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November 2008
Blown Lead To Blues Give Blueland The Blues
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
OK…say that five times fast!
Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Blues was billed as a “Red Alert” game as the Thrashers were wearing their red alternate jerseys. But after the game it was coach John Anderson that was seeing red as he voiced his displeasure in the way his Thrashers have been performing lately. So much so that he seems to be ready to shake things up.
“We’re going to look at the whole situation, look at what we have, what we have in the minors and figure out what steps need to be taken”, the coach remarked after watching his team waste a 2-1 first period lead enroute to a 4-2 loss to a Blues team that had lost to the Edmonton Oilers the day before in St. Louis.
There have been some minor adjustments that have happened recently, but reading between the lines I think those are minor tweeks compared to what is needed…and what Anderson may have in mind.
Flip-flopping netmiders hasn’t really yeilded any permanent results. However, Odrej Pavelec played well Sunday as he turned away 43 of the 46 shots taken against him. The Blues empty-netter at the end made for 47 SOG on the afternoon, a season high…or low if you prefer…for Atlanta this season.
Of the two…I would rather see more of Opie than Moose right now.
Erik Christenesen has watched the last two games from the comfy confines of the press box after struggling for the first quarter of the season. Joey Crabb has played in his place and, though not netting any points as of yet, he has played with a good deal of hustle.
But we should be looking at some different changes as this week unfolds. Maybe Colin Stuart or Brett Sterling could being seeing some action. Maybe we could be looking at more drastic modification as Anderson held a post-game meeting with general manager Don Waddell to discuss possile changes.
Personally, off the top of my head, there are two players that should have their playing time greatly reduced…if not eliminated altogether. Jason Williams and Mathieu Schneider. It’s a shame too because both are players that I thought were going to have a positive impact on this team.
Schneider left the game with what was disclosed as an upper body injury. So it is entirely possible that Boris Valabic could see some more action soon.
However, they certainly do not deserve to shoulder all of the blame for the team’s very un-good 8-12-3 record. The entire team is struggling to connect three consecutive solid period on a consistant basis.
“We’re not playing as good as we can play right now, and we’ve got to figure it out right away,” Anderson said. “It’ll get so far out of hand that we won’t be able to reel it back in”. Indeed. There have to be changes made, even drastic ones.
But to me, the most damning remarks from Anderson were, “We’ve got to compete more. We stopped competing.”
Getting beat because the other team out played you is one thing. But when your coach accuses you of not even competing, well, that’s the point at which players can start seeing their name removed from the regular lineup…or from atop of their lockers.
Combined with Atlanta’s defeat at Maroonland Sunday, Florida beat the Rangers 4-0 and Dallas slipped by Edmonton 4-3. Those results have left the Thrashers tied for last with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
And we’re not just just talkin’ last in the Southeast Division…or the Eastern Conference…but dead last in the entire leaue.
Oh, and the Bolts have already made a fairly drastic change already.
But here, I firmly believe that the coaching staff that is in place is the right group for the job. Where The Mullet was relieved of his duty primarily because ownership wanted their top draft pick to play more…I think coach Anderson and his crew need to work out who needs to play less. Maybe even who needs to never play again in Thrashers blue…or maroon.
Congrats To Tkachuk
Keith Tkachuk’s power play goal that tied the score at 2-2 during the second period was his 1,000th career point. Those in attendance gave him…a player who helped get the Thrashers to their one and only playoff apperence… a very warm and well deserved ovation.
Tkachuk is the 72nd NHL player to reach the 1,000 point mark and only the sixth U.S. born player to do so.
One Last Shout-Out For The Weekend
I had the unexpected pleasure of sitting near Hockey Biltong and the lovely and gracious Mrs. Biltong at Sunday’s game. They were with a small group in section 119. Very nice to have met these two wonderful Thrashers fans.
Close And Frustrating
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Close…again.
Frustrated…again.
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.
Thanksgiving Memories
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Do you remember Thanksgiving just one year ago? As we sat down to gorge ourselves on turkey, ham, stuffing, yams, cranberries, mashed potatoes, green beans, dinner rolls and a multitude of pies and/or cake…we were fresh off a 5-1 victory over a hapless Washington Capitals team.
At the time, Atlanta was riding an 11 wins in 15 games wave after dropping the first six of the season…heading in the right direction, eh? The Caps on the other had dropped to 6-14-1 for 13 points and listen to chants of “Fire Hanlon” rain down from the announced crowd of 11,669. And on Thanksgiving day…fire him they did.
They were two teams seemingly moving in opposite directions at the time. Of course as we now know…at season’s end, Washington had won the Southeast Division championship and the Thrashers had won the right to pick third in the NHL entry draft.
Fast-forward one year.
Here we are at another Thanksgiving holiday… preparing to sit down and make nice-nice with those relatives…you know which ones I’m talkin’ about…and once again we watched the Thrashers and Capitals play the Wednesday night prior.
They again seem like two teams on differing paths.
Fresh off one of their better performances of the season in Toronto just the night before, the Thrashers dropped a 5-3 decision to the division-leading Caps. Making the sting a little worse is the fact that if there was a time to jump all over this Caps team, this was the time. Washington entered into the game having lost three straight and their lineup was depleted to the point that they had to reach down onto the farm and bring up some of the kids.
Karl Alzner, Chris Bourque, Sami Lepisto, Graham Mink and Tyler Sloan…they all helped coach Bruce Boudreau ice 20 players. To their credit, Sloan and Lepisto got on the score sheet with an assist apiece and they helped their club beat a Thrashers team that was pretty much at full-strength.
But this night was the Ovechkin show as the Russian winger turned the hat trick on six shots and added a helper for good measure. His third goal game 54 seconds into the second period. I heard a rumor this Ovechkin guy was pretty good.
Atlanta was outshot 33-18 by the Caps.
For the Thrashers…Slava Kozlov netted goal number twelve of the year and Bryan Little…a.k.a. Byron Young, as E.J. Hradek calls him…scored his tenth. Nathan Oystrick not only got off Schneid Island with his first of the year, the tallied was his first ever career NHL goal.
As reported by Mike Knobler, Coach John Anderson cited the big save by Jose Theodore on Eric Perrin at the start of the game as the turning point. “I thought Theodore really turned the game around with that great stop on the breakaway on Perrin early on,” Anderson said. “It gave them a lift, picked them up. We caught them off guard right away and didn’t score, and they come right back down and get a power play and score. After that, for a period and a half, we couldn’t recuperate. They were on us like rats on cheese.”
Actually, I was gonna say Washington was on us like my cousin Thelma on the Thanksgiving dessert tray…but I think the way coach put it is OK too.
Anyway, Nashville in town Friday night…until then, I hope you all have a wonderful and joyous Thanksgiving.
Thrashers Get Physical, Rake Leafs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What the Atlanta Thrashers did to the Leafs in Toronto is exactly what my sons and I need to do with the multitude of those scattered about in my back yard…rake ‘em, bag ‘em and kick ‘em to the curb.
