AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > November > 23
Sunday, November 23, 2008
A Few Intemperate Thoughts
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A few random and somewhat intemperate thoughts on last night’s game and the state of affairs with Thrashers hockey in general.
The Columbus Blue Jackets came into Saturday night’s game against our Atlanta Thrashers with a Shots Against per Game average of right around 28. Atlanta was able to get off just over half that amount…fifteen…in the 2-0 loss. In case you were wondering…yes, that is a season low.
Breaking it down…that’s four shots in the first…five in the second…six in the third. I guess that could be considered as…moving in the right direction.
Folks, this wasn’t the Sharks or Red Wings we were playing here…it was a very average Columbus team that out-shot us 31-15.
The Blue Jackets blocked more shots, 16, than Atlanta got on net.
The CBJs almost matched Atlanta’s total in the second period alone, getting off 13 shots.
15 SOG is waaaayyyy too last-season-ish for my liking.
In 70% of the Thrashers regulation losses, they have actually managed to score goals.
I have a suggestion. If Rick Nash is on the ice it might just be a good idea to… oh, I don’t know…maybe keep an eye on him. I mean…could he have been any more open-er when he scored his goal?
If PJ had been out there on the ice…I guarantee you she would have been all over him!
If your looking for a bright spot…there is young Ondrej Pavelec who turned away 29 of the 30 shots that he faced including all of those 13 that were taken in the second period. Yup…Opie could have sued for non-support Saturday night.
Pavelec has stopped 57 of the 61 shots taken on him in the past two games, (.934 SV%). As long as Kari Lehtonen is on the shelf I’d say give him the bulk of the work. Nothing against Moose, but if we have this opportunity to see if he can be trusted with the starting job…I say we take full advantage of it.
I have to say that I was very surprised to see Todd White out there just two nights after having to be assisted from the ice. Happy…but surprised nonetheless. Personally, when it comes to blows to the head… I would rather the team error on the side of caution. But apparently the paid doctors said he was good to go.
The Falconer has joined the growing list of those who are looking for Ilya Kovalchuk to step up his game.
Atlanta has 16 points after 19 games this season. Last year after the same amount of games…they had 18 points.
When Boris Valabik is in the lineup, Atlanta is 4-1-0. When Mathieu Schneider is in the lineup, Atlanta is 3-9-2. Valabik is +1 in five games. Schneider is -12 in 14 games.
Just sayin’…
