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Monday, October 20, 2008
Little Upgrade Makes Big Difference
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Early on in this 2008-09 season, Bryan Little is providing a spark of energy that the Atlanta Thrashers have sorely needed for some time. While his four goals, six overall points and +5 leads the team… the amount of energy he injects into the course of action on each and every shift he works seems to be having an even greater impact on the team’s overall production.
As the season began, it just seemed inevitable that he would soon join Ilya Kovalchuk and Todd White on the top line. Two games in…he had made that jump and looks like he’s there for the foreseeable future.
His new line mates are already benefiting. After a total of five games played, the last three with Little, White is second on the team with five points…Kovy now with a pair of goals and assists for four points. But again, it’s not just the numbers…it’s the energy infused into the line that seems to be making a difference.
The first period of Saturday night’s 3-2 shootout victory over the previously unbeaten Buffalo Sabres is a prime example of what John Anderson was hoping for when he made this move last week. The top line was instrumental in the 19-shot barrage that fell upon the Sabres defense and goalie Patrick Lalime. When the first twenty minutes came to an end, Little and Kovalchuk had netted a goal apiece while White assisted on both. The pace of the game originated from…and fed off… this line. The skating was fast, the passing was crisp, the shots were on target and they poured into the attacking zone like the rushing waters over Niagara Falls.
When was the last time that could be said about a Thrashers O-fensive line?
If not for the outstanding play by Lalime the Thrashers’ top line trio alone could have easily doubled the two goals that were actually scored…in the first period alone.
As it were, Little, Kovy and White accounted for 8 of the 37 shots on goals and each finished a +2. Considering that seventeen shots came from the blueline, that leaves a total of 12 shots coming from the sticks of the lower three lines…an average of 4 per line.
But as I opined earlier, Little’s energy…his spark…goes far beyond statistics. It’s the type of stuff that acts like a power conduit to not only those he is skating with, but also to others as they take their shifts. Every time Little, Kovy and White take to the ice now, I’m expecting something to happen…sitting on the edge of my seat. I’m quite sure that those who make up the other three lines react much the same way.
It’s infectious.
You just gotta know that when the Perrins and Reasoners and Armstrongs and Christensens and Williams are coming off the bench…they are jazzed up and ready to keep the fire lit on the ice.
For evidence of this, look no further than the fact that the Thrashers are averaging 30.4 SOG so far, which is seventh best in the league. Last season, as you will recall, that number was a league-low 25.8.
Obviously, this helps out coach Anderson tremendously as well. He can now take comfort knowing that at least this line is clicking and he can focus more attention on the second and third line makeup…tweaking them if need be to find similar chemistry. Some of this has already taken place as Army and Crusher have been reunited on the second line with Kozlov. Jason Williams, who began the season up top with Kovy and White, has joined the third line with Reasoner and Perrin.
Also, as Mike Knobler is reporting, we could see Brett Sterling play into the mix depending on the health of Colby Armstrong.
So, good things are happing now as it relates to the O-fensive production of the team…and it’s starting from the top line down.
Now…if only some of that energy can just be transferred to the power play.
