Ice Man

By GTthrashfan

January 3, 2009 3:03 AM | Link to this

Well Rawhide looks like you’ve got a former Leaf’s captain on your brain instead of the SEDIN twins. Good thing for us Sundin isn’t playing just yet.

I’m doubtful this win will actually help us in the long run, but it was nice to see some players start to get back on track like Christensen.

By LAC

January 3, 2009 7:01 AM | Link to this

Some very interesting stats between Vancouver and Atlanta in overall team stats.

Vanc. Atl. 114 Goals 112 101 Goals Against 142 32 Power Play Goals 35 34 Power Play Goals Allowed 44 4 Shorthanded Goals 1 2 Shorthanded Goals Allowed 5 781 Penalty Minutes 555 20 Average Penalty Minutes 14

Pretty darn close except that ONE area we simply stink at Goals Against.

Just think… If we COULD cut down 30 goals off the GA, where would we be in the standings ? Think about it….

I just fail to understand why our defense never gets better, it simply stays the same. We scored more than NJ did last year… But how many fewer goals did we give up !

By T-Bone

January 3, 2009 8:05 AM | Link to this

Nice win and all, but did anyone see the US Slovakia World Juniors Championship game earlier in the day? Disappointing end to the tourney for the US boys. They outplayed the Slovaks but the goalie stole one plain and simple. What got my goat was the obvious anti-American sentiment of the Canadian crowd. Very poor, bordering on ugly, sportsmanship I must say. I thought we were past those types of displays but I guess not.

By Hotrod

January 3, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this

That was a good entertaining game to watch. Thats all I ask for in a sporting event. Way to go THRASHERS!

I dont know if anyone noticed but the Hawks were battling an overtime game with the NJ Nets at the same time the Thrashers were in OT. Flipping the channel back and forth every 10 seconds for 7 minutes.Kinda cool Atl. sport moment.

Kamal and XLB did radio. I am not certain if XLB has a radio career down the road for him, but his insight on what the players are doing and thinking was good.

By Thrashers27

January 3, 2009 9:29 AM | Link to this

Yeah, T-Bone, the “Hosers” in the crowd at Phillips last night were awfully mouthy as well. Canadians are usually pretty mild mannered. Must have had a few too many Molsons, eh.

By Sara

January 3, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this

LAC that is the unsolved mystery of Thrashers hockey. This year’s d-unit is roster-wise the best one we’ve ever iced (although the basis of comparison is, granted, relatively low). Half of it is comprised by two rookies and a sophomore, so in theory it should improve in another season or two as these guys gain more experience and their skills are better honed. That’s the positive to the problems.

The biggest problem still remains the team’s inability to clear the puck out of their defensive zone in an effective way. Either they ice the puck, or they cannot get it fully cleared and it’s held in at the blueline, or they just get outworked by the forecheck. And it isn’t just at even strength that we are seeing the defensive problems, given the attrocious stats on the PK.

This isn’t a deficiency on our D or a function of bad goaltending, IMO. It’s just the team D concept. I didn’t expect Anderson to turn this team into NJ or Minnesota - frankly that isn’t his MO and we all knew that going in. But I don’t think allowing sustained pressure in the D zone is supposed to be part of his system either - up-and-down hockey with quick chances both ways certainly - but not these 2 and 3 scoring chances per shift. But something defensively is just not clicking - either some system problem, the lack of physicality on our side, or just defensive retardness by our team (and lord I love him but Kovy has got to stop circling the blue line when the other team is in our zone - though I’ll give him marks for improvement - he used to circle the red line).

Anderson can’t do anything about the roster he has to pull from, so he’s got to work with what he’s got. He and Cunneyworth need to put their heads together and figure out some way to improve this team D. Focus on it every practice. We may not have the ideal roster, but these guys are capable of doing better than this. Bottomline is that without the talent, they just have to work harder at it and thus far they haven’t.

By Tincup9

January 3, 2009 9:47 AM | Link to this

Rawhide - I was wondering where you were headed with 6 cups of ice cream. (217 e1-2).

By my count, Christensen missed two open nets in regulation. His assist could have been a goal. I can only hope the OT goal helps his confidence.

Still would like to see a couple of games where #10 & #17 are on a line together. Little has been playing great in front of the net and could handle those hot passes from Ilya. Who knows, that could create space for Ilya to shoot more.

Was it my imagination, or was Bogosian on the ice during warm ups last night?

