I’m, of course, speaking of the result from last night’s 4-3 overtime loss the Nashville Predators. Yup, close and frustrating…those are the two words that come to mind that best describe the feeling I took away from the game.

Well…OK…there are one or two other words that I can think of, but I try to keep things at or below the PG-13 level here…so let’s just stick with close and frustrating.

Atlanta outshot the Preds 10 to 4 in the first, 8 to 7 in the second…and 25 to 24 after regulation. However, not once did they hold a lead.

The Thrashers did not allow a power play goal for only the fourth time all season…however they went 0 for 4 on their man advantages and even let up a short handed goal.

Nashville’s second goal was scored by Scott Nichols in the second period…only he apparently was the only person to see it. His shot went through Johan Hedberg…then through the goal net. I guess the bad economy has caused those at Philips to cut back on the quality material that makes up the goal netting.

Anyway…once play stopped a minute and four seconds later…the guys in Toronto corrected the situation. The M.I.B. guys then “flashed” the players and 15,022 in attendance so those 64 seconds…never happened.

Now…if only they could “flash” away the 1:44 worth of overtime action in which Nashville took the only two shots on goal…including Ryan Suter’s game winner on a breakaway.

“Un-close” was Mathieu Schneider in regards to Suter during that play.

Coach John Anderson was a tad frustrated after Nashville’s third goal as he felt that Ron Hainsey was hooked just prior. “He had the puck and was hooked clearly,” Anderson said. “The referee’s right there. He’s got to make that call”. Anderson continued, “I don’t want a break from the officials, I just want what should be called to be called. When it ends up directly in our net because a guy gets hooked and taken off the puck, that upsets me”.

Close…that was the word Don Waddell used while discussing this Thrashers team while being interviewed during the second intermission… as described by Brendan on Mike Knobler’s blog. Again, the Thrashers are “close”…real “close”…this season. Of course, I believe he used “close” to describe the team last year as well.

It is true that the team is “close” to winning more games. Maybe even closer than last year’s squad. Including the three overtime losses, the Thrashers have been on the wrong end of eight one-goal games. Two more were in essence one-goal losses but for empty-netters at the end. In 22 games so far, only twice has Atlanta been blown out of the barn. The 7-0 loss to Philly and 6-1 defeat in New Jersey.

Close…yes, close. But “close” right now only adds to the “frustration” of being close to the bottom of the standings again.

A Few Shout-Outs

I had the pleasure of meeting BuzzEng last night. He made his way down from North Carolina to enjoy a Thrashers game during the Thanksgiving holiday…and to celebrate his birthday that comes around this next week! Happy birthday Buzz!

Also, it was very nice to have met the two lovely ladies that accompanied Sara to the game. Ladies…a pleasure.

And I had the joy of being able to sit next to Riley and Caleb…seven years old and five respectively…who were seeing their first ever hockey game with their dad. To be able to enjoy the game through their young eyes was indeed a wonderful experience.

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