Following up Saturday night’s abysmal 15 shot, zero goal performance against the Columbus Blue Jackets… the Thrashers took their 15th shot at about seven minutes into the second period…leading to Atlanta’s third goal of the night…and beat Toronto 6-3.
By the end of the night’s work, they had doubled Saturday’s shot total.
Atlanta was able to get contribution from all over the place as the first goal of the evening came from third-liner Colby Armstrong…the second came from a wonderful effort from the entire second line…next came the fourth line as Chris Thorburn got off Schneid Island with his first of the year…then first-liner Ilya Kovalchuk tallied the Thrashers fourth of the night just one second after a Toronto penalty had expired…the fifth goal came from the stick of defender Mathieu Schneider, who also finished a +3 for the game…and finally, White scored his second of the night on the power play.
Getting goals from all four lines, the defense and the power play is normally a good recipe for victory.
Kovalchuk was in no mood to take any crap from anyone during the game. Shortly after scoring to put Atlanta up 4-1, he took exception to a hit along the boards from the Leafs Ian White and decided to dish out some of the same to the 5-10, 195-pound winger. As they made their way up ice, Ian apparently mentioned something about a female member of Kovy’s family and promptly was put on his backside by Ilya…double-fisted style.
In the closing minutes of the middle period, after being boarded by White, Kovy again decided to stand his ground and went toe-to-toe with him.
Taking the lead from #17, the rest of the team decided to continue the physical play in the third period. Jimmy Slater caught Mikhail Grabovski with his head down near Atlanta’s blueline and delivered a hefty open ice hit. Later Army did same with Jason Blake who then departed the ice with a few tweety birds circling his noggin. Following that play, Luke Schenn got into it with Armstrong and the pair went to the box for roughing…Schneider then scored on the ensuing 4 on 4.
On the un-good side of the physical play, Erik Christensen took an un-necessary interference penalty with 4:10 remaining in the game. It looked as if he was venting some frustrations after missing an open shot from the side of the net.
Moose stopped 32 of 35 shots to gain the win…the biggest coming at the end of the first when he robbed Grabovski as the Thrashers were killing off a penalty. Moving to his right he stopped the point blank shot to preserve a 1-0 Atlanta lead heading into the first intermission.
Congrats also go out to Nathan Oystrick who earned his first point of the season with an assist on White’s power play goal.
Atlanta now wings it’s way to Washington D.C. for a Wednesday night date with the Southeast Division leading Capitals.
Bogosian Update
According to the guys in the Toronto TV booth…which I was listening to thanks to the greatest gift God gave hockey fans, Center Ice…Don Waddell said that Zach Bogosian will be allowed to do his rehab stint with the AHL’s Chicago Wolves. Apparently Bogey will spend a couple weeks there once coming off I.R.
Thrashers’ First Quarter Report Card
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Thrashers are nineteen games into this 2008-09 NHL campaign and preparing for a pair of back-to-back road games in Toronto and D.C. This is right around the quarter mark of the season, so…how is our team doing?
Well, it’s a mixed bag-o-nuts really. Therefore let’s get right to it…shall we?
OFFENSE
The Good: Before the season began, there were many who looked at this group and questioned from where the goals were going to come. Sure, Kovy would get his 45-50 goals, but after that…who was gonna produce? Well, that question has been answered by Slava Kozlov, (11 goals and 6 assists)…Bryan Little, (9 goals and 8 assists)…and Todd White, (4 goals and 11 assists)…who have more than held there own. Kovy has contributed 6 goals and 11 helpers. The second line has been outstanding so far… which is a really good thing seeing that at this time last season Kovalchuk was sitting on 19 goals.
The power play has been sporadic but overall is 18.3% productive. That’s tied for 15th in the league with Pittsburgh and up from last year’s 16.5%.
The Un-Good: As a team, Atlanta has been scoring at a rate of 2.74 G/G…up from last season’s goal production of 2.52 G/G…but still is only good enough for 17th in the league, (tied with Dallas). The Thrashers take an average of 27.6 shots per game…again better than last years pitiful 25.8 S/G…but is still only good enough for 24th in the NHL, (again, tied with Dallas).
The Summary: At times the O-fense has looked much improved from last season. The terribly low 15 SOG taken last Saturday against the Columbus Blue Jackets seems to be more the exception rather than the norm…but there is still much work to be done here. Little, Kozzy and White have all be wonderful stories 19 games in but Kovy’s goal production is beginning to be somewhat concerning and the three shutouts already are also troubling. The overall grade would have been a bit higher if not for the past 3 games.
The Grade: C+
DEFENSE
The Good: Ron Hainsey has been the most pleasant surprise of the season so far. He has been a stabilizing force on the Thrashers blueline and I shudder to think where this team would be without him. Noted for his offensive abilities as well, he hasn’t disappointed in that regard either as he is fifth in overall team scoring with twelve points.
Before his injury, rookie Zach Bogosian looked as though playing him on the big squad was the right call.
The Un-Good: Oh…where to begin? Let’s see, giving up 32.9 SA/G, (27th in the NHL), is way too many…the 3.47 GA/G is unacceptable, (only Dallas gives up more)…and the penalty kill is only 74.7% effective, (28th in the league).
Then there is this matter of Mathieu Schneider. His -12 rating is not only last on the team by far…but only Carolina’s Rod Brind’Amour and St. Louis’ Brad Boyes are lower at -14. However, they have played in 21 and 18 games respectively compared to Schneider’s 14.
The Summary: Just like last season, the GA/G and SA/G numbers are too high and must be dealt with. The good play of Hainsey is being offset by the disappointment of Schneider. Everything in between is about the same as last season.
The Grade D+
GOALTENDING
The Good: Well, the fact that the Thrashers have the ability to turn to a talent such as Ondrej Pavelec when need be is a very good thing indeed. He came up at the end of October when Kari went down and has played to a 2-2-0 record with a 2.32 GAA and .913 SV%. Last Saturday night he was outstanding, stopping 29 of 30 shots faced.
After getting off to a shaky start, Johan Hedberg has played better of late as well. The .404 GAA is still scary, though.
The Un-Good: In the nine game that Kari Lehtonen started he went 2-5-2 with a 3.44 GAA and .903 SV%. But the numbers here are not what I consider to be as un-good as the fact that he has gone down due to injury yet again. This…coupled with the way young Opie is playing…doesn’t help in his attempt to continue being considered the goalie of the future for this organ-I-zation.
Nineteen games in and no Atlanta goalie has yet to record a shutout. In fact, the only time an opposing team has scored fewer than 2 goals in a game was when New Jersey slipped a power play goal past Kari to beat Atlanta 1-0.
The Summary: If this season is indeed Kari’s make-or-break test regarding his future in Atlanta…then Opie might wanna start looking for a place to live down here.
The Grade: Pavelec, A- …Moose, B- …Kari, Incomplete …but if I had to give a grade, D+.
