Pavelec, Armstrong help provide point for Thrashers
Just gotta be honest with ya, the Thrashers can thank their lucky stars they got out of Montreal with a point…those stars, of course, being Ondrej Pavelec and Colby Armstrong on this night.
For most of the game they just seemed out of sync, not the same type of energy and drive they possessed in the previous five. This is especially true on the power play where they were able to produce one whole shot on goal during 6 power play tries…thank you Evander Kane.
Making one of his 34 saves, Opie denies Montreal's Mike Cammalleri in the second period (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Ryan Remiorz)
But, sometimes a team has to find a way to be successful when they are not at their best and the Thrashers worked their way through it to bring home a point via a 2-1 shootout loss to Montreal. That point brings the total to 7 earned on this early season 5-game road trip.
Seven points out of ten…I will take that any day.
Pavelec played very well in goal again for Atlanta, stopping 27 of the 28 shots faced in regulation…yes, you read that correctly, the Thrashers held a team to under 30 SOG during 60 minutes of action for the first time all season. However, Opie saved his best for the five minute overtime period in which he kicked out all seven that he faced. Many in dramatic fashion.
Of the 35 total shots Pavelec faced, 15 came while the Thrashers were killing off penalties.
Atlanta was not able to get off a single shot of their own during overtime…the last 2:35 of which having to be played a man down after Slava Kozlov introduced Scott Gomez into the boards rather harshly. Gomez sat for two minutes in the box for taking exception to the penalty. Slava, on the other hand, took a seat in the locker room earlier than planned as his actions earned a game misconduct.
Make no doubt, Pavs was the reason the Thrashers were afforded a chance to still steal away the extra point in the shootout as he came up big in Atlanta’s goal. Unfortunately, after stopping Mike Cammalleri on Montreal’s initial shootout attempt, he was unsuccessful against Gomez and Brian Gionta. Ilya Kovalchuk and Rich Peverley failed on their chances for Atlanta.
Is Pavelec playing Kari right out of town?
- Yes! Get what you can for him (49%, 65 Votes)
- No. It's still too early to tell (34%, 45 Votes)
- Kari who? (17%, 28 Votes)
Total Voters: 133
Loading ...Pavelec is now 3-1-1 with a .929 SV% and 2.37 GAA. As one of the announcers on the TSN feed put it, “Kari Lehtonen better get a ticket [on a plane]…because he’s heading out of town if Pavelec keeps up this play”…They then began to speculate as to what the Thrashers could still get in return for Kari.
Yes, it’s starting to come to that already.
The Canadiens took a 1-0 lead in the first period when Gionta was left all by his lonesome over on the left side. He circled around and made good on his shot at the 17:44 mark. Defenseman Christoph Schubert was none-too-pleased with the defensive help by his teammates on the play and let the forwards on the ice…Armstrong, Kane and Peverley…know it.
That third line made up for it, though, at the 6:06 of the third period as Army took a Peverley pass from the left boards and snapped off a winner past Jaroslav Halak to tie the score.
The goal was not the first bit of damage that Armstrong inflicted upon Montreal this night. During the second period he put a ferocious check on Marc-Andre Bergeron that left his knees wobbly and teeth rattling. Honestly, Bergeron did well to get back on his skates right after the hit.
Not to be overlooked is the fine play on the penalty kill once again. For the season, Atlanta now boasts the fourth-best PK in the NHL, killing off opponent’s man-advantages 88.0% of the time…I got dizzy just typing that. But the best man on that PK unit tonight was the one standing between the pipes.
While it was nice to come away with a point when the team played under par, I would have loved to have seen the Thrashers snag the extra point that was available to them once Opie got them into the shootout.
Still, as I stated above, seven points outa ten on this roadie is more than acceptable.
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115 comments Add your comment
Midfield
October 21st, 2009
11:18 am
Except for Army, the team skated with no jump. Totally outhassled. It’s probably been a good wake-up call: no team in this league is good enough to play on two cylinders – even your Atlanta Thrashers. Glovesave, it looks like Pavs is managing his technical kinks much better these days – save an embarrassing poke-check attempt on Gionta during SO.
