After Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to the Red Wings, the Thrashers are now one win out of four so far this preseason. Two more games this weekend and then they’ll lace ‘em up for real next Friday. Here are a few quick shots in regards to the game and the preseason thus far…

First, the bad news…in going 1-3, the team has been outscored 19-9 and outshot 146-90.

The good news…they’re already in mid-season form!

Thank youuuu….please, be kind to the waitress.

OK, that was probably unfair given that these are merely preseason stats and so much of it has to be taken for what it’s worth. But next week they begin to play for keeps, we won’t have that “but its just preseason” line to fall back on.

About the game last night…well, I didn’t think the Thrashers played too terrible bad. Actually, pretty good during some points. We got beat on two power play goals, both by Mikael Samuelsson, an empty netter and a play in which the Ice Gremlins apparently reached up and grabbed Tobias Enstrom’s skates causing him to tumble. Then, the same gremlins grabbed Kari Lehtonen’s stick while he attempted to clear the puck from the corner causing the puck to instead bounce off Henrik Zetterberg’s stick into an empty goal.

Hey…that’s how I saw it from section 110.

Honestly…one of the reason’s the Red Wings are…well, the Red Wings is because they take advantage of their opportunities. Three power play chances… two goals from them. Conversely, Atlanta had three power play opportunities that netted no goals. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt having the likes of Chris Osgood in the goal either… he of 25 saves on 26 shots.

Erik Christensen doesn’t seem to be showing any lingering effects from his injury last week. His solo-effort goal against Detroit was a beauty. If he continues to play like he did last night, he should keep the role of top-line center.

What concerns me most right now? Um…being outshot 36.5-22.5 does. So does a 72.0% effective penalty kill, (18-25). Putting those stats into perspective…last season Atlanta was outshot 33.9-25.8 on average and the worst PK in the league belonged to Los Angeles, 78.0%. I know…its just preseason.

However, I think I know why the shots for/shots against and goals deficits still resemble that of last season’s. Yup…seems I totally forgot to wash The Jersey over the summer. I hung it up after the last game and never took it out of the closet…still a lot of last year’s bad vibes and yeck all over it. This shall be rectified tonight. Cold water…gentle hand-wash cycle…alone, inside out…hung to dry with crest facing north towards the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. Gotta do these things right as to not upset the hockey gods, ya know.

A question was posed to me last night as I was leaving the arena that I’ll forward on to you…if there is only one roster spot to give to either Colin Stuart or Brett Sterling, you give it to…?

Me? I’d have to say…Stuart.

Don Waddell has indicated that Zach Bogosian will probably be suiting up in a Thrashers jersey when the season begins and not in the juniors. In this Mike Knobler piece, the general manager said, “I’d say it’s more heavily favored toward keeping him…I think we’d keep him because of Schneider”. Continuing, “As long as [Bogosian] can play in our group on a nightly basis, there’s no reason to send him down”.

Speaking of D-Dub…Forbes has ranked all of the general managers in professional sports. Look who is number 6 on the list.

Note: The Forbes ranking is from March 2007. Sorry, long night.

Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports has his season preview out. His final analysis for the Thrashers, “Look for the Thrashers to be better off than last year but still a step or two behind to reach the playoffs”. Uh-huh…that’s what I’ve been saying. I think it’ll translate to about 86 points.

Sara…red is NOT your color. Thrasher blue suits you so much better!

And finally…Hey Josh, Monique said to hurry home from Iowa. I, along with the rest of my gang, had the pleasure of meeting her at the game Wednesday night. She’s a great gal and I hope to see ya both next time.

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