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Sunday, November 2, 2008
Kovy & Co. Cruise By Cats
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No victory comes at a bad time. But the 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers really couldn’t have come at a better point during the Atlanta Thrashers’ schedule. Had they not been victorious Sunday, the Thrashers would have been riding a seven game losing streak with three days before the next game. That is a lot of time in between games to allow a losing streak to affect one’s psyche.
Instead, the hometown ice combatants will be able to utilize the next several days to find ways to build off a big win as they prepare for games later this week against the Islanders and Sabres.
Last season the Panthers were 3-0-1 in Atlanta. Prior to last season, the Thrashers owned Florida at home. So much so that Philips Arena and Chinese restaurants were similar in that they were both places to be avoided by Cats.
Ilya Kovalchuk led the charge for Atlanta, netting a pair of goals and assisting on Bryan Little’s breakaway tally…a goal that made the score 4-2 with three minutes remaining in the second. This was the type of game we’ve been waiting for from Kovy this season and…like the win it’s self…could not have come at a better time for his team.
Equally impressive was his “non-goal” late in the game. After Todd White lifted the puck out of the defensive zone toward the Florida goal which had been vacated in lieu of an extra attacker, Kovy chose to simply run interference on a Panther defender…allowing the puck to continue into the net…instead of tapping it in for the hat trick.
Slava Kozlov continued his outstanding play, scoring his third goal in as many games. Unlike Saturday night’s consolation tally toward the end of a 6-1 route in New Jersey, he allowed himself a celebratory fist-pump after putting his team up 1-0 with only nine seconds remaining in the first. Kozzy now has 6 goals and nine points on the season.
Erik Christensen had a multi-point game with two assists.
In many ways, Sunday’s game was the first time the Thrashers have put together three solid periods in a game. Of course the score indicates such…but the stats tell the story even more. First off, Atlanta outshot Florida 31-21…taking 15 SOG in the first period and holding the Panthers to but 4 in the first and 6 in the third. Once on the scoreboard, Atlanta never allowed Florida to even tie the score.
Yes, you read that right…the Thrashers defense held an opponent to only 21 shots during the entire 60 minutes. This came as a very big help for young Ondrej Pavelec who was making his first start for the Thrashers after being called up to the team just the day prior. Kari Lehtonen, who has been “under the weather” the past couple of days, would consider a game in which he had to faced only 21 shots almost like a vacation.
Now, if we want to start pickin’ at nits here…we could point out that 18 saves on 21 shots is only a .857 SV%. Even considering Saturday night’s 6 saves on 6 SOG performance, Pavelec’s overall SV% is still only .889…but the fact of the matter is that Opie is 1-0-0 and that’s the line that matters most.
The big question now for John Anderson is…assuming Kari is “over” the weather later this week…do we see Pavs return to the Wolves or will he want to see if the kid can handle another start or two at this level?
Given Mike Knobler’s write-up on Sunday’s game…the fact that Pavelec will need to do some clothes shopping Monday indicates he may just be hanging around here for a little while.
Other Odds And Ends
After twelve games, Atlanta has found most of its success from inside the Southeast Division. The Thrashers are now 2-0-2 versus division rivals and 1-7-0 outside the Southeast. To that point, 16 of the 31 goals the Thrashers have scored have come during those four divisional match ups.
Too bad the NHL reduced the amount of intra-divisional games this season down to six from eight, eh?
Also, in the six games played during the three back-to-back sets played so far, the Thrashers are 2-3-1 and 1-1-1 on the back end of those sets. Five of the eight points gained in the standings have been won during those back-to-backers.
Not exactly blockbuster numbers…but much better than those from last year.
While Little and Kozlov share the team lead in goals with six each…the overall points leader is none other than Todd White. He has netted 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 total points.
Charmin continues to be…on a roll.
And Finally
I think I found something in the world of sports that was just as ugly as they way the Thrashers played last week…maybe even uglier. Have a look at this golf swing.
At least it was for charity.
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