By stan drulia

January 3, 2009 10:15 AM | Link to this

Undefeated in 2009!!! Whoooo=hooooo…

By DWTOO

January 3, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this

T Bone - I’ve been watching the World Juniors and have noticed the obvious anti US sentiment from the crowd. It’s rather disheartening to hear this from your neighbors. What a bunch of poor sports!

I used to cheer for the Canadian team when not playing the US, but no more. They’re on the permanent list.

By five_hole

January 3, 2009 10:53 AM | Link to this

When I read Rawhide’s title, I wasn’t sure if I hit the wrong link. I think a lot of guys fantasize about being dominated by Swedish twins.

My wife & I nearly fell off the couch last night wen Eric Christensen scored the shootout winner. The only thing we could compare to was the game last year where Zhitnik scored the winner in OT. Who’d-a thunk it? And yes Tincup9, I remember he missed at least 1 wide open net in regulation.

Does anyone know what tweaked Boulton & Brown? Was this a carryover from last year? Did one tell the other that his pads made his a* look huge?

And what was the deal with the Canuck sitting on Valabik (and punching him) in the 3rd? Why wasn’t that a penalty?

One last thought; Kovy needs to learn some shootout moves. You’d think Koslov could work with the guy.

By j nes

January 3, 2009 12:02 PM | Link to this

Thanks for the shout Rawhide. It was nice to meet you.

I have been reading some posts lately that claim Kovalchuck is intentionally tanking it this season (a la Hossa last year). I was even starting to buy into this theory because his goal production has been off. However, after last night’s game there is no way someone could say Kovy is not giving 100%. It was obvious that his desire to score goals is as strong as ever. If you don’t agree check out his celebration. It was also nice to hear him tip his cap to the crowd at Phillips during his postgame interview.

By Rawhide

January 3, 2009 12:32 PM | Link to this

GTthrashfan - er, ah…yeah…indeed. Thanks.

Now, even though both Mats and Henrik are centers, could you imagine what the Vancouver play-by-play announcers would go through if both the twins and Sundin where on the ice at the same time?

Sedin to Sundin to start sudden death overtime…crosses the line, now over to Sedin. Sedin backhands to Sedin…taps it to Sundin, over to Sedin, back to Sundin who SHOOTs…rebound to Sedin who gets it to Sedin, over to Sundin who passes to Sedin…shoots…SCORES!!!

Sedin scores from Sundin and Sedin…in sudden death overtime!

Tincup9 - Yeah…I was getting some help from the oldest tax exemtion as well. The three young ladies, my two and Mini-PJ were all down there…so I couldn’t leave anyone out, ya know.

Five_Hole - My wife & I nearly fell off the couch last night…And you made a wide-crack about my wording?

j nes - Pleasure was all mine. And for the record, I think your observations about Kovy are correct. I do believe he would love to stay here, he just needs DW to do his job and put something/someone on the ice to help him further help this team.

Which leads me back to Tincup9…I’ve have long advocated not splitting up the Little-White-Russian line. However, I wouldn’t mind seeing what you and many others have called for with Little playing with Kovy. That could turn into something special.

By Midfield

January 3, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this

Sara, Kovy circuling at the blue line has nothing to do with the inability to move the puck out of the zone. In fact, everybody except the guy with the puck has to circle in search for open space, so the guy with the puck has as many options to go to as possible. You can’t have just one guy asking for the puck, because it’s an easy read for the forecheckers, but this is exactly what the problem is with the Thrashers.

By jlh

January 3, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

Midfield - I believe Sara was alluding to Kovy remaining basically at the blue line when the opposition is in active possession of the puck in our zone, not when we are attempting to start out of our zone. Kovy rarely (and I’m being generous here) comes back for the puck on the boards unless it is within a stick’s length, inevitably allowing the other team to maintain possession in our zone. I watch other teams wingers consistently actively pursue the puck on the boards in their own zone and wonder what is going through Kovy’s mind. Is he just lazy? I don’t think so. Has Anderson told him to hang around at the blue line? I doubt it. And if not, why wouldn’t it be something corrected in a film session? It leads me to wonder about Anderson’s ability to effectively get his message across or, even more worrisome, is he just not seeing some of this. Combined with our chaotic adventures gaining the zone on the power play and awful PK, I have begun to question Anderson’s abilities to coach at this level. These all seem like areas where a coaches influence, or lack thereof, is profound.

By sisu

January 3, 2009 2:29 PM | Link to this

Kovy has done the circling of the blue line all season, it is maddening to watch when the puck is 5 feet from him and he makes no attempt to try to get it. I think Little could do a few shifts during the game with Kovy and increase his ice time by a couple of minutes, no harm there.

