AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 04
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Absolutely Embarrassing
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Once again…the Thrashers failed to carry over any momentum from a win into the next game. This time it was the Tampa Bay Lightning that snapped the “streak” with a 4-1 win in Philips Arena. The Lightning used the win in Atlanta to leapfrog over the Thrashers for fourth place in the Southeast Division, thirteenth place in the Eastern Conference and leaving the Thrashers a mere three points north of the bottom of the NHL standings.
Thank goodness for those three wins against the Islanders, huh…otherwise, the Thrashers place in the standing would be really embarrassing, eh?
Tampa Bay came into the game sporting the league’s sixth worst power play, (14.2%), second worst goals per game stat, (2.34 G/G), second worst shots against stat, (33.1 SA/G) and their 2.97 GA/G was tied with Edmonton and Philly for only 22nd in the league. However, they went 2 for 4 on the man advantage against the Thrashers… Martin St. Louis and Steve Eminger did the honors for Tampa Bay… they scored four times, allowed but one, took 35 shots and allowed Atlanta only 28.
Folks, when a 10-18-10 team, particularly one with those stats, comes a-callin’ to your barn…on the tail end of a back-to-backer…having lost three games straight over a span of four nights… and they drop you to the tune of 4-1…it’s nothing short of flat out embarrassing.
Bolts goalie Mike Smith stopped the initial 27 shots he faced, but Erik Christensen’s tap-in with 21.2 seconds remaining in the games spoiled his shutout bid. Smith finished the day’s work with 27 saves on 28 shots for a .964 SV%.
On the other end of the ice, Kari Lehtonen wasn’t exactly having a Sunday stroll in the park as he allowed four goals on 35 shots. In the six games started since returning from his back injury that put him on the shelf for 21 consecutive games, Kari is 2-4 with a 3.31 GAA and .902 SV%.
Once Again, Win Streak Ends At One
Since the now-infamous five-game win streak that Don Waddell points to as proof that he has iced a “good team”… the Thrashers have won six games and netted 15 points over the past twenty-fours games. In fact, remove that five-game win streak of two months ago and the Thrashers haven’t won back-to-back games all year and are 8-22-5 in the other 35 games played.
That’s not good, Don. And trying to pawn off the team you are responsible for as such is…embarrassing.
10,750
That was the announced attendance at Sunday’s game. Yeah, that’s what they said…10,750.
Unless about 4,000 were all milling about in the concourse area all game…there is no way 10K-plus fans were in the building. The Spirit Clowns and Don Waddell should be nothing short of…embarrassed…at the sight of so many empty seats on a Sunday afternoon.
Several weeks ago, Don Waddell was asked if he was concerned about the attendance figures. He cited that the team normally struggles in this department early on but…once the football season ends and the lovely fall weather gives way to winter…folks tend to come out and watch the team he constructs at a much higher rate.
Well, the Falcons wonderful season came to an end Saturday, Tech and UGA played their bowl games last week and…last I checked…it’s been winter for a couple of weeks now. So now what’s the excuse?
Hey Donnie…here’s a thought. Maybe…just maybe…it’s the fact that the fans have seen what you have done to this team over the past couple of years and have decided it isn’t worth paying the higher prices that the Spirit Clowns put on tickets this year?
Just sayin’…
Keeping Up With The Bruins
The Thrashers have now surrendered 146 goals in 40 games played so far this season, which keeps them right on pace to see 300 get past Atlanta keepers. As awesome as the Boston Bruins’ offense is this year…they have only been able to produce 143 in 39 games.
“Give-A-Crap Level Was Like At Zero”
Those were the words of Thrashers head coach John Anderson after the 4-1 beat-down at the hands of the “mighty” Tampa Bay Lightning. He went on to add, “I’ve got to question whether anybody cares in that locker room. That’s a joke”.
Only, no one is laughing.
Although I have to agree 100% with the coach’s comments, let’s be honest here. The current general manager for the team has had 8-1/2 seasons with zero playoff wins to show for it…only 251 wins in 696 games…and has set the team back years due to his last two trade-deadline dealings.
If the Spirit Clowns refuse to hold that type of failure accountable, what makes anyone in that locker room fear that they will be?
Little Rib Injury
Bryan Little…and his team-leading 19 goals… left the game late in the second period with contused ribs and did not return. Coach Anderson indicated that he did not know how long Little would be out, but said that ribs are normally something that need weeks, not days, to heal.
Joy…rapture.
A Good Day For Mike Smith
On Sunday, the Associated Press named Falcons head coach Mike Smith NFL Coach of the Year. A few hours later, Tampa Bay Lightning goalie Mike Smith comes within seconds of a shutout in Atlanta during a 4-1 win against the Thrashers.
So, it was a good day in Atlanta for those named Mike Smith.
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