Overall Team Grade: C-
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’…
Thrashers Having A Rough Week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday night the Thrashers battled their way back from a 2-goal deficit in the third period to tie the score…only to see the Flyers notch a game winner with six minutes and seventeen seconds remaining in the game. Four nights later, after battling the Pittsburgh Penguins even for 57 minutes and 20 seconds, they again saw the game slip from their grasps as Petr Sykora deflected a Sidney Crosby shot past Ondrej Pavelec while the Pens were on the power play.
Tough week for Atlanta Thrashers players, coaches and fans.
When the Pens scored the game-winner, Chris Thorburn was in the penalty box. He was in the box having been called for interference in front of Atlanta’s net. He interfered with a Pittsburgh player because he had to come back to help out on defense. He had to help out because Garnet Exelby was out of position. Exelby was out of position because Miro Satan of the Pens had interfered with him…knocking him against the boards as he passed up Exelby on his way to the Pittsburgh bench. Only Thorburn was whistled for a penalty.
Pittsburgh took advantage of the selective penalty calling and took away two points in the standings.
Coach John Anderson alluded to the non-call, citing how it was what caused Pittsburgh’s break in the first place…but then added, “It was what it was”.
Am I saying the non-call cost us the game? Nope, I agree with the coach’s sentiment as stated above. Plus, not all penalties are called…Satan got away with one. However, when a team goes through a week like the one the Thrashers are…things like that seem to happen at key moments and then everything goes downhill from there.
Atlanta will look to alter their fortunes on Saturday night when the Columbus Blue Jackets pay Philips Arena a visit. The CBJs are 8-8-3 on the season, 5-2-3 in their previous ten games…losing their last game 7-2 to the Edmonton Oilers.
White Day-To-Day
The Thrashers played the majority of the third period without Todd White…who had come into the game as the Thrashers’ assist leader. Early on in the final frame, Kris Letang assisted White to the boards. The Atlanta centerman then needed help leaving the ice, as he was unable to stand and skate on his own. Anderson indicated that he would be evaluated by doctors and will be day-to-day.
And Finally
OK, today’s wacky news story takes us to Port St. Lucie, Florida where a man was charge with domestic battery for tossing a sandwich at his girlfriend while she was driving.
Police have not indicated what type of sandwich was involved in the assault…but I’m guessing it was a “club”.
Enforcing A Natural Rule Of Order
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
During the second intermission of Tuesday night’s game on Vs…Min-EE-Sooo-TAH vs. Pittsburgh…the subject of the “The Enforcer” was discussed. The guys behind the desk cited a very interesting stat that indicated that there has been more fighting during games this season than in any other season at this point in the past ten years. For the life of me I cannot find anything to link to regarding this…but I’m more than willing to take the Vs boys at their word.
When I listened to their discussion about the role of “The Enforcer” and fighting in today’s game, I was reminded of the many times I have been asked by a member of the great hockey un-washed why such activity is still condoned in the sport today. My response usually deals with the fact that there has to be accountability, responsibility and respect out there on the ice at all times. See, if a team wants to shut down… say for instance… the Atlanta Thrashers, then why not just send out the 6-5 225 pound goon to go knee-first into Kovy up against the boards and let that be that?
Well, the reason you don’t is because there will be…and should be…retribution for such goonery.
Plus, when you have a bunch of big guys flying around on the ice at the speeds they play this game at…it’s real easy inflict serious bodily harm upon an opponent if your respect level is not where it needs to be. The knowledge that you shall be held accountable for your actions keeps a natural sense of order and discipline to the game.
As the sport continues to be played at ever increasing speeds by bigger and stronger players, the need for fights and “enforcers”…and the accountability, responsibility and respect that come with them…are needed just as much as before…if not more.
Then there is this angle….in a recent article for SI.com, Darrin Eliot took to the defense of fighting. In it, he cites the bout that took place a few weeks ago between Atlanta’s Eric Boulton and the Rangers’ Colton Orr. If you didn’t see it…you missed a dandy! As is pointed out in the piece, what Boulton did was send a bolt of energy…a spark…to his team that was much needed at the time. I came just a few minutes into a game that followed a humiliating 7-0 beat-down just two night’s prior.
Eliot continues, “Now, I know where I stand on the whole topic. I thoroughly enjoy a good fight for all the reasons I witnessed at the Garden. I don’t view it as a blight on the game, but rather as a unique aspect of the NHL that has survived scrutiny and political correctness. So be it. Fighting doesn’t define or demean hockey in my mind. It is merely one of many elements that sets the game apart”.
Uh-huh…I agree wholeheartedly with the above statement. Of course, anything that smacks in the face anything that even remotely resembles “political correctness”…I’m on board with!
Either way, there is still a place for “The Enforcer” and fighting in today’s NHL.
Who’s Gonna Be Last Off Of Schneid Island?
So, what do Eric Boulton, Boris Valabik, Chris Thorburn, Nathan Oystrick, Garnet Exelby, and Nic Havelid have in common? Well, they all still have yet to notch their first goal of the season for the Thrashers.
Question for you…of the above players, who do you predict will be the last Thrasher to wrinkle the twine this year?
You’ll note that I’ve omitted Zach Bogosian since he is still going to be out for a few more weeks healing a broken leg…so it wouldn’t be fair to add him in to the equation.
And Finally…
OK…soccer players have been known to do some pretty screwy things. With the flamboyant goal celebrations and players acting like they have just been shot in the face with a bazooka if someone even as much as brushes against them…the sport does indeed have it’s theatrics.
But this is…ahem…exposing us to far more than is needed in any sport.
Some Questions Already Being Answered
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Coming into this season there were a few questions regarding some players on the Thrashers roster. What would their roles be? Would they bounce back from last season’s disappointments? Was obtaining a certain player worth it? And so on.
Some questions will take more time than 6 weeks and 17 games to figure out, however some results are already in. Here are six players with the questions that came with them and how they seem to have been answered.
Bryan Little: “Is he finally ready for the NHL on a full-time basis”?
Well, seeing that he has 9 goals and a team-leading 17 points, I’m gonna go way out on a limb here and say the answer is… “YES”!
Oh, and did I mention he leads the team with a +8?
Slava Kozlov: ”Was last season just an aberration”?…”Were his injuries the major contributions to his off year”…”Could he play this year more like the Slava of old”?
Well, I would venture to guess that the answers seem to be…”YES”, “YES” and, “YES”! His 10 goals tops the list for this team and he has 16 points overall. That puts him on a pace to almost double last year’s 41-point production.
Yes…the Slavinator is baaack!
Ron Hainsey: “Was this UFA signing worth what the Thrashers paid for him”?
Ummmm…I’ll take “Not Only YES, But…Oh HAY-yell YES” for a thousand, Alex!
What more could one ask of from this guy? He has been one of the most stabilizing forces to grace this blueline in many moons. He has contributed offensively with 3 goals and 6 assists, is a +1 with only 2 PIM. Not only is he NOT looking like one of the top five worst signings of 2008… there are even some out there who would consider Hainsey captain material.