The d is young, and they will get better but I think there are some confidence issues at the moment where the mental part of the game is fragile in regards to worrying about making a mistake.

Great win:)

By Tincup9

January 3, 2009 4:07 PM | Link to this

The math (and performance) works against the Thrashers making the playoffs. I am interested to see what Kovy does with someone else that demonstrates some creativity on the ice. With someone that can handle those rocket passes and bang home the rebounds he generates. If after a reasonable audition, the extra points generated by the new line combo’s doesn’t exceed the existing production - put Little back with White and Kozy. But what do we really have to lose at this point? Oh yeah, Ilya when his contract expires.

By Brendan

January 3, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this

Rawhide, have the Sedin Twins been re-signed yet by the ‘Couv?

By ranallo10 (in AT)

January 3, 2009 5:51 PM | Link to this

“Happy Ending Despite Swedish Twins’ Domination”

I love that title. I love Swedes too.

By Midfield

January 3, 2009 6:28 PM | Link to this

I don’t really know what is Anderson’s system exactly, but I know a thing or two about transition game. Which, with all do respect, many of the contributors here don’t apparently. If Kovy will have to skate to scoop up the puck deep into defensive zone every time a defenseman is looking to move it out, it means that he may as well play alone - up and down the rink. Good teams always look for a pass creating either a clean break away or an odd-man rush opportunity, but it will never happen unless the entire line skates. This team does not skate and move the puck in sync. I’m sure, Anderson is trying, but, I guess, the overall skill level is just not there.

By jlh

January 3, 2009 7:25 PM | Link to this

Midfield - I don’t doubt that you know more than I do about the transition game and I would certainly agree with you that this team does not skate and move the puck in sync, but my observation is based on two things. One: I would not suggest that Kovy scoop up the puck deep in the defensive zone, but just grab it when he can easily beat the other team to the puck to prevent the 2 minute cycles in our own zone which, more often than not seem to end up in our net (exaggeration for emphasis, although we actually recently had a 4 minute shift with 3 icings if memory serves) and Two: I’m comparing what I see Kovy do/not do with what I see the wingers do on teams that successfully clear the puck against us and create a rush down the ice.
I would rather see the puck on Kovy’s stick than on our opponent’s. That always seems like a good first step to me.

By sisu

January 3, 2009 7:43 PM | Link to this

Kovy does the same thing as our league where you have guys trying to cherry pick. Of course this is at a much lower lever beer league, not the NHL!!!!!!!! but if it worked one out of four times okay then but it does not. We all have seen this season that once in a blue moon Kovy has even blocked a shot. In all fairness Kovy is about 1000% better in two way play versus his first season.

By Midfield

January 3, 2009 11:45 PM | Link to this

Jih, there are two ways to receive a puck from your partner: by way of a pass, or by skating next to your partner and just taking it from him. Obviously, the latter is always a less attractive option, especially when a defenseman is trying to move it out of his zone under pressure. The pass is always better. But you need to have the rest of the line to create more than one - or none at all - passing lanes, and you also need an elementary ability to make the pass. Well, that’s where Thrashers are being abysmal.

By polskidawg

January 4, 2009 12:18 AM | Link to this

Happy Ending Despite Swedish Twins’ Domination - that’s because the twins didn’t offer a “big finish”…

By sisu

January 4, 2009 12:34 AM | Link to this

Swedish Twins?

By LAC

January 4, 2009 8:12 AM | Link to this

Found this is a section and thought it might be of interest… Any Thoughts…

Some of our bloggers have been saying send some of these guys packing, Stendec it says trade #32… I tend to agree.

So here it is…

The team has good amount of goals, goals arent the biggest problem for the thrashers, it is keeping them out.

here are transactions that need to be made until the 2009 season, to help them compete better.

Febuary- Atanta: White (2.350), Exelby (1.400) To Chicago: Sopel (2.500), Crawford (.650), 2nd round pick

In this trade Chicago gets the number 2 center they need, and a good number 5 defencemen.

Atlanta gets Sopel, who isnt having his best year but could get back to where he was the previous years, which was a number 4 defencemen who is good in his own zone. They also get Crawford, he is having an ok season in the AHL, 16gp, 10W, 5L, 1oTL, 2.80. .910. Has potential, young, never know.

Trade Deadline:

Atlanta: Kozlov, (3.850), To Vancouver: Bernier (2.500), Kesler(1.750), 3rd round pick

Vancouver Gets a scoring winger with lots of talent, could play along with sundin.

Atlanta on the other hand get a young center to play on the second line replacing Todd White with Kesler, And get Bernier who has been switched around lots of times the past few years, good potential but hasnt shown it yet since his first season, otherwise big player could bring 20 goals, 50 points.

