AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2009 > January > 09
Friday, January 9, 2009
Devils Went Down To Georgia…er, Atlanta
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
As I was posting up my previous piece, taking to task the Thrashers goalies and their disappointing numbers on the season, I was thinking to myself, “You know, you just watch Bill…I’m gonna do this and the very next game Kari’s going to pitch a shutout”.
And as sure as Hell is hot…the Thrashers entered into the den of the Devils and Kari & company drop a big, fat, hairy goose egg on ‘em to the tune of 4-0.
OK, tomorrow I throw under the bus Jason Williams, Erik Christensen and Mathieu Schneider. That should do the trick!
Kari turned away all 29 shots that he faced including 6 that were tossed his way during a four-minute power play at the beginning of the third period. Speaking of killing penalties, the Thrashers were a very impressive seven for seven in that department. That always helps.
It was the first time the Thrashers held its opposition scoreless since the third to last game of last season back on March 31 when they blanked the Tampa Bay Lightning two-zip. Going back to the game in Pittsburgh Tuesday night, Kari and the Thrashers have held their opponents scoreless in four consecutive periods and a total of 84 minutes and 19 seconds.
Kari is indeed the focal point of praise for this win as he looked sharp, focused and quick all night long. But not to be overlooked is the fine team-defense that the Thrashers exhibited as well. New Jersey was not allowed to have a 60-minute “open skate” in the Atlanta zone.
Meanwhile, on the O-fensive side of the ice…following a scoreless first, the Thrashers came out in the second period and jumped all over Devil keeper Scott Clemmenson…who came into the game 15-7-1 with a .922 SV% and 2.25 GAA. By the time the horn sounded for the second intermission, Atlanta had put three past him on ten shots…Colby Armstrong, Ilya Kovalchuk and Jimmy Slater with the honors. Todd White had a pair of assists.
Scott did not return to play in the third.
However, Kevin Weekes did and was greeted with a nifty wrister from Marty Reasoner two minutes into the period. Kari and the D then denied New Jersey the rest of the way.
After the game Coach John Anderson called the win, “The most complete game of the season”. Indeed it was…and might I say it’s really good to see the coach smiling for a change. He’d been looking a tad stressed this week.
Yes, a complete game…and the Thrashers need more of these kinda games the rest of the way, (DUH5). Granted, we probably aren’t going to see four goals and shutouts from here out every night, but the effort displayed in New Jersey is what’s called for. What is really going to determine the “success” of this season now is how the Thrashers play in January, February and March vs. October, November and December.
They’ll try and build on Thursday night’s success Saturday afternoon down in south Florida when they visit the Panthers. Atlanta will once again be attempting to win back-to-back games since the second week of November when they bested Carolina twice in as many games.
If they’re to be successful this time, it’ll take another complete game. The Cats are playing well of late…beating Carolina 4-2 Thursday night. They are 3-0-1 in their previous four games and have scored 19 goals in that stretch.
But at least in Jersey, the Thrashers proved they are capable of such.
Movin’ On Up
The win, combined with losses by the Bolts and Sens, allowed the Thrasher to leapfrog over those two into 12th place in the conference with 33 points.
audible ooos and aaahs from the blogosphere
Next rung on the ladder… Toronto is sitting in the 11th spot with 38 points after their 6-2 loss in Montreal.
