Five_hole, I’ll thank you to know that I have “tickle-cough.”

Question: “Why did Pierre McGuire refer to the Atlanta goalie as “Pavelex.” Or “Pavelecs.” Was he trying to be cute? Or is his Czech a lot better than ours?

I loved the Pierre McGuire kept suggesting that Kari was in trouble, had lost his job, and that Don Waddell could still a lot in a trade for him. I just laughed. Even if Pavelec has become the #1 goalie in Atlanta, Lehtonen still has value as a “back-up.” And if that is so, you don’t trade players who can capably perform for you, when called upon to do so. McGuire said “Lehtonen played very capably down the stretch for Atlanta.” So, Pierre … that’s why we should ditch him? Because he had a strong finish to the season? He’s so valuable, that we’d better trade him.

Honestly, how … HOW … ON EARTH … did the Minnesota Wild consider Pierre McGuire to be a finalist for the GM job vacated by the firing of Doug Risebrough? When you figure that they ultimately selected Chuck Fletcher … it was as if they channeled the season finale for “Joe Millionaire’s money,” where the finalists are a sincere sweetheart and a flamming goldigger. That’s how diverse the McGuire/Fletcher candidacies were.

But I digress. That was an ugly shootout. I gotta say it. Kovy’s move … I don’t even think HE knew was trying to do. And Peverley … was maybe still bewildered by his new found “millionaire” status … on his attempt. I thought Pavelec looked “okay” on the first two shots. But I think he was “mentally defeated” by the time the third shooter approached. That was a lame poke check attempt. Still, Pavelec stole the show. Much better rebound control. There wouldn’t be a pity point in the standings without his fine overall play. I think the shots against was 35 this time around.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Atlanta Thrashers have taken nine of a possible twelve (9/12) points on the season. And they’ve re-inked an important component of its future. It’s been a good day.

Whatever.

Anywhooo….let’s discuss the 2-1 shootout loss in Montreal here, shall we?

So, here is my prediction, the Thrashers go 3-1-1 and earn 7 points. Nostradamus has nothing on me.

I have to admit the line change in the 3rd period had me freaked out a bit having Andro-Kovy-Max out there at the same time. There was lots of offense and no defense. That is not something I want to see going forward.