AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 04
Thursday, December 4, 2008
OH fer Canada
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Oh well… at least we don’t have to lament over another close, one-goal loss, eh?
Early on Wednesday evening, the Ottawa Senators gave the Thrashers a healthy dose of Heatley, Spezza and Alfredsson…out-shooting Atlanta 19-8 in the first period on their way to a 3-1 lead by the first intermission. Daniel Alfredsson had a goal and an assist, Jason Spezza added a goal and the former Thrasher Dany Heatley chipped in with a goal and two assists…all in the first period.
In the second period the Thrashers had plenty of opportunities to get back into the game. Ottawa spent 4 minutes and 8 second straight killing off penalties…1:52 of which was of the 5 on 3 variety…but kill them off they did, giving the Thrasher absolutely nuthin’! They then rubbed a little salt in the wound by scoring with a buck-six remaining before the second break.
Oh…and it was a power play goal.
Atlanta finished OH-fer-six on the power play…Ottawa was successful on two of their three man advantages.
In the end, it was a 5-1 defeat and the Thrashers ended their two-game trip north of the border OH-fer-Canada, unable to add to their 19 points in the standings and being outscored 10-5.
OH-fer…cryin’ out loud!
The lone bright spot for the boys of Blueland came at the 2:53 mark of the game when Eric Boulton sailed off of Schneid Island…notching his first of the year. Joey Crabb’s assist on Bolts’ goal was his first ever NHL point.
Oh, And Speaking Of Dany Heatley
As you will remember, in August of 2005 Heater asked to traded away from the Atlanta Thrashers organ-I-zation and Don Waddell accommodated his request. He sent Dany to the Senators in exchange for Marian Hossa and Greg deVries.
Since that time, Atlanta is 126-115-30…a .520 points %. They have qualified for post-season once, going 0-4.
Ottawa is 152-87-30…a .621 points %. They have qualified for the playoffs in each season Heatley has played there, going 18-14 and winning the Eastern Conference championship in 2007.
I know…I know…comparing the two organ-I-zations is like apples and oranges. But I thought it was still worth noting.
Oh, And Speaking Of Marian Hossa
OK…now let’s take the above exercise a step further. As noted, since the Heatley trade Atlanta has played to a record of 126-115-30. However, when Marion Hossa was on the Thrashers roster the record was 113-90-23…a .551 points %. Last season Hossa was not convinced that the Thrashers organ-I-zation was…ahem…moving in the right direction, refused to re-sign and forced Don Waddell to trade him away at the deadline. Since Waddell traded Hossa away with Pascal Dupuis, Atlanta has skated to a record of 13-25-7…that’s a .367 points %.
A .367 points % stretched out over a full season is good enough for a whopping 60 points.
Oh, And Speaking Of Don Waddell
Did you notice that Don’s name was consistent when discussing the Heatley and Hossa deals? Well, that’s because he has been involved with not only those trades but also every other deal the Thrashers have ever made… including the infamous Zhitnik for Coburn trade in February 2007…seeing that he’s the only general manager the team has ever had.
Oh…and while we’re at it, since the Zhitnik/Coburn deal, Atlanta’s record has been 54-69-12, a .444 points % and Zhitnik has made his way back across the Atlantic. Philadelphia, meawhile, is 72-52-17, a .571 points %, they won 13 of the 18 playoff games they were in last spring and Coburn has made his way into an NHL commercial in which his toughness was the main focus.
Keep all that in mind on March 4, 2009…exactly three months from today…when Don Waddell will again be in charge of making “deals” that will shape the Thrashers future.
Oh…insert expletive of choice here.
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