Something to think/blog about
Folks:
I am off on assignment for a week or so, so wanted to leave you with a new blog.
Got an e-mail from someone that wanted to discuss the possibility of Dany Heatley returning to the Thrashers since he is reportedly not happy in Ottawa, but I see you folks have already been talking about that.
So, let’s throw this out there for discussion: There may not be a rich history here, but as Thrasher fans you certainly must have a favorite moment, favorite goal, favorite hit … Let me know what it is.
When I get back from my assignment, I’ll compile a list of some of the most noted moments. Then we’ll put up a poll to come up with the most memorable moment in Thrashers history.
Thanks for your help with this. It could be fun.
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137 comments Add your comment
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
8:36 am
When the Thrashers hired me
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
8:36 am
Figity First Beeotches
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
8:37 am
…figgity
B. Thenet
June 12th, 2009
8:40 am
Hordichuk’s first shift
Beating the Bruins 5-4 on poster night, I think Tamer had the GWG and posters rained down on the ice.
Rhodes jumping Tkachuk from behind after the play
Watching Ilya and Heatley both score 2 goals in a preseason game, and thinking the tide was finally turning our way.(way off on that one)
Kovalchuk points at Crosby
Odgers vs. Fedoruk, best fight in franchise history.
Philips Arena right before the first playoff game.
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
8:42 am
When Petr Buzek went to the first All-star game. Or maybe it was when We got trounced by the Devils opening night in 1999, or maybe it was drafting Patrick Stefan, or maybe it was Pasi Nurmemin groin, or maybe…
This is depressing.
Thrashing making the playoffs for the first time. There. I saved everyone days of posting
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
8:46 am
I have another one. Watching my friend almost get into a fight with Mandy Sutton when he came back after he signed with the Islanders after the game. Chris Simon had to hold him back (amazing that Chris Simon was the voice of reason). And what did my friend say to set off Mandy? That he wasn’t worth the contract in which the Islanders are paying him. The man with the buster brown hair cut went nuts. That was my own favorite memory (as I was between Mandy and my friend)
dwayne
June 12th, 2009
8:47 am
Exlb’s hats
Jimbo
June 12th, 2009
9:32 am
Snyder throwing his full body into checks.
J(Z)
June 12th, 2009
9:36 am
No contest…Philips Arena right before the first playoff game.
GaVaHokie
June 12th, 2009
9:39 am
Watching Ilya and Heatley both score 2 goals in a preseason game, and thinking the tide was finally turning our way.(way off on that one)
Kovalchuk points at Crosby
I second both of those! Good choices.
Smoothie
June 12th, 2009
9:40 am
The 6-5 OT comeback win against Brodeur and the Devils in 2005 (or was it ‘06) after going down 5-1. Scoring 5 straight goals against a future HOF goalie and such a stubborn D is quite the feat for any team on any night.
Thrashers27
June 12th, 2009
9:42 am
The come from behind win against the Flyers, in Philly in ‘03, or ‘04… I think…The Thrashers were five goals down and came from behind to win. I’m pretty sure it was Patrick Stefan who had the GWG in OT.
I gotta agree with the night we had the first ever playoff game. Philips was full of incredible energy.
GaVaHokie
June 12th, 2009
9:44 am
Dan Snyder memorial night was touching.
I also liked Exelby’s first NHL fight, TKO on Dwyer from Montreal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1J5X0cQIGXc
Sean
June 12th, 2009
9:47 am
I’m not one of those “I watch hockey for the fights” people, but the most memorable moment for me was a bench clearer in Edmonton. Pasi Nurminen leaving the net to take some swings at center ice with Ty Conklin. Man, I miss that pudgy Finn. He would have been a great mentor for Lehtonen. http://www.hockeyfights.com/fights/6250
GaVaHokie
June 12th, 2009
9:48 am
Are talking JUST at Philips Arena? If not, then you have to consider this… Exelby’s hit on Sundin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IPifDAomzQ
GaVaHokie
June 12th, 2009
9:50 am
Kovalchuk Points at Crosby
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2US4iaPjag
John
June 12th, 2009
9:55 am
Thrashers vs Flames in ‘07 second half of season. We were down by 3 I believe and rallied for the win. Kovy had a couple of goals and some big hits as well.
