GaVaHokie, Salmela’s call-up leaves the Thrashers with three, unless they have an injury requiring an emergency call–up.

Kovalchuk was on the ice for all three goals. I think that makes him a +3, but I didn’t check it. Kari Lethonen gets his 14th career shutout, and second shutout in three games. Rich Peverley got the empty-netter, while the Aves D all focused on Kovalchuk. Did Todd White have the other goal?

Wow, I think the wheels have fallen off in Colorado. The Aves are the 15th place team in the Western Conference. Colorado might just finish in the lottery draft this summer. I remember when that team was in six of seven (6/7) Western Conference Finals, winning two Stanley Cups. Truly, they were a dominant and imposing team.

In case you’re curious, Colorado lost the ‘97, ‘99, ‘00, and ‘02 Western Conference Finals. They won the West in ‘96 and ‘01, over Detroit and St. Louis. Hey, wonder if Colorado will get back to the playoffs and/or win a playoff series before Atlanta does?

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Any idea why?

Que?!

http://thesudburystar.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1463941

“It’s pretty crazy right now,” O’Dell said following Wolves practice at Sudbury Community Arena on Wednesday. “I got to practice and coach told me there was someone on the phone for me. I didn’t really know what was going on and it was an Atlanta scout telling me I got traded to Atlanta.”

“I think there might be a better chance to get a spot there,” O’Dell said. “The scout was telling me they want to rebuild and they are going young right now, so that’s good for me. If I keep working hard and going well, there might be a spot for me there in the next few years.”

Hmm. Not so official, I gather.

But, shhhh. Be verrrwee, verrwee quiet. And don’t utter the words, “rebuilding.” The official company line is … “We’re close, real close” to putting together some good streaks. And be sure to talk about the playoffs, as a viable option.

And “ixnay” on the “alk-tay” about how the organization expects attendance to pick up after the Fall football season concludes. Peeking out the window … hmmn. Feels like Summer.

A-ha!! The reason Thrasher fans aren’t at Philips Arena is this EARLY SUMMER-like weather! Ya know, I think I might just make a career of “spin talk.” Putting on my Bruce Levenson mask, “I’ll tell you, Mike Knobler, I think this organization KNOWS how to sign FREE AGENTS.” And, to amplify, “Why tear it down?, when we’re so close.”

Well, I do see that we’re in range of catching Colorado, Phoenix, and Ottawa, to ascend to 25th place in the National Hockey League. That would, technically, be an improvement from last year’s 28th place finish.

And guess what ELSE it would be? (Say it with me!!) “Incremental progress.” Progress that, might I add, included a waiver claim acquisition of Rich Peverley.

Remember the rule: Even an IDIOT BLOGGER, via waiver claims and lottery draft finishes, could achieve “incremental progress.” If Atlanta regresses to 29th place, the GM would have failed to even achieve THAT MUCH. In case you’re curious, Atlanta leads Tampa Bay, by one-point, with 16 games left to play.

Through the first 44 games (pre-Peverly and pre-captaincy), Ilya had 16 G and 27 pts. total, averaging out to a goal every 2.75 games and a point every 1.3 games.

Since then, he has 20 G and 33 pts. in 22 games, averaging a goal every 1.1 games and a point every two periods. An unbelievable pace, no doubt, but if kept up for a full season, that would be 74 goals and 164 points. Obviously, that’s a little outside the realm of probability, but it gives you an idea of how hot he’s been.

Combining those into 66 game stats, he currently has 36 G and 76 pts., averaging a goal every 1.83 games and a point every .87 games, which puts him on pace for 44 G and 92 pts.

In 2005-06, playing alongside Marc Savard for 78 games (can’t recall if they always played on the same line), he had 52 G and 98 pts., which is a goal every 1.5 games and a point every .8 games. Also keep in mind that Savard had 28 G and 97 pts. himself that season.

Now, just to go way overboard stat-wise, consider this: in the first 10 games, Kovy had 3 G; he added 4 G in the second ten, 4 more in the third ten, and only 2 in the fourth. Between the fortieth and fiftieth games, he tallied 8 goals, followed by 9 more in games 50 to 60.

Had he had quality linemates for the full season, I’d have to think he’d have added 10 more goals in those first 44 games and be running neck-and-neck with AO for the Rocket Richard trophy, and in all likelihood cresting the century mark in points.

So Don, yeah, I think it would have made a difference, and who knows…we might have even won a few games along the way.