Here’s a thought…think of wheeling this defense out there without him in the lineup. Uh-huh…yup, see what I mean?
Now I’ll take…”I’d Call That A Bargain” for four and a half mil a year, Alex.
Todd White: “Is he really up to being this teams #1 center…the man to anchor Kovy’s forward line”?
Well, the answer is “NO”. And, to be quite honest, I could not be happier with that seeing how he has fit in quite nicely with Kozzy and Little on the second line. White has finally found his role on this team and is wiping clean any memories of last season.
His 4 goals and team high 11 assists have help make the Kahlua line quite intoxicating to watch indeed.
Kari Lehtonen: “Could he go the entire season relatively injury-free”?
Alas, we didn’t have to go too deep into the schedule to get our answer here…”NO”. First we hear he isn’t feeling well…then it’s his back…then he’s good to go…then, whoops…his back again. Before going down, Lehtonen started 9 of Atlanta’s first 10 games…going 2-5-2 with a .903 SV% and 3.44 GAA.
Consider the fact that the team isn’t exactly missing him…going 5-2-0 in his absence… with the fact that young Ondrej Pavelec has played well when called upon… 2-0-0 record with a 2.57 GAA and .889 SV%…and one cannot help but arrive at the second major question in regards to Kari. It’s the one that asks…
“Will this season determine if Kari is starting keeper of the future for this organ-I-zation”?
While that question remains still unanswered, the truth of the matter is that Don Waddell’s decision to re-sign the Finnish goalie to only a one-year deal last summer looks wiser and wiser by the day.
Zach Bogosian: “Was he ready to play in the NHL at the tender young age of 18”?
Well, in the 8 games he played before his unfortunate injury…I really didn’t see anything that screamed out that he was in over his head. Now the question for Bogey is… how well will he respond once his leg has healed? The Thrashers shouldn’t, and I’m sure will not, rush his return by any means. He’s young and has many, many games ahead of him here.
But back to the original question…I still say, “YES”…once healthy, he should be playing in Atlanta.
Now, there are still some with question marks over their heads…Marty Reasoner…Mathieu Schneider…Erik Christensen…Jason Williams…just to name a few. But the answers regarding these players should reveal themselves as the next few weeks and months unfold.
“The Streak”…shhh, Whisper When You Say It
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Before we even get started… let me just say that I fully recognize that even having this discussion may be viewed as running afoul of all hockey etiquette. Under normal circumstances, speaking of the Thrashers current win streak, (yes, whisper when you say it), can bring about a jinxification of maximum proportions. However, I have consulted with the hockey gods and have received a complete dispensation in regards to this matter for the purpose of education and communication as it relates to the current Thrashers win streak and those that will follow. Thus, I have been absolved of any responsibility in regards to the possible demise of the streak.
Hey…being der Blogmeister does have its perks and privileges.
See…win streaks create confidence in players and are a strong force that can propel average teams into good teams…good teams into contending teams. But they are also very, very fragile and should be guarded and cared for by all.
I can remember back to the 1982 Atlanta Braves season…that was the team that won the first 13 games of the schedule. Game number 14 was a loss to the Cincinnati Reds and it began a five-game losing streak. The Braves needed every one of those 13 wins as they edged out the division rival L.A. Dodgers by a single game.
Then there are the 1998 Falcons. After a 28-3 loss to the New York Jets they won the remaining nine games to finish the season at 14-2. They then won both playoff games…including a 30-27 overtime classic in Min-EE-Sooo-TAH…that sent them to Super Bowl XXXIII.
In both cases, the team’s successful season contained their own versions of “The Streak”.
Tonight in Philly our own Atlanta Thrashers will be gunning for a franchise record sixth straight win. To be sure, players have their own rituals, superstitions and “quirks” to keep winning streaks and 7 wins in 8 games type of runs alive…but what of the fans?
To begin with, there is the matter of your team jerseys. Make garshed-derned sure these treasured garments are dealt with properly. Do not…repeat…do NOT wash these jerseys during any successful span of games. Don’t even THINK about it. In fact, do not even spot clean any mustard or beer stains that may have soiled them while being worn at Philips. These are sacred artifacts and remains that must not be tampered with.
Also…make sure that they are stored or hung in the same manner since the streak began. If that’s in a certain particular place in the closet, make sure it remains there…but remember, no wire coat hangers! If that is folded up and put in a drawer, so be it. If you’re one to toss it on the floor and push it to a particular corner of the bedroom…fine. The wife may not like this…but we’re talking about hockey karma here and it simply cannot be messed with.
Me? Mine hangs in the walk-in closet off the master bath…front of the row…crest facing north toward the hockey Mecca that is the NHL Hall Of Fame in downtown Toronto. The scarf obtained in the first ever playoff game back in April 2007 hangs around it’s collar. I’ve even made sure that the same wrinkle in the left shoulder area which is caused by the way it hangs has been present for the past two weeks.
Next…don’t change a thing. I penned an entry last week to this regard, but that had to do with the Thrashers’ lineup. What I’m referring to here is YOU don’t change a thing. Don’t change the route you take to the office or school. Do not change your diet, your TV viewing habits, your sleeping habits…don’t change your routine at all.
Some may even go as far with their “streak etiquette” to believe that shaving, showering as well as the changing of socks and underwear…all are quite taboo. For those of you who take to heart this fundamentalist interpretation of the hockey gospel… again, I’ve consulted with the hockey gods about this. They’ve directed me to tell you that… in the case of those of the married persuasion or those who have chosen “live-in” or “domestic partnership” status… showering is permitted as long as the same bar of soap is used, so use it sparingly. The same is true in regards to shampooing. Laundering of socks and underwear is permissible only during the day of a game, but must be put back on immediately after coming out of the dryer or off of the line.
Those of you choosing line drying…the next couple of cold months could prove to be somewhat treacherous. And please, so I do not receive letters of complaints from your neighbors, wear a robe when placing them out and taking them down. We all thank you in advance for your cooperation in this area.
Lastly, all winning streaks have something that is unique…something that separates them from other runs of success. To that point, I must take note that this current Thrashers winning streak began two Sundays ago with a 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers at Philips Arena. During that game, two frequenters of this blog were seen on the Kiss Cam for the very first time in their many games attended…”Former Islanders Fan” and “Lilibeter”. As you may remember, the two were also engaged at the time and even chained themselves together in holy matrimony this past Friday night.
So if things start to get a little hairy for the Thrashers, we may need to recreate this environment buy recruiting a pair of you out there… those who are a part of the great un-wed…and have you agree to attend an upcoming game together, be on the Kiss Cam then… well… get married a few days later.
Obviously, those in our number who are already in the throws of marital bliss are disqualified for this line of duty…but certainly there are two of you that are willing to, shall we say, take one for the team.
I’ll allow for volunteers…but if none are forthcoming, we may have to resort to a draft. This is for the good of the collective and, as such, the good of the many outweigh the needs of the few.
Of course, your sacrifice will go down in the annals of Thrashers history and your names will live on forever…maybe even have a middle school named in your honor.