J.B.
June 12th, 2009
9:58 am
The last regular season game of the 06-07 season versus Tampa Bay. It went to something like a ten shot shootout and in the middle of all that, I believe it was Belanger who fired a puck THROUGH the glass. My details might be a litte off; I’d had MUCH MUCH MUCH beer that night, but anyone who was there probably remembers the SO I’m talking about. Definitely one of the most exciting games I’ve been to despite the fact we’d already clinched the Division a game or two prior.
Thrashers27
June 12th, 2009
10:03 am
J.B., I was at that Tampa game too and it just gave me chills thinking of it.
Sean, Pasi was the best! I wish he were still around. I think I remember him dropping the glove and trapper a couple of times. Man did he have heart!
John
June 12th, 2009
10:09 am
Thrashers vs. Sabres in ‘07, Thorburn (I believe) on a break away and just stopped on a dime in front of the goalie and scored. Real nice goal and a Thrashers win.
Brendan
June 12th, 2009
10:15 am
There are so many memories. Kovalchuk needs his own category, from his hat tricks vs. Florida and Washington, to a late goal he once scored vs. Montreal with 10 seconds left, to the time we got our 1st ever shootout win, vs. Nashville. That was a magical night. I think it was on a Wednesday night, and I went to that game on a “whim.”
Of course, the two playoff games, and atmosphere at Philips Arena, will probably make most people’s lists. That Red Wings game, with Michael Garnett in net, where Atlanta led 6-2 only to see Detroit tie it, but then Patrik Stefan scored fairly late in the 3rd to give Atlanta a 7-6 win. Actually, Patrik Stefan is one of my first memories. I took my Aunt to a game in the Inaugural season vs. Buffalo. It was Atlanta’s 1st-ever point. Amazingly, Patrik Stefan scored TWO (2) goals, and chased Dominik Hasek from the net. Atlanta had a 5-3 lead after two periods, but Buffalo got a PPG and a penalty shot goal. It ended in a 5-5 tie, I believe. But it was an amazing game. My next memory was probably the 2-0 win, 1st ever in franchise history, over the Islanders, on Long Island, where Atlanta’s 2nd goal was scored after the refs blew a clear offsides play. Hey, we’ll take it!!
But I’ll tell you … Kovalchuk pointing at Crosby, rightly or wrongly, is going to be on the finalized list. Some things just go to instant “memory burn.” For those who missed it, Crosby took a stupid penalty, that particularly enraged the Thrashers, and after Kovalchuk (or whomever scored it,) scored the PPG, he made it a point to come towards center ice to point at Crosby, who was emerging from the penalty box, as if to say, “That was your fault.” Now, I can’t honestly remember if the Arena broke out into a chant of “It’s all your fault! It’s all your fault.” But I hope it did!
Sean
June 12th, 2009
10:17 am
Marc Savard’s OT winner against Philly. We tied the game in the last minute or two. Then, Savard shot the puck between somebody’s legs to score.
Hossa’s hat trick against Detroit in ‘07-’08 was a nice moment in a terrible season, but I guess he only turned it on to impress the Red Wings.
Kovy pointing at Crosby has got to be on there.
JRY
June 12th, 2009
10:19 am
Two things stick out in my mind when thinking back on Thrasher experiences in Philips. First, the bagpipes playing before the first game after Dan Synder’s passing. To this day when I see the tribute video for #39 my chest tightens. It was unbelievable how drained I felt after watching a 2-1 win in October.
On a happier note, the number of fans surrounding the ice for pre-game warmups before both playoff games here. Yes, the result was horrible, but to feel the energy in the arena was intoxicatiing… probable in more ways than one knowing how a “good fan” participates.