Buzilla in CT
October 21st, 2009
11:36 am
So when no Kozlov in the shootout? That is idiotic. He is by far the best guy for that job. Plus I think I remember Little having a knack for it. Look, Ilya is the sh*t. We all know he is by far our best player. BUT, the man isn’t so hot on the shootout. Not his thing. Which is fine, use him if it goes longer than the first three guys.
Sara
October 21st, 2009
11:40 am
Buzilla – Kozlov was unavailable thanks to a game misconduct. Little was set to shoot 3rd.
NASCAR Dave
October 21st, 2009
12:24 pm
I like that idea of LEHTONEN for FROLOV… Good suggestion!!! I would rather keep LEHTS and try to trade MOOSE, but LEHTS would bring more in return…
Sara
October 21st, 2009
12:30 pm
BTW, just a little note – apparently Al Strachan will no longer be commenting on HNIC’s “Hot Stove.” Sounds like it’s mostly political – he got in trouble with the network for using the HNIC logo on the cover of his new book (though they swear that isn’t why he was let go). He also has been highly critical of Burke (can’t imagine why) and there’s some supposed pushback from that.
Either way, as far as I’m concerned, this is karma kicking him in the gonads for spreading that rumor about the Thrashers getting relocated.
GaVaHokie
October 21st, 2009
12:37 pm
Buzilla – Kozlov was unavailable thanks to a game misconduct. Little was set to shoot 3rd.
I thought that wasn’t an official rule. Just one that experts think should be implemented.
I thought he was allowed to participate if coach chose him.
Please correct me if I’m wrong.
Get The Puck Out
October 21st, 2009
12:48 pm
I think Kane should have shot first and Little second. ESPN has Kari on the tradin block. Frolov down below him. Hmmmmm.
RS
October 21st, 2009
12:59 pm
Kozlov got a game misconduct. He was kicked out of the rest of the game. The rule change is regarding players who take a penalty in overtime, I believe.
hip czech
October 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
After all the ‘don’t subsidize the ineptness any longer’ talk over the last two years it’s time to pay up.
Let’s hope the sheep start subsidizing the product…got your butts in the seats sheep!
Dwayne
October 21st, 2009
1:08 pm
Not alot of zip last night, last game of a long road trip? maybe? I’d like to see JA use the guys in the pressbox in the second game of a back to back. As long as its not Boris.
hip czech
October 21st, 2009
1:17 pm
wrong vowel…and it’s not like the o is even close to the e on the keyboard…GET your butts in the seats
Old Time Hockey
October 21st, 2009
1:22 pm
When is Kari supposed to be healthy (if that is possible) so we can start speculating about trades? Blackhawks need a goalie badly…what can they offer?
Darren
October 21st, 2009
1:23 pm
Rawhide, as usual, your thoughts were dead on about last night’s game. The effort, Pavelec stealing us the cheap point, being happy with 7 out of 10. Gotta work the bugs out before playing Washington, or those guys will rip Atlanta apart, if they play like they did against Montreal.
I don’t think LA is looking for a goalie… for now. Quick seems to be holding his own at the moment. Not sure who I’d like to see them trade Kari for.
Hokie, I saw your comments the other night about Bogosian, and tried to focus on him when I watched the game last night. Alas, I’m afraid you’re dead on as well. Neither Bogosian nor Enstrom had a particularly strong game. Both have the talent to play top-2 in the league, but not like last night. Need to be much better to shut down the Alex’s in Washington and all the scoring they have in San Jose.
Baldheaded Thrasher
October 21st, 2009
1:30 pm
THN (Ken Campbell) wants the NHL to suspend for 5 games. I believe a one game suspenion is warranted, it’s not like he has a history of cheap shots.
Smoothie
October 21st, 2009
1:32 pm
Wow, the Bruins can’t buy a BREAK these days. Ha! Get it, sorry.