Atlanta: Schneider, (5.750), Williams (2.2) To New Jersey: Zubrus (3.400), Greene (.600)

New Jersey Gets what they needed, and that is Mathieu Schneider, a good PP guy, big shot, good in playoffs, Devils do loose Zubrus, but get Williams, good on powerplay, coulld be a good fit in new Jersey playing with elias.

Atalnta gets a big player in Zubrus 6ft4 230 pounds, can play either on the wing or center, good on power player. not very fast but an effective player and good to have on a team. Greene is a young defencemen and can physical even with his size he shows he has potential to be a 4th or 5th defencemen.

Lineup after Deadline

Kovalchuk”A” Little Bernier (good line, Testing Bernier)

Zubrus Kesler Armstrong”A” (build chemistry, Grit with armstrong)

Perrin Christensen Crabb (could suprise in some games)

Slater Reasoner”A” Thornburn (Weak line, will play about 7min)

Sterling

Hainsey”A” Enstrom (Not a good 1st pair, but will hold for now)

Havelid Sopel (not a bad 2nd pair, if sopel can bring his game up)

Greene Oystrick (good third pair, with valabik alternating with oystrick)

Valabik

Hedberg Lehtonen

Draft- Tavares (with a shaky defensive team and ok offence the team could finish last place and get to pick 1st)

Summer:

Let go of: Reasoner, Perrin, and Havelid

Resign all RFA’s

Sign: Steve Begin from Montreal (1.000) 2yrs Can forcheck like crazy, kill penalties, and change the momentem of a game, and bring you 15-25 points

Francis Bouillon from Montreal (1.200) 3yrs Not too expensive for what he can bring to a team, and that is speed, hitting, and can play on the powerplay if you need him, is also good in the defensive zone.

P.J Axelsson From Boston (2.200) 5yrs Amazing penalty killer, can also score, good hands, perfect for a defensive style hockey.

Johan Franzen (6.000) 2yrs This is alot of money, but Franzen is very important in Detroit and to me 6.000$ especially in Atlanta is a very good price for Franzen. He is big, strong, can score and pass, just a perfect player, the only thing is if he can stay healthy all year, the thrashers could be strong if they make the playoffs with Franzen.

Manny Fernandez (4.500) 3yrs Is having a good year with Boston sharing the net with Tim Thomas who is also having a good year, can be a number one on Atlanta, and Boston will probably choose to stay with Thomas and Rask.

Trade: Atlanta: Lehtonen(RFA), Christensen (RFA) To Colorado: Svatos(2.350), 2nd round pick

2009 LINEUP

Kovalchuk”A” Tavares Svatos (Should be amazing to watch)

Franzen Little Armstrong”A” (strong second line)

Axelsson Kesler Zubrus (good line, could score about 50goals)

Begin Slater Thorburn (good 4th like, lots of forchecking)

Sterling Boulton Crabb

Hainsey Bogosian (Weak 1st pair, will get better, still rebuilding)

Bouillon Enstrom (ok 2nd pair, could suprise and become gthe 1st)

Greene Sopel (will get about 13 minutes a game, good 3rd pair)

Oystrick Valabik

Fernandez Hedberg

Crawford

here are the in and outs over this rebuilding process:

OUT:

Kozlov

Exelby

White

Williams

Schneider

Reasoner

Havelid

Christensen

Lehtonen

IN:

Sopel

Crawford G

Kesler

Bernier

Zubrus

Greene

Begin

Bouillon

Franzen

Axelsson

Tavares Svatos

Bogosian

theres it is …

By Sara

January 4, 2009 9:52 AM | Link to this

Midfield I’m not asking Kovy to get in deep but there is no excuse for him to be at the blueline and not marking the opposition opponent skating up high in the zone. As jlh points out, I don’t see players on the good teams pulling stunts like that. Hossa certainly never did that. Neither do Datsyuk or Zetterberg, hence the reason they were both nominated for Selke last year and Dats won.

I don’t expect Selke-like performances from Kovy, though I sure wouldn’t mind it. He’s got the speed to be a great back-checker though he doesn’t employ it consistently. But it takes a 5-man unit working in tandem to be successful consistently at both ends of the ice and Kovy isn’t holding up his 1/5 of the job.