Looking back at the two moments that stand out it seems to be more about connecting with the team, and a little less about an individual performance. Thank goodness there will always be a better goal, save, hit, and win. That’s how this fan feels at least!
dwayne
June 12th, 2009
11:13 am
The beautiful blond who sits behind the Thrashers bench sometimes. When she is not sitting there an old man is. Another note on her is that i’ve never seen her wear Thrasher stuff.
jason
June 12th, 2009
11:16 am
“The Point” – I have an autographed picture of Ilya doing that framed and hanging in my office
The 7-6 win over Detroit in ‘05: We get up 6-2, they come back and tie with four goals in 12 minutes, we win on a Stefan goal
Sweeping the Devils in 05-06: Down 3-1 in the first game at home and winning 4-3 and then down 4-1 in the second home game, coming back to lead 5-4, they tie, we win 6-5 in OT
The “Let’s Go Thrashers” chant that broke out during the playoffs where EVERYONE in Philips did it without the need for an organ.
Hossa helping to lead the beatdown of Ottawa in January after he arrived.
The Tampa finale at the end of ‘07: Sim wins it in a shootout after the long delay….I was having a heart attack watching it thinking if this had been to decide the division.
Every home Buffalo game in recent years
I remember the Philadelphia road game we won in ‘05 for all the wrong reasons. We were down a goal and had an empty net, and committed an obvious penalty with 15 seconds to go on a breakaway but the refs didn’t call it. Stefan goes to the other end and scores, deVries gets the winner in OT. But I really think we angered the hockey gods so much by winning that game that we’re never going to beat Philadelphia again.
Andy S
June 12th, 2009
11:22 am
I agree with Smoothie’s 6-5 comeback over the Devils, but mostly because I was actually at that game and was so ready to be disappointed.
Another would be the first playoff game in Phillips, it was so loud in there the whole time.
Hossa
June 12th, 2009
11:25 am
When I was traded to Pittsburgh.
Coburn
June 12th, 2009
11:26 am
When I was traded to Philly.
Jeff Schultz
June 12th, 2009
11:30 am
When I first discovered what icing is and I penned one of the many redundant articles about my vendetta toward Don Waddell. I can write the same article 70 times !!!
Ben Wright
June 12th, 2009
11:32 am
When I became a messageboard moderator. It was my life dream realized.
Craig Custance
June 12th, 2009
11:33 am
When I left this miserable inept paper to write for a real hockey website.
Ron Hainsey
June 12th, 2009
11:38 am
When this doomed organization gave me millions to make 6 assists to the other team – every period. Also I enjoyed being paired with Valabik to make him look worse than he is. I love passing to the boards in the opposite direction he is going to make him look bad. I will ruin this Salmonella kid also.
Midfield
June 12th, 2009
11:40 am
Great videos. Actually, if you watch “the point” closely, the animosity has been building since Crosby’s hit on Kozlov earlier in the game. This set off a tit for tat between Kovy and Crosby, which Kovy got the best of, quite obviously.
Darren Elliot
June 12th, 2009
11:49 am
I just read this on wiki about Heatley
“Prior to the end of the lockout, Heatley asked to be traded from Atlanta in hopes of leaving reminders of the tragic accident behind. After he declined a one-year offer well below his market value, on August 23, 2005, the Thrashers sent him to the Ottawa Senators for Slovak star Marian Hossa and veteran defenceman Greg de Vries.”
I never heard that Waddell tried to low ball Heatley with an one year offer? Again this is wikipedia so I have no idea how true that is, but still, that is bunk.
Dwayne
June 12th, 2009
11:53 am
Ron….now thats funny!!!!
jen
June 12th, 2009
11:53 am
The last time we beat Philly – we came back in the 3rd down by 3 goals, the last one being Patty Stefan tying it with a couple of seconds to go, then winning it in OT…I think it was the first and only time I was ever glad to have Patrick Stefan on the team.
Kovy’s finger point – instant classic moment
Beating Detroit 7-6….1st time we ever beat them, on their ice, New Year’s eve.