Savard now out for 4 weeks with a broken foot. Chiarelli really must’ve pissed off the hockey gods somehow.
They probably aren’t a good trade partner, but man I would love to see Blake Wheeler in a Thrasher jersey! He reminds me a lot of Armstrong, but he’s a stronger “wheeler”…sorry, the puns just fell into my lap.
Baldheaded Thrasher
October 21st, 2009
1:34 pm
Left out THN suspension for Kozlov.
Buzilla in CT
October 21st, 2009
1:44 pm
See what happens when I don’t have center Ice. I missed everything
Dandylions
October 21st, 2009
1:59 pm
I don’t have Center Ice either but I remembered someone on here saying it was free for awhile so last night I checked and lucky me I found the game on channel 773 on Comcast. Wasn’t a pretty game but a point is a point.
GaVaHokie
October 21st, 2009
2:05 pm
This is the last week of free Center Ice on Dish Network… I also want to add, Thank God that TSN picked up the game last night. I thought I was going to have to hear it in French on CBC.
Old Time Hockey
October 21st, 2009
2:30 pm
The killer is DirecTV not carrying Versus anymore. They can’t agree and we get the shaft. Wonder what Bettman thinks about that.
GaVaHokie
October 21st, 2009
2:40 pm
Sara… where did you see the Al Strachan story?
Smoothie
October 21st, 2009
2:48 pm
@ hip czech – calling on our resident czech blogger to clear up the Pavelec pronounciation controversy…which is it?
Pave-LECK
Pave-LITS
Pave-LISH
J.B.
October 21st, 2009
3:05 pm
I also heard Pave-LECKS and Pave-LECH
GaVaHokie
October 21st, 2009
3:10 pm
I usually pronounce it Pav-uh-lick
Sara… nevermind on the Strachan story, i found it… I should learn to reference HFboards before I ask questions.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/on-hot-stove-head-shots-and-gemini-honours/article1332002/
GaVaHokie
October 21st, 2009
3:11 pm
I think I’ve even heard Kamal say it like Pav-uh-luck before.
Lee
October 21st, 2009
3:14 pm
ohhhh baby was pav-uh-lick hot yesterday or what!!!!!???? kari may not hav a job when he comes back!!
ben
October 21st, 2009
3:15 pm
glad people see that Lehtonen is almost outta here.
this team is pretty good, and Pavelec makes it better
Lee
October 21st, 2009
3:17 pm
btw, armstrong’s hit was soooooo clean, clean as a whistle!!!! the canadiens were jsut jealous that they cant hit like that!
Spud Webb
October 21st, 2009
3:36 pm
World, why would Chelios come up w us? Andersons system seems a bit too fast for a 47 year old? I’m not saying I’m against it, but I also don’t believe Chelios is better than any d man (boris NOT included) that we currently have on the roster.
I think we have enough leadership and vets on this team currently.
Someone else posted lets go with the all russian line. It seems ok, but defensive responsability would be a HUGE issue with that line.
Smoothie
October 21st, 2009
3:37 pm
We better hope Pav-uh-luck continues to have good puck luck and his rebound control does not go a Pav-ah-lack-ing if we are to beat the Crapitals. If we give up 10 more ES shots on goal like we have been (say 40 – 30), we better hope we can win 4-3. If Pavy has a bad game, we’ll go down 6-2. Luckily, the Craps’ D is a bit shaky so hopefully we can exploit them at home.
hip czech
October 21st, 2009
3:46 pm
Smoothie, sorry man, but my Czech heritage only goes back to some distant relatives on my Mom’s side, so I can’t help out too much. I just used the distant relatives to come up with what I thought was a cool moniker
The c in czech would normally be a ts sound…guess it depends on how Opie wants it pronounced.
On a somewhat related note I was listening to the beginning of the game on the Montreal radio broadcast via XM in the car….Man, they butchered ‘Plekanic’ as well, but at least they were consistent, I think they pronounced it PLE-kan-ish.
