AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 31
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Good Riddance 2008
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
When the Atlanta Thrashers take to the ice Wednesday night in Carolina it will be the eightieth and last game played in calendar year 2008. After Tuesday night’s 4-3 overtime loss in Toronto, the Thrashers will enter the year-closing game with a record of 27-40-12 in the 79 games played so far in ’08. That would be a points winning percentage of only .418.
Calendar year 2007, straddling the 2006-07 and 2007-08 season, saw Atlanta play to a record of 39-37-5 over 81 games… good enough for a .512 P%. In the year prior to that, 2006, the Thrashers were 48-27-17 over 92 games…which is an amazing .614 P%.
BTW, a .614 winning percentage over an 82 games schedule will get ya 101 points.
So, the Thrashers have gone from a winning percentage of .614 to .512 to .418 entering into the last game of the “year” over the last three calendar years. If that’s Bruce Levenson’s definition of “moving in the right direction”…I would hate to see what moving in the wrong direction would be.
Moose Season Open In Toronto
After about eight minutes into the game in Toronto, Atlanta held a 2-0 lead on the Maple Leafs and the Thrashers out-shooting them 8-3. It was about that time that a pistol shot rang out from the game warden’s office and Moose Season was officially underway.
The Leafs then fire 43 shots on Moose in the final 52 minutes of regulation, then added one final blow 33 seconds into overtime for the kill.
In all, Toronto outshot the Thrashers 47-31 in 6o minutes and 33 seconds as Toronto simply moved at will throughout the Atlanta zone. In fact, in the past two games played against the Maple Leafs, Atlanta has been out-shot to the tune of 85-53.
Mind you, that’s not Detroit…or Boston…or San Jose…or Washington. It was Toronto.
To his credit, Moose turned away 43 of the 47 Toronto shots Tuesday night, (a .915 SV%).
Public Skate At A.I.C.
The Leaf’s ability to cruise though Atlanta’s defense Tuesday night caused former Thrasher, now TSN commentator, Ray Ferraro to remark that Toronto was moving through the Thrashers zone as if it were “public skate” in the Air Canada Center.
Ouch, Ray…just ouch!
A Little Power Surge
Bryan Little…what more can one expect from this kid than what he has provided over the past week? When Little took a nice pass from Todd White and scored Atlanta’s first goal in Toronto on the power play, it was the fifth consecutive Thrashers goal netted by No. 10.
I don’t know if scoring 5 straight goals is some kind of record for this franchise, but when my secretary Trixie gets back from her 3-1/2 week Christmas vacation…I’ll be sure to get her right on that.
Going back to the second goal scored by the Thrashers last Tuesday on Lonnnnnnnn-Gisland…to that opening tally in Toronto… Little scored seven of the next nine for Atlanta. In the past seven games, Little has a total of 8 goals and 9 points.
Who Should Skate With Kovy?
Mike Knobler has asked Thrashers fans just who they think should be on the same line with Ilya Kovalchuk. So far, Kovy’s skated with the likes of Marty Reasoner, Chris Thorburn, Jason Williams and Erik Christensen. Obviously, as Mike points out, Anderson’s not about to mess with the Little-White-Russian line, so that trio is off limits.
My suggestion…how about Marc Savard? Oh, no…wait. How about Pascal Dupris?…Oh, no…not here anymore either. How about Heatley, then?…Ugh, sorry. Eric Belanger? Wha…not here anymore either? Marian Hossa, maybe? Oh…%$#@-it.
looking at current line up “post-Waddell roster decision set-backs”
Oh, crap…just pick names out of a hat.
Happy New Year
This will be the last blog for me in 2008. And I may be a little scarce around here for a few days. At 9:00 this morning, my father will under-go surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his ascending colon. So, you know where the vast majority of my efforts and attention will be over the New Year.
Regardless, I wish everyone a very happy and joyous time tonight as 2009 is rung in around the city of Atlanta. Hopefully that celebration will be festive, fun… and safe… as 2008 departs us. Please be responsible in your activities, as we want to see you all at Philips Friday night!
Also…let’s hope part of the celebration includes a Thrashers win against the Canes tonight!
HAPPY NEW YEAR, BLUELAND!
