The Thrashers are fast this season. Damn fast. And will score a bunch.

The defense was scattered tonight and I think we are in trouble with the defensive efforts from our forwards. We will have many 6-4 games during the season. But, and a big but, we are capable of leading the league in scoring. Our first 3 lines will all be able to put pucks in the net on a regular basis. The 4th line will also benefit as the change up pitch. 3 high speed skill lines and 1 grinding line that will dig hard in the corners.

I am curious to see how we do out west. The Thrashers very easily could come out of the trip with 9 points after 6 games if they are focused. We also could come out with 4 points if we do not play 60 minute games.

Who sits when Army oomes back? IMHO I though the White line looked the worst of the 4 tonight and the stats appear to support that. Thought that Kane held up better than expected tonight and looked better than both Kozlov and Max.

Goaltending will not be the problem. Any team that consistently gives up 39 SOG as the Thrash did again tonight will not thrive.

Overall I thought the team looked much better than at the opening of last year (even considering routing the Caps on opening night). And team looks more committed than any Thrasher team I have seen.

If you have Center Ice, Calgary and Edmonton are dropping the gloves. Nothing unusual there. It’s Calgary 3, Edmonton 1. Phoenix is up, 2-0, on the L.A. Kings after 1 period.

A report surfaced on the NHL Network that a Toronto investor group is interested in buying the Atlanta Thrashers and relocating them to Winnipeg. *Sigh.* Why don’t they just buy the Leafs or Senators? It’s all wishful thinking on their part. Hockey teams bleed money and recoup them via resale. There’s no way they could pay rent in Winnipeg and here in Atlanta at the same time. The Thrashers cannot leave Atlanta until that lease is up, in 2019. Period, the end. This won’t happen. And Commissioner won’t let it happen. If the NHL really wanted a team in Winnipeg, they could just agree to expand the league. I have no problem with a team based in Winnipeg. If it simply “must” be a relocation, why not move Phoenix back there?? That actually seems like a move that makes sense.

Speaking of TOI, what about the D? I was curious about Mark Popovic’s time. It turned out to be 14:54. Not too bad! Kubina played 20:22. Bogosian logged 20:38. Hainsey has 18:47. Salmela, who had a goal, played 15:59. And Enstrom was the leader in minutes played, with 23:50.

Pavelec was a little shaky. He’s got work to do. He gave us three goals and was out of position several times. But overall, he stopped 36 of 39 shots. Again, this reflects too many shots against. Tampa had double-digit shots in each period. That may have, in part, been due to the Thrashers trying to nurse a 4-0 lead. It’s clear … that this team will have to work on playing with a lead. The Bolts made it, 4-3. And we almost handed them a point in a game where they had no business earning one. Tampa surrendering six (6) goals on Opening Night is too many. I don’t think Smith is the answer in the Lightning net.

It was completely easy to ignore the 4th line. But really, for guys who barely played six minutes, they were all a +1, with Boulton and Thorburn getting assists. Guess who was utterly INVISIBLE tonight? Yep, Slava Kozlov, who was -1, with 16:26 of ice time. Max Afinagenov was a -1, with 14:54. Todd White was a -1, with 19:41 TOI. White got banged up a little while drawing a penalty.

Kovy took a penalty that created a 4 on 3 situation, where the Lightning cashed in on a PPG. Marty St. Louis had a very good night for Tampa, with two goals, and nearly a third.

Toby Enstrom had two (2) assists and was a +1. The whole blueline was a +1. Evander Kane played 11:09, was a +1, and has an assist. It was a good night for the blueline, considering Bogosian and Salmela got goals, in addition to Enstrom’s multi-point night.

However, we did not get caught standing around in our own zone as much this game, did a little in 2nd period.

A couple good fights, and liked how we ruined Tampa’s big projected start for this season.

We won 7-4 last year opening night, good to get the win, but this is only game 1. Antropv was not very noticable during the game, and Kane
looked nervous, but I would be too if I were still 18… Gee What a nice thought !

GO THRASHERS!!!

Get those hands up high. Put ‘em down, you lying liars!!!