Glovesave29
October 21st, 2009
4:03 pm
Buzilla – if you are in the box at the end of the game, it carries into the OT, or in this case from the OT to the SO. He was DEFINATELY unavailable.
I know Kari is not well liked here, but we are a better team with him instead of Moose as the back up. I have never been a fan of a starter getting 60+ games a year as goaltending wears you out physically. I’d like to see us split the goal duties no worse that 50 for the starter and 30 for the back up and have a really strong backup. If we can hold on and make the playoffs, having a fresher keeper is a huge advantage. If we need to trade – what about Calgary? Kippers getting older and showing wear and MacIlhenney doesn’t look like much – do they have anything on the farm?
R. Stroz
October 21st, 2009
4:12 pm
hip czech – I’ll behehehehe there for both games.
Hopefully, the Thrashers will beheheheheat the crap out of the Caps.
hip czech
October 21st, 2009
4:52 pm
hopefully we can keep Nicklas Baaaaackstrom in czech….
Hockey Biltong
October 21st, 2009
5:43 pm
Kozlov did not expect his hit to take the man down. It was unfortunate tht it did.
Passing out of our end zone was poor all night. The boys were flat. But it’s OK!!!
Brendan
October 21st, 2009
5:58 pm
Savard broke his foot or ankle. http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=502939. Poor guy. He’s on IR. Isn’t this his ‘contract year?’
Old Time Hockey
October 21st, 2009
6:04 pm
I believe Kozlov was unavailable due to a game misconduct, not carryover. I don’t believe they have a rule regarding penalties carrying over from overtime.
Glovesave, do you think Marty Brodeur or Roberto Luongo would like to split the season with their backup (or 1b if you will)? You win and lose in this league based on goaltending. We have sucked because our goaltending has sucked, period. If Pavelec could play like last night 65-70 times a year, you would be nuts to not play him. The coach has to manage the playing time to keep his goalie fresh. A 40 game season would be perfect for Kari. His problem is reliability. Do you invest in an unknown (can he stay healthy)? If he is deemed healthy and they get a decent offer, they should jump on it! You bring him back and hand him the job and he gets hurt AGAIN, then you’ll be lucky to get 50 pucks for him.
Squeaky Fromage, The Hockey Debutante
October 21st, 2009
6:12 pm
Did anyone notice how full the arena was last night for Les Habs? For a team that’s lost all of their games, you’d think there’d be a contingency of boycotters. Atlantans are Equal Opportunity boycotters – don’t show up whether we’re winning or losing. I hope that changes real soon, and not just for the Big Games. Maybe we’ll sell out for the Avalanche. And maybe Hockey Biltong will win the lottery…
World Be Free
October 21st, 2009
6:16 pm
Spud/Glovesave-from what I heard, the Thrash may bring in Chelios to tutor Bogo. Looks like Bogo is ahead of the curve and may not need alotta help, but it is an interesting concept. I think some of the folks in the media just look at Chicago Wolves-Thrashers connection as a straight line without considering Anderson’s system.
Sara-nice catch, I noticed that Strachan was gone from Hotstove too. Let’s hope it for good.
Strach is Canada’s version of Mike Lupica. He reminds me of the Weisel on Looney Tunes-and Mike Milbury is Forghorn Leghorn.
Hanson Brothers
October 21st, 2009
6:22 pm
To settle the question once and for all about Kozlov’s eligibility for the shootout last night, the answer is he was not eligible. Here is Rule 89 (b), Note 2 from the NHL rulebook:
(NOTE 2) Three (3) players from each team shall participate in the shootout and they shall proceed in such order as the Coach selects. All players are eligible to participate in the shootout unless they are serving a ten minute misconduct or have been assessed a game misconduct, gross misconduct or match penalty.
World Be Free
October 21st, 2009
6:33 pm
Time for Antropov to get going.
Also, Orrin Hatch and Obama want to investigate the BCS?
Pretty soon they’ll investigate why MBL’s umpiring is so pitiful.
Makes me appreciate NHL officials a little more.