OK, now that we are clear about the rules of the winning streak…I trust you will all govern yourselves accordingly.
GO THRASHERS… Streak on!
I mean…streak on.
Red Alert! Red Alert! Red Alert!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday night the Atlanta Thrashers…make that the RED HOT Atlanta Thrashers…responded to a full-fledged Hurricane warning in Philips Arena by donning their new alternate unis for the first time in a game and placed Blueland under a full Red Alert!
The result was a 3-2 victory that pushed the current winning streak to five straight games…raised the Thrashers home record to 5-3-0…improved their record against Southeast Division foes to 4-0-2… and tied New Jersey for the 9th place in the conference with 16 points.
Not a bad couple of weeks following a 1-7-2 stretch, I’d say. And if the play of the team and the result on the scoreboard has anything to do with the red jerseys…then they can wear ‘em every night as far as I’m concerned.
Marty Reasoner has been a self-appointed Cane killer this week. His first period goal… one that came during a 2 on 1 break with Colby Armstrong halfway through the first period … got the evening off to a fine start. In the two games this week versus Carolina, Marty has scored three of his four goals on the season. Eric Perrin notched his initial tally of the 2008-09 campaign 3:32 into the second with Boulton and Slater getting the assists.
Sure is nice when the lower lines pitch in, eh?
But then there’s Slava Kozlov…Killer Kozzy… whose power play goal in the third would wind up being the margin for victory on this night. Carolina was attempting to kill off a 2-minute, 2-man penalty at the time…and came within two ticks of the clock from doing so… before Kozzy took a feed from Bryan Little and netted the all-important third goal for Atlanta. Just moments prior, Ilya Kovalchuk and Ron Hainsey had paired up to save the puck from crossing over the blueline and out of the attacking zone, setting up Kozlov’s heroics.
Johan Hedberg was very solid ‘tween the pipes in his third straight start stopping 27 of the 29 shots fired against him. Both times he was bested came when Carolina was on the man advantage.
For his part, Cam Ward had a strong night as well. Though three of Atlanta’s 25 shots got past him, two were on 2 on 1 breaks and the third on a 5 on 3 power play. The save he made on Bryan Little in the first…sliding to his right to get a skate on the puck…was outstanding as was his gloving of a Kovalchuk bomb in the third.
The Thrashers will now make their way to Philadelphia in pursuit of the sixth consecutive win. If I’m not mistaken, this franchise has never strung together more than five in a row…fumbling through stacks of records and stats…no I can’t find any such streak. Can I get my staff on this? Brendan? Trixie? PJ? Staff?…STAFF?
%$#&@…I hate it when they take the weekend off! Regardless, I think the Thrashers will be going for that team record Sunday night in Philly.
Oh… and lastly, Garnet Exelby as Ron Burgundy…very classy.
Don’t Change A Thing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Four days off between Thrashers games in the middle of November has left me Jonesin’ for hockey! Normally, a four-day break can be a good thing for a team…rest some players, heal some aches and pains…however, with the Thrashers riding a four game win streak, I would have loved to have seen them just keep rockin’ and rollin’ this week.
I don’t know about you, but tomorrow night can’t get here quick enough.
The days off were not at all kind, however, to one Mr. Kari Lehtonen who re-injured his back on Tuesday. Ondrej Pavelec had no sooner unpacked his bags in Chicago before being summonsed back to Atlanta in case Kari is unable to play.
Well, at least Opie is racking up some serious frequent flyer points.
So, the “who’s you goalie” question for Friday night seems to be simple enough…start Johan Hedberg again against the Carolina Hurricanes. Personally, even if Lehtonen were to be a “GO” tomorrow night, I would still put Moose ‘tween the pipes. He played well enough against them Sunday…so why change what seems to be working, eh?
To that point, I would also take that same approach regarding the forward lines and defensive pairings. Obviously, the O-fense is on a great run these past four games…scoring goals at a 4.75 clip during the streak… so no changes should be forthcoming there. And even though the defense is still giving up way too many shots and the opposition has netted an average of 3 goals per game during these past four wins, I would still roll out the same players paired up the same way as was done this past weekend.
I just don’t like messing with things when they are netting positive results.
Now, that would mean that Oystrick would play instead of Schneider if he’s healthy enough to go…but that’s fine with me. Again, ride the wave and stick with the lineup that produced the winning streak. Plus it gives the veteran defender a few more days to make sure that hip-flexor thingy is totally healed.
As for Pavs…I’d give him the start in Philly. If Moose rolls a shutout Friday or puts up a 37 saves on 38 shots kinda performance…then maybe stick with him. Even if Kari says he is good to go Sunday, start the young-un or Moose. Same logic applies…stick with what has been working, give Lehts a few more days to make 100% sure…no, 110% sure…that the back is good to go.
Regardless…as long as the Ws keep coming…don’t change a thing.
Streaking, Filling Up Philips & Becoming One
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A week or so ago we were lamenting the fact that the Atlanta Thrashers were languishing in last place. Not just in the division…or conference…but in the NHL. Their .333 winning percentage at the time was worst in the league.
What a difference a week makes.
After Sunday’s 5-2 win on the road versus Carolina, the Thrashers now find themselves riding a four-game winning streak and in a much-improved situation in the standings. The winning percentage has improved to .467, which is 22nd in the league and the once-struggling O-fence is now producing goals at the rate of 2.93 per game, that’s 15th best. Also…and you may want to be sitting down for this one…the power play, which was awful for the first month of the season, is now 19.4% effective which is tenth best in the NHL.
audible ooohs and aaaaahs from the blogosphere
There is still much work to be done, for sure…but continuing the efforts of the past week-plus will go a long way to getting the job done.
Atlanta has scored 19 goals during these past four games. The White, Little, Kozzy line has been much talked about for good reason. But Kovy’s line has looked very good the past couple of games as well…accounting for 2 goals and 3 assists in both the wins in Buffalo and Carolina. Also, the third line chipped in as well during the last game, thanks in large part to a pair of tallied from Marty Reasoner. Yes indeed, we’re seeing some great play coming from John Anderson’s O-fence lately.
Not to be overlooked is the job Johan Hedberg did in the net over the weekend. His play in the third period of Friday’s game was outstanding and his 35 saves on 37 shots performance against the Canes was just what the doctor ordered for him and his team.
About the only thing disappointing for Thrashers fans right now is that the schedule calls for four days off between Sunday’s game in Carolina and Friday night’s rematch with the same Hurricanes team.
Which brings me to…
Let’s Fill Up Philips Friday
I normally don’t get on the “Come Out If You’re A Real Fan” soapbox. The way I see it, you are all big boys and girls and can decide on your own how to spend your money. But I gotta say…if you are one of those who have been taking a “wait and see” attitude about this Thrashers team, then maybe…just maybe…you need to wait no more and come out and see them for yourself this Friday.