Brendan no they haven’t - talk about instant top-line…

LAC most if not all those trades would not go down, especially with the pieces offered by us in return. Canucks aren’t going to part with Bernier and Kesler for one year of Slava who’s potentially on his last contract. Nevermind it doesn’t address Kozzie’s NTC. Williams I do not think is a good fit for NJ - not big and physical enough nor a supreme enough scorer to make up for that lack in the eyes of Big Lou. Detroit isn’t going to let Franzen get away nor do I think he intends to leave either.

And while I haven’t done it, I wonder if whoever put that grouping together (your post suggested you didn’t) bothered to add up the salary. I’m not certain if all that would fit under the cap just right off the top of my head (I mean we added over $10.5 just on Franzen and Fernandez). Nevermind the odds of getting these owners to pay for that much talent upgrade.

As always stuff like that is fun - but unrealistic. It’s why at this point I’m putting it all on Anderson and Cunneyworth. I don’t mean blame-wise, but just salvation-wise I suppose. While we all bicker back and forth about who’s responsible for this mess, regardless of whether you are right or I’m right, the net result is essentially the same thing - we cannot count on any changes coming from above. We can’t assume better players are going to get brought in, other than via the draft perhaps and certainly Tavares is no lock, last-place finish or not. If Anderson wants to win (and we all know he does), he’s going to have to figure out some ways to tweak the system to get better defense out of this roster. Something different, and it’s going to take hard work - blue-collar style. It’s the only chance we may have of at least being competitive in some capacity.

By HookyBob

January 4, 2009 10:22 AM | Link to this

Other than 3 more minutes in the penalty box what is the difference (line of demarcation if you will) between a roughing and a fighting penalty?

Whatever that difference,…it is how close Ilya came to getting a “Gordie Howe Hat Trick” Friday night. It was so good to finally see some feistiness out of this team. I’m glad Ilya’s bags aren’t packed.

Did anyone else pick up on (the ASG’s “press secretary”) Darren Elliott’s comment in the aftergame show that Ilya’s goal & assist and Christenson’s shootout goal meant we were “heading in the right direction”?

Go Blue (well Maroon today),…beat the Lightning.

By Sara

January 4, 2009 10:24 AM | Link to this

BTW one other comment, on the continued talk of putting Little up with Kovy. We all keep looking at this from a scoring perspective, but it’s missing the big picture. Little is going to learn more and develop more by continuing to play with Kozzie and White. Honestly, what is Kovy going to teach Little? Kovy’s gift is his natural talent and you can’t teach that. He isn’t defensively responsible like Slava and White are. And while he is a pretty passer, he isn’t the playmaker Slava is. How many times when interviewed does Little talk about how much he has been learning from White and Kozzie? That’s golden, and a major key to his development as a great all-around player. That’s certainly a much worthier long-term objective than the short-term benefit of watching the top line light it up on a more regular basis.

By Midfield

January 4, 2009 10:32 AM | Link to this

Sara, you need to be a bit more clear about what are you talking about exactly. If you’re talking about the inability to move the puck out of the defensive zone, marking a player is exactly the opposite of what needs to be done, which is to get open and ready to receive the puck. If you’re talking about marking an opposition player, it has nothing to do with moving the puck out of the defensive zone.

By glovesave29

January 4, 2009 10:56 AM | Link to this

Midfield - very true. Forwards should come back to help defensively…but no deeper than the top of the slot (equal to the top of the face off circles) moving in any deeper create havoc for the goalie as there are too many people in a small space. Once the puck is recovered by the defensive team, I’d want the forward to pass it back to the D so that they can fully survey the play. When forwards move it out from the defensive zone it must be when there is a clear lane, otherwise it leaves them succeptable to the lock and only leaves a dump and chase to move into the offensive zone.

By Jim

January 4, 2009 12:48 PM | Link to this

Great to win one and finally get a “shortie”. Same old problem- no stops in neutral ice. Canucks sailed into our zone unimpeded. We don’t need the NJ/MN trap but we do need to slow down the rush and stop a majority at the blue line. This is strictly a strategy/tactic change and I don’t know why we can’t institute it. It’s a good way to cover a few of our other weaknesses.

By glovesave29

January 4, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

Jim, until the Thrash make a serious commitment to forechecking, this is going to continue to happen.

By LAC

January 4, 2009 2:35 PM | Link to this

Sara, I did not come up with this artical or idea, I located if on a rumor site and thought it would be of interest…

So read the top of the artical please FIRST !

By Brendan

January 4, 2009 7:58 PM | Link to this

Yay!! We broke the shutout! Florida got a point, in a shootout, with Montreal. Both Florida-based teams gained points on us.

By Yer prettiest sister

January 5, 2009 8:35 PM | Link to this

You didn’t get me ice cream….

am now very sad.

(But it was a great game!)