Tamer scoring the winning goal on Dan Snyder Memorial night was a big emotional thing
Brendan
June 12th, 2009
12:01 pm
Atlanta does play Buffalo really well. Wasn’t it just in 2007 when the Sabres were trying to establish a record for wins from the onset of a season and the Thrashers went to Buffalo and won? That game, maybe, should be on the list.
World be Free
June 12th, 2009
12:03 pm
Brendan- I remember the first ever point game against Buffalo too. I was cheering for the Sabres at the beginning, Thrahers at the end.
Brian Campbell was the Sabres 6th defenseman that night, which is why I always laugh when I think of him fleecing Chicago for $56 mil.
Thrashers play Sabres well, because the Thrash want it more! They are willing to pay the price, Sabres are not.
World be Free
June 12th, 2009
12:06 pm
How about this season’s come back win on the Leafs? Toronto up 3-0, Thrashers come back and win 4-3.
Best thing-I was at the game with my buddy from Toronto, all decked out in his Leaf’s hat and jersey. Always good to rub it into the Leafs.
Sara
June 12th, 2009
12:14 pm
And in all of this not a single person mentions hosting the ASG??? Altho I guess it isn’t exactly a Thrasher thing, but certainly a highlight and Kovy put on a show for that game.
Kovy punking Crosby was awesome. The XLB TKO of Dwyer. The first play-off game. Pasi’s donkey kong save. XLB’s hit on Sundin. Snyder Memorial Night. Heater at the ASG.
Those are the ones that come most quickly to mind.
World be Free
June 12th, 2009
12:33 pm
Hearing Keith sing the national anthem
Jarndyce
June 12th, 2009
12:41 pm
Forgive me if this wasn’t at home, but what about the game where Ilya sat two minutes for the illegal stick check, left the box, scored on a breakaway, and skated past the Oiler bench asking them if they thought Donovan’s stick was good enough for them?
bigjohnthrashfan
June 12th, 2009
1:49 pm
The first Thrashers home playoff game: if you were there, you know how loud it was!!!
Don Waddell
June 12th, 2009
1:51 pm
When I was fired.
……w-wait a minute!!
bigjohnthrashfan
June 12th, 2009
1:53 pm
Oh, I forget to mention the first Thrashers playoff GOAL!!! That was AWESOME!!!
(Should have kept Belanger…)
The Real Fan
June 12th, 2009
3:39 pm
When Waddell was fired.
Oh wait that hasn’t happened yet.
A27
June 12th, 2009
3:45 pm
The first Thrashers playoff game one of the loudest sporting events I ever been to.
Tom
June 12th, 2009
4:35 pm
Sitting in the cheap seats at in the early days for a 1-0 win over Philly. The section was full of Philadelphia guys who flew in for the weekend and were busting our chops big time. But at the end of the game we had the last laugh, and to be honest, the guys were gracious.
A few of others that I remember:
– Exelby’s first fight (great watching the video above),
– A skills competition in which Denny Lambert skated over and gave my son who was 4 yrs old at the time a puck,
– the night I yelled at Tie Domi when we graduated to the lower bowl and he heard me and I thought for a second I was going to be on SportsCenter (and SportsCentre) for all of the wrong reasons,
– And the many times my boys were rewarded with pucks from the players, especially Kari, after warmups.
Russ
June 12th, 2009
4:40 pm
First playoff win…no, wait.
Spud Webb
June 12th, 2009
5:17 pm
Yea, I think Jason posted it. Everytime the sabres come to the ATL the games are AWESOME. With the thrashers winning most!!!
My favorite memory was mouthing to the bruins bench in 06 (I was right on the tunnel, about 4 rows up) and I was giving them so much grieve Gill and Raycroft (wasn’t playing) had to turn and giggle, I had them laughing their &sses off!! Pretty cool for sure.
Then I got to go under one night and get my photo taken with Andrew Peters, it is sooooooooooo cool.