Of late, this Thrashers team has been playing some of the most exciting, entertaining hockey that I’ve seen in many, many moons. I can just imagine how pumped this group of players would be to skate out to the roar of a sold out Philips Arena…and quite frankly, these guys deserve it the way they’ve been performing.
Think about it… you’ll get a chance to see a hard-working team that has played some very inspired hockey of late, it’s a Friday night, you’ll get the first look at the new third jerseys, plus…well…it ain’t gonna be on TV.
I’ll be there…section 119. Love to see everyone else there, too.
Become One…Literally
Now, the above having been said…there are two of you that shall be granted a full and total pardon for your lack of attendance this Friday. Those two being regulars in this forum that go by the handles of “ Former Islanders Fan” and “Lilibeter”. Their excuse being that they will be in the process of voluntarily institutionalizing themselves in the bonds of holy matrimony that evening!
Geeze…talk about “Becoming One”! That’s really taking a slogan a tad to the extreme, eh gang?
Now, I understand that the sentencing…er, ah…ceremonies are set to begin at 7:00 pm. But keep in mind you two…face off is set for a little past 7:30, so if you get the “I dos” and “He had betters” out of the way fast enough…there is absolutely no reason why the second and third periods are not makeable. Just sayin’…
But if not…I guess we all understand. In that light, I would like to propose a toast for you both at this time. So, if everyone will raise his or her cyber-champagne glasses with me…
ahem
FIF…I got news for you, dude. You are marrying WAAaaaay above your head. I know what I’m talking about here…I am a 19-year veteran at this marriage thingy. That’s 19 years as of today. That’s right, on November 11, 1989…in a little church just north of Tampa, Florida…the Divine Mrs. R and I agreed to be husband and wife.
We’ve not agreed on a gosh-darned thing since….
Anyway…if you simply remember, FIF, that she is far too good for…you’ll be just fine. I myself am reminded of that in regards to my wife each and every day…yup, every morning she reminds me, “Bill, I’m far too good for you”!
Lilibeter, you’d be well served to do the same…keep him in line, ya know. But if he does get out of line, a good stiff body-check against the boards should do the trick.
As you’ll both soon see, love may indeed be blind… but marriage is a real eye-opener!
Seriously though…congratulations to both of you! You’re a delightful couple and I pray that your union will be blessed from above and is as full of happiness and joy as mine has been so far!
So, go “Become One”…have a wonderful, marvelous time on your day Friday. I’m sure you will be a lovely bride, Lilibeter and that you, FIF will be…well, you’ll be… there. We’ll see ya both next time at Blueland.
The rest of you…see you at Philips on Friday!
The Man Who Deserves The “C”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rather than appoint a team captain prior to the beginning of this season, coach John Anderson instead chose to select five players to wear an “A” on their jerseys…then allow the team to choose their captain from that group as the season unfolded.
Four weeks and fourteen games later, I believe that one player has proven himself worthy of that honor and, were the players asked to make their selection today, I believe he would be the overwhelming choice to have the “C” applied to his Thrashers sweater.
That person’s name is Vyacheslav “Slava” Anatolevich Kozlov.
So far this season, Kozzy has led the most dynamic and energetic forward line on the team. The eight goals scored by Little and Kozlov tie for the team lead and their 14 overall points tie for second behind White’s 15. Combined the trio have accounted for 20 of the 40 total Atlanta goals. Little is a +7, White +4 and Kozlov is +1… the only forwards that are in the black in regards to the +/- ratio. Nic Havelid, the only other player, is a +5.
He has no doubt been instrumental in the on-ice success of young Bryan Little as well as the improved play of Todd White…and that type of leadership is what the entire team needs at this time.
But the captain of a team is not solely determined by good statistics and on-ice play. Kozlov also displays the calm, controlled demeanor that benefits younger players. His outward appearance always seems to be the same whether the team is winning or not. He is a stabilizing force that is needed on a team like this year’s Thrashers.
Two Saturday’s ago the Thrashers were in the midst of an embarrassing loss to the New Jersey Devils. Trailing 6-0 in the third, Kozzy scored a goal that was only important in that it allowed his team to avoid their second shutout in three games. There was no fist pumping…no celebration at all from the 36-year old native of Voskresensk, Russia. But his lack of emotion was not a display of an uncaring attitude…moreover, it seemed like he was letting his teammates know that goals scored in the final period are supposed to be game winners or ones that put the opposition away. At least, that is the way successful teams view it.
Conciliatory goals that simply serve to thwart shutout attempts by the opposition’s goalie or padding for personal statistics are never something to get overly happy about…and it was obvious he was none-too-happy with the way his team was performing at the time.
There is also the fact that his numbers so far come after a very disappointing 2007-08 campaign. Of course, there are not too many Thrashers who can point to last year with a great deal of pride. But we learned over the summer that much of the reason for Kozzy’s slump was due to the fact that he played hurt through so much of the season…needing surgery during the offseason. Still, he played in all 82 games last year with nary a complaint.
That is the kind of character and dedication to the team that can only come from a true leader.
Not to be overlooked is the fact that Kozlov is on this team because he has chosen to be. On Independence Day two summers ago, he voluntarily signed up for another tour of duty with this club after already having served valiantly here for four seasons. He could have chosen another venue…but instead decided to remain.
Name for me another big-name player who has opted to stay in Atlanta when given the opportunity to bolt. Marc Savard? Nope. Marian Hossa? Gimme a break.
But Slava did…and that type of loyalty deserves something in return.
He’s the leader of the most productive line on offense. He displays the most effective brand of leadership that speaks loudest…that of example. He is resilient, dedicated, plays through pain and he’s here because wants to be.
Slava Kozlov…he’s the man who has earned the “C” and should be rewarded with being able to wear it for as long as he remains a Thrasher.
Win Win Win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As bad as the Atlanta Thrashers looked last week…being outscored 16-3 during three losses…they looked even that much better this week. Friday night’s thrilling overtime win capped off a perfect three-wins-in-three-games stretch.
Sunday…5-3 over Florida.
Thursday…4-3 over the Islanders.
Friday…5-4 OT win over Buffalo.
WIN…WIN…WIN!!
Even more impressive is the fact these were, in essence, three one-goal games…the only exception being the win over the Panthers in which an empty netter provided the two-goal margin. This Thrashers team gutted out some hard-fought, tough games and displayed a great deal of character in doing so.
If “John Anderson Hockey” has been on display over the past several days…then I would like a double portion of it, thank you very much! Lord knows we’re gonna need it as we face the Southeast Division leading Carolina Hurricanes twice this coming week.
Thursday night, Atlanta had to battle back from a 3-1 deficit at the second intermission…scoring thrice for the victory. Friday night, they had to thrice recover from single goal deficits. In both games the Thrashers blueline and goalkeeping held the opposition to nary a goal during the final period…allowing the O-fence to take over.
And where is that O-fense coming from? Well, for starters, let’s look at the second line that is made up of Little, Kozlov and White. Bryan Little finished the night with a pair of goals and an assist, Kozzy had three assists and Todd White contributed a game-tying power play goal 8 minutes into the third period.