JAmes_kovyboy from MTL
October 21st, 2009
6:50 pm
damn it was like the 3rd line, bryan little and pavelec against montreal
everytime the gomez line stepped on the ice, they created chances
weak, not bad, performance but i didnt see any domination like they had in Nj or St-Lou
anyways on the brightside were 4-1-1!, and i hope we win November 3rd guys
Viking
October 21st, 2009
6:54 pm
Smoothie, Hip Czech @ Co;
If a commentator use an unusual pronunciation of a players name, it is very likely that he has done the homework and is actually saying it correctly. (Non English) European names are heavily distorted around here. Our injured goalkeeper’s name has been mispronounced for years. Only Kamal gets it right when he is not excited: Lehtooonen without the “i” as in Jere Lehtiiinen. The NHL pronunciation guide is rubbish by the way.
I Googled a little regarding Pavelec and it appears they did it right last night.
HookyBob
October 21st, 2009
8:19 pm
4-1-1,…love that sound,…especially when 5 of them were in hostile confines.
I wonder if Chelios would consider coaching,..then he could work with all our D-men. I saw him play in 84 in an Olympic team game. He had just been busted for stealing a hooker’s purse. After 25 years of meanness and a great NHL career,..he’s got to have a wealth of things to pass on.
Pavelec may play best when he has a few days between games. That has been the case so far this year. Kari seems to loose his attention span with too many games in succession. So keeping them both and more or less alternating may give us the best back-stopping each has to offer. Wouldn’t that be sweet. Hopefully we could find somewhere for Moose in mgmt.
Wish Armstrong had also gotten an assist last night,..no wait the GH hat-trick is a fight,..not a huge hit. Would like to see a huge hit, a goal, an assist become known as a Thrashers hat-trick.
Who is our best shutdown line for AO? Along with Semin, Backstrom, and Green all coming at us,..the Caps have a lot of firepower. We all know about the shots we give up. Any predictions on the # of shots the Caps will get tomorrow night?
Glovesave29
October 21st, 2009
8:21 pm
OTH – Luongo has crapped out in the playoffs…why? He’s beat up, used, and in dire need of a break. Had he gotten more games off, I think the Canucks might have gone a bit further into the playoffs. Marty is a a freak, but then again, he’s behind a superior defensive team and sees a fraction of the shots other goalies do. I am sure they would much rather play more seasons with fewer starts then fewer seasons with more starts…everyone is playing for than next contract. The best comparison is running backs in football. They only have so many carries in them before retirement calls. Think of goalies the same way.
Rawhide
October 21st, 2009
8:34 pm
Squeaky Fromage, The Hockey Debutante – Hi there beautiful!! I was wondering how long it was gonna take you to finally post a comment up here using that most exquisite username. Tell Mr. Biltong that I said hello and I’m looking forward to seeing ya’ll at Philips.
sisu
October 21st, 2009
9:16 pm
the Kozlov hit was not a big deal, Gomez was leaning forward and lost an edge. If that was a suspension then what about the hit on Pop in the first by 46? Same difference…
If there is a suspension the I call bull crap! I listened to the game last night and just watched it now…
One thing thy left out is how they have the guy from New England from the famous snow game where Patriots beat the fish by 3 – 0. Apparently they do not like to resurface around the Montreal net and the refs got on him about this and made him do it right!
Smitty
October 21st, 2009
9:42 pm
I wonder if Kozzy and Ryan Miller are friends and this way a payback for Gomez taking out Miller last year. If I remember correctly not too much was said about that incident.
gcs
October 21st, 2009
10:22 pm
Are the Thrashers having any giveaways this year?
There is nothing on their website.
.
Bryan Lewis
October 21st, 2009
10:30 pm
THE TEAM IS PLAYING TERRIFIC. I AM GLAD TO SEE THE MOMENTUM CARRY OVER FROM LAST YEAR. THE TEAM NEEDS TO DO 3 THINGS:
1) GET ARMY RESIGNED NOW -HE IS A LEADER, IS GREAT IN THE LOCKER ROOM, AND IS THE TