson, and Colby Armstrong are members of the Atlanta Thrashers organization, along with a 29th or 30th overall pick.
Bob, can Kovalchuk “reasonably” be expected to state that if Waddell isn’t fired, he’s leaving? Let me answer that one. He can’t. If Kovalchuk actually did that, it’d label him in a manner that he wouldn’t be able to shake off in later years. He’s got to politely remain quiet about the GM situation. How he “feels” about it will become ABUNDANTLY CLEAR on the day he refuses to re-sign with the franchise.
Some people SEE THIS. And some people, like the ownership, do not. If only the NHL would step in and run the franchise for the ASG, while try to settle their dispute with Belkin.
By NASCAR Dave
May 19, 2008 6:30 PM | Link to this
Don FRAUDell been FIRED yet???
Is he DONE Waddell yet???
Has our Goalie been re-signed yet???
Do we have a COACH yet???
Where is our new GM??? Why is he not here yet???
Do we have a direction yet???
WTF is going on with ATLANTA STUPID GROUP???
NUFF SAID.
By HookyBob
May 19, 2008 6:44 PM | Link to this
Bob and Hokie: I think we should also look at the Flyers when discussing turn-around time.
Unfortunately,..I see two differences between that franchise and the Thrashers,…1) Ownership was willing to open the checkbook,…and; 2) The Flyers had a GM named Waddell to “fleece” in player trades. (It is not unreasonable to think of the Flyers advancing to the finals had they had Gagne, Timonen, and Coburn remained healthy.)
Come to think of it,…the Penguins also opened the checkbook,…and made a deal with Waddell. It’s coming together now.
Both the Pens and Flyers are proof you can go from worst to deep into the play-offs in a year or two…if you have committed ownership and wise mgmt.
Rawhide Great job on your blogs. We appreciate you more than you know.
By Bob
May 19, 2008 8:34 PM | Link to this
Both the Pens and Flyers are proof you can go from worst to deep into the play-offs in a year or two…if you have committed ownership and wise mgmt.
…and Don Waddell to fleece! lol. so sad, so sad. But it heartens me to know that a new GM can come in and turn things around, if he’s given autonomy (read here, no Don Waddell calling shots) and the ammunition from the owners to go make the right deals.
By Wings fan in Ga.
May 19, 2008 10:44 PM | Link to this
Four more wins.
By Russ
May 19, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
OK - I’m an awful 8-6 so far in the playoffs, but I might as well finish off my predictions.
Wings over Penguins in 5.
By Sage of Bluesland
May 19, 2008 11:02 PM | Link to this
Think of this: During the Thrashers existence, we’ve seen teams like Buffalo and Pittsburgh go from being better than us (being an expansion club, it’s understandable)…
To being worse than us…
Back full circle to being better than us.
My point? During the Don Waddell-life cycle of his ten-year-Five-Year-Plan of one playoff appearance, we’ve witnessed sheer incompetence at its worst.
Like empires, some have been on top—and have subsequently fallen and risen again while we continue to gush over the bumbling lisper’s words of ‘moving in the right direction’ and being ‘only a player away’…
I’ll end with this: The pitiful SHEEP deserve—yes, they actually deserve—what they are getting for continuing to subsidize this incompetence…
By HookyBob
May 19, 2008 11:15 PM | Link to this
Darren Elliot on SI.com mentions that Hossa had an “early season malady.” Can anyone tell me what it was?
By Brendan
May 19, 2008 11:47 PM | Link to this
Okay, it’s “official.” It’s Pittsburgh vs. Detroit. And neither team touched their Conference Championship Trophy.
So?
Good question! I’d like to know, too! By NOT TOUCHING THE TROPHY this means WHAT EXACTLY to the “superstitious?” They can’t BOTH WIN? They can’t BOTH LOSE?
The truth I believe it that it holds no relevance. We’ve seen teams touch the Campbell Bowl and Prince of Wales Trophy … and win. And we’ve seen them touch the trophies and lose. We’ve seen teams NOT TOUCH them and still lose. It comes down to this: The team that best executes on their opportunities will win. It has nothing to do with how the teams choose to celebrate, or not celebrate, their Conference Championships.
I hope Americans across the country will actually take the time to watch these Finals. They just might be some of the best we’ve ever seen. I see this series as a “pick’em” type. Pittsburgh’s younger and faster, with several budding, and not-so-budding, SUPERSTARS who are trying to cement their legacies. Like who? Like Crosby. And Malkin. And Hossa. And Staal. Maybe even Fleury, Malone and Whitney.
The Red Wings were the best defensive team in the league. Generally speaking, defense wins championships in hockey. Detroit won the President’s Trophy. About 20% of the time, the President’s Trophy winner goes on to win the Cup. Detroit has accomplished that feat before, in 2002. Chris Osgood has won a Cup for Detroit in the past, in 1998. The Red Wings have fantastic players like Zetterberg, Datsyuk, Lidstrom, and maybe the “red hot” Johan Franzen will return? I hope it goes all seven games. Lord knows, they’ll have nearly 20 days to play them. Game Seven could be played on June 7th.
The draft will be June 20-21. There’s still time for Atlanta to find a new GM, who can in turn can hire a new head coach.
By Tony C.
May 19, 2008 11:51 PM | Link to this
Howabout this then: Maid Marian except in contract years-then he’s half-a-year Hoss.
By ranallo10
May 20, 2008 2:40 AM | Link to this
Brendan — It’s a superstitious “tradition” done because by celebrating the Conference Championship trophy the players feel they’ve internally resigned themselves to settling for THAT trophy (and not the more important one upcoming).
The entire superstician is no more worthy mentioning than socks inside out, playoff beards, unwashed jock straps, etc…yet this is your second time posting about it. What gives?
Tony C. — I’ll take “Maid Marian” over 90% of the players in the NHL…I can’t complain about .80-1.0 points per game in the playoffs. If it’s a contract year, it’s 6.0 points per game apparently, so maybe I’d sign him to a one year contract continuously.
Russ — I was WAY off with my prediction, but mine were based on emotion (I didn’t want Philadelphia, NY, Montreal or Pittsburgh to advance past the first…yet they did). My Cup winner is still in it (Detroit), but that’s all I’ve got to hang my hat on.
By Bob
May 20, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this
It pains me to say, but I have to take Detroit over the Pens in 6 games.
I will certainly be rooting for the Pens, however.
Tony, still with the “Maid Marian”. Dude, that was a falacy from the get go. I first started watching him when in the playoffs for the Sens. He was the same player, the whole Sens teams just ran into some hot goalies. Look at everyone’s performance on those Sens’ clubs. None of them put up points. Sometimes that just happens, but he’s always been a heck of a player (except for this year when he was disgusted and just wanted out of here, which I don’t blame him one bit for).
By kracker
May 20, 2008 10:20 AM | Link to this
RE Hossa’s early season malady (actually it lasted until the trade deadline, IMO): Good luck to him, I suppose. However, I can’t get the stench of him out of my mouth now, what with comparing the huge effort he has played with since leaving the Thrashers to the half-hearted effort he gave here this year - except when auditioning for a trade deal, such as the Wings game.
By Midfield
May 20, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this
I have to give it to Kovy: he has a knack for sticking it up (remember the infamous finger pointed at the untouchable?) Almost single-handedly taking down Heatley and Canada on their own turf, having spent most of the tournament clobbering people and serving suspensions? I bet he won’t get any half decent media coverage north of the border for a while now.