If Miller had decided to have a drink after the game and the bartender offered up a Kahlua…I’m sure he would have responded, “No thanks…I’ve had quite enough of that already tonight”.
Added to that, Ilya Kovalchuk’s line is starting to dish out quite a punch these days as well. Jason Williams started the night off with a laser shot that caught some iron on its way into the net…the assists going to Kovy and Erik Christensen. Williams then provided the nightcap forty-eight seconds into the overtime period after lifting a rebounded puck over the shoulder of Miller who couldn’t handle a Kovalchuk blast. At the time, the Thrashers were playing with the man-advantage thanks to a Derek Roy tripping penalty 36 seconds into OT.
For the game, the top two lines accounted for all five goals and six assists. But for the week, check this out:
Little: 3 goals and 3 assists
Kozlov: 3 goals and 3 assists
White: 2 goals and 3 assists
Kovalchuk: 2 goals and 4 assists
Williams: 3 goals and 1 assist
Christensen: 0 goals and 3 assists
That’s 13 goals and 17 assists coming from your top six forwards over three games…three games in which 14 goals were scored…three games that resulted in three Ws.
And tonight they were going up against quite a hot goalie. Miller had gone 145 minutes without allowing a goal before Williams’ first of the night. By the end of the evening, Atlanta had managed to get 5 past him in 60 minutes and 48 seconds.
On the other end, Johan Hedberg was making his first start since allowing six goals in the first two periods of last Saturday’s thumping in New Jersey. After allowing four goals in forty minutes, he held the Sabres at bay for the final 20 minutes-plus, thanks in part to a great poke check to thwart a breakaway and using his…uh…er…butt to stymie yet another. In the end…sorry…he stopped all 8 shots faced during the third period.
The O-fense took it from there.
Yup…win, win, win. A fan could get used to this.
Coming From Behind, Thrashers Win
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Looking out over the blogosphere…OK you guys, I want absolutely no comments in regards to the looks and appearance of the Islanders logo. We will have absolutely none of that crap this go around!
Got it?…Good!
ahem
After period number two, the Atlanta Thrashers found themselves down 3-1 to the New York Islanders. The fans at Philips were grunting and groaning at the prospect of dropping a game they need to win in order to remove themselves from the bottom of the standings.
A pair of rapid-fire goals by the visiting team in the second period…goals that came only 17 seconds apart…made it look as though the Thrashers might just be circling the drain.
However, Atlanta’s O-fense started the third period stronger than the odor that permeates from the men’s room at a bus station. The movement toward the Islander net was fast and effective relief from what ailed them just the period before. 29 seconds after the dropping of the puck to start the final frame, Slava Kozlov tallied goal number two of the night. He now has eight after just thirteen games, which is tops on the team and is almost half his total for all of last year. In fact, he did not reach the 13-goal mark last season until Jan. 15.
Just 48 seconds after Kozlov’s goal, Jason Williams forced in the game-tying score off a nifty pass from Tobias Enstrom. The New York defenders were focused in on the Swedish blueliner…but he found his teammate on the backdoor of the Islanders’ goal and zipped the puck over to him.
Then Enstrom …after setting up Kozzy’s first goal and William’s power play goal…fired in the game winner himself with 8:31 remaining. It capped off a fantastic come-from-behind effort, pushing his team on to victory, caused the crowd to go nutty with delight and allowed the Thrashers to squeeze by the Islanders 4-3.
During the third period’s massive push…Atlanta unloaded 12 shots on Islander goalie Joey McDonald. Both teams managed 27 each for the night. Meanwhile, the Thrashers’ defense was busy pinching off all third period attempts made by the Islanders.
Todd White helped his team wipe away the Islanders with a pair of assists. His team-leading points total has been pushed to 14 and he is currently on pace to earn…let’s see if I can work this out with a pencil… here we go, 88 points this season. Not to shabby considering last year he managed to eek out only 37 and that his career high is 60 from six seasons ago as a member of the Ottawa Senators.
Ondrej Pavelec overcame a messy second period in which he allowed 2 goals on only 7 shots…but in the end he earned his second win in as many starts.
Mathieu Schneider was unable to go Thursday night due to a hip flexor injury. He sat down for the first time this season and Boris Valabik was called up to play in his place.
Good news…Kari Lehtonen worked out with the team for the first time in a week. He could be ready to rip sometime this weekend, either Friday night in Buffalo or Sunday at Carolina.
Great win tonight for the T-Birds. After being down a pair of goals to start the final period, it’s always nice to come away with two points while the opposition gets…squat.
So, This Is What The Bottom Looks Like
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
That loud THUD that echoed though the crisp fall air last night was the sound heard when hitting rock bottom.
This is as low as it gets. We have sunk as low into the abyss as possible…it gets no deeper than this.
Can’t get any “bottom-er”.
We woke up this morning to find that the worst possible scenario has become…reality.
No…I’m not talking about the Republican Party and the thumping it got in the elections on Tuesday. And, no, I’m not speaking of the stock market over the past month and a half.
I’m referring to the fact that today…Wednesday November 5, 2008…we find that our Atlanta Thrashers are at the bottom of the NHL standings.
The combination of a 2-1 Islanders win over the Rangers and overtime loss by the L.A. Kings to the Anaheim Ducks has left the Thrashers one point behind New York and tied with the Kings at 8 points. However, given the fact that Atlanta has played one game more than Los Angeles…that means the Thrashers’ .333 Points% place them dead last in the league.
All of this in spite of last Sunday’s 5-3 win over the Florida Panthers.
Well, at least it took almost a month into this season to get to this point…whereas last year it was right off the bat.
Looking for silver linings?
Well…the Thrashers will get an opportunity to do something about their predicament as early as tomorrow night when the New York Islanders pay a visit to Philips Arena. A win for the home team will lift them out of the basement and, possibly, as high as 13th place in the conference, (depending on the outcome of the Panthers vs. Kings game later that night).
Let’s also keep in mind that at this time last season, the Thrashers had exactly 8 points after 12 games played and were at or near the bottom of the pile…but by Thanksgiving they had worked their way to a record of 11-10-0 for 22 points and were back in the thick of contention.
So…history proves the ship can be righted in fairly short order and there can be change made from the bottom up.
(I’ve heard that line somewhere recently…but I just can’t remember where).
Also, this time around Atlanta has a much better head coach dealing with the team then the one who was behind the bench after the 0-6-0 start last season. John Anderson and Co., I believe, are the right men to handle this job…this team.
Now, as can only be expected…there are rumblings in regards to whether or not Don Waddell needs to be on alert for the swinging ax of accountability. Craig Custance recently took up this subject and, according to Bruce Levenson, his job is safe for now.
If I may be allowed my two cents here… even though any other NHL organ-I-zation…or for that matter, any other professional sports franchise…would have long ago decided to make a change in the front office by now, the fact of the matter is that if Waddell was not fired after last season then I highly doubt ownership will make a move this early in the season.
Despite the history…
Despite the record…
Despite the half-empty arena…
Despite the decisions made…
Despite, it seems, all logic…
Don’t look for any…change…in this particular office.
Election Day Special
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Tuesday November 4, 2008…election day. After two years of the candidates telling us what they think, it’s finally time for us to tell them what we think. Don’t let that chance pass by without exercising your official voice. Otherwise… don’t come whining and complaining to me later.
So, in honor of this day…and the fact that we have a few days in between games…I thought I would put together a ballot of candidates, items and initiatives relating to the Thrashers for you to vote on.
Now, polls will remain open until my next posting…this isn’t Chicago, so only vote once…and please be sure to push all the way through the ballot so there are no hanging chads.
Also…this is a “Party & Politics Neutral Zone” today. No campaigning at all…got it?
Very well then…
1. Most Outstanding Thrashers Player So Far
A. Todd White - 3G and 9A for 12 points, (team lead), & +/- of 0
B. Bryan Little - 6G, (tied team lead), and 3A for 9 points & +2
C. Slava Kozlov - 6G, (tied team lead), and 3A for 9 points & -4
D. Ron Hainsey - Strong defensive play to go with 2G and 5A for 7 points & -1
2. Most Disappointing Thrashers Player So Far
A. Mathieu Schneider - 1G and 3A for 4 points & -11
B. Johan Hedberg - 0W and 2L with .817 SV% and 6.41 GAA
C. Jason Williams - 2G and 3A for 5 points & -4
D. Tobias Enstrom - 0G and 2A for 2 points & -5
3. Most Impressive Team Stat
A. 29.5 shots per game average - 15th in NHL, (last season 25.8)
B. 51 assists on 31 goals
C. 50.5% Face Offs won - 13th in NHL
D. 2-0-2 in intra-divisional games
4. Most Distressing Team Stat
A. 3.83 GA/G - 29th in NHL
B. 33.9 SA/G - 29th in NHL
C. 15.8% Power Play - 22nd in NHL
D. 2.50 G/G - 25th in NHL
5. Best Way To Improve Lagging Attendance
A. More 2 for 1 ticket deals
B. Improve/Increase STH perks
C. Just win, baby!
D. 50/50 raffle winner also gets date with a Blue Crew member
6. Best Thing About Low Attendance
A. Chuckling while passing by scalpers outside of Philips Arena
B. Plenty of leg room to spread out
C. Buying $10 seat and being escorted by ticket reps to lower-level seat so that arena looks “full” on national TV game
D. For the price of one seat, you can pretend that you own the whole section
7. Most Troubling Thing About Low Attendance, (Unopposed)
A. Higher chance of being shown on the Kiss-Cam with someone you…ahem…shouldn’t be at the game with
B. (Write-In Vote)
8. For those of you choosing to “vote with your wallets” by not attending games, what would most cause you to start attending again?
A. New general manager
B. Lower ticket prices
C. More wins from the team
D. PJ serving drinks and snacks to you at your seat
9. Which Former Thrasher Would You Rather Have Back On The Roster?
A. Marian Hossa
B. Marc Savard
C. Braydon Coburn
D. Ilya Kovalchuk (Oops sorry, he’s not supposed to be on the ballot until the 2010 midterms)
Special Recall Initiatives
Pursuant to Fan Blog Rule # TH15-J3RS3Y-D351GN-5UCK5, should the team recall the third jersey which is proposed to be officially unveiled during the November 14th game versus the Carolina Hurricanes?
__ Yes
__ No
__ Burn ‘em
Pursuant to Fan Blog Rule # F1R3-WADD311, if the Atlanta Thrasher are forced to trade away Ilya Kovalchuk on or before the trade deadline during the 2009-2010 NHL season because he has not been convinced that the team is “moving in the right direction”, (ref. Marian Hossa, February 2008)… should the general manager of the Atlanta Thrashers, Don Waddell, be then be recalled and forced out of office?
__ Yes
__ No
__ Why wait?
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.
Where Is That Light Switch?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There is an old saying that beauty is but a light switch away. But this past week of Atlanta Thrashers hockey has been so ugly that not even the darkness could hide it.
All in all, it was an extremely un-good week for the home team. They played three games and lost by scores of 7-0, 3-2 and 6-1. That’s a combined total of 16-3.
That’s sixteen to freakin’ three…ugly.
While watching last night’s 6-1 mugging in New Jersey, there were exactly three things that I thought looked good emanating from my television.
One: Slava Kozlov notching his fifth goal of the season…tying him with Bryan Little for the team lead in that department. I thought his reaction…or lack of one…was very appropriate given the circumstance at the time. It was also very telling of his frustration right now.
Two: Ron Hainsey coming to the defense of Garnet Exelby after his defensive partner had taken an elbow high during the second period. Too many times a Thrasher player will get roughed up and no teammate seems to take exception to it. I’ll also add that the two of them have looked like the best pairing so far this season.
Three: Lastly…there was the lovely blonde from the Ed Voyles Honda commercial. But I don’t think that counts here.
Outside of that, everything I saw was ugly…no, butt-ugly!
Johan Hedberg started the game in place of Kari Lehtonen who was reported to be “under the weather”. Moose looked decent in the first period, stopping 11 of the 12 shots taken. But life began to suck for him shortly after the first intermission as five goals were scored by the Devils in the middle period…well actually, four were and one came off of Mathieu Schneider’s stick. Another goal was scored while a New Jersey player was laying on Hedberg.
In his last four periods of work, Moose has seen 10 goals scored on him. That ain’t pretty.
Of the way the team played in front of Hedberg, Exelby said, “I think it’s embarrassing…it makes me sick to my stomach”. I have to agree with the X-Man.
Over the past week, Atlanta has seen its GAA balloon to a whopping 3.91 and they are now scoring goals at a pitiful level of 2.27 per game. The power play is an anemic 15.1% effective while the penalty kill is successful but 75.0% of the time. And the team allows 35.1 shots on goal per game.
Those are extremely unattractive numbers.
Folks, I’m sorry to sound so negative…but right now, the Thrashers are not a pretty sight at all. There have been times over the past week that this team has looked almost as laughable as when MSNBC tried to pass Keith Olbermann off as a qualified, objective television news anchor.
The losing streak now stands at six…the last five without even the consolation point that comes with taking a team into overtime. Such a loss to Florida Sunday afternoon will make it six straight regulation losses in a row…you know, the way last season began.
You’ll also recall, general manager Don Waddell held Bob Hartley accountable for that mess…I believe stating that it wasn’t in as much that the team was losing but it was how they were losing. It was six consecutive losses… two of them being humiliating defeats of 4 goals or more…and being severely out-shot and out-hustled in those losses.
Yeah, that wasn’t pretty… wasn’t it, Don? Sure hope THAT never happens again, eh Don? That would be ugly, right Don?
Maybe ugly enough to even make the Spirit boys start thinking about who has been the one consistent figure during all of these disappointing seasons and maybe…just maybe…start looking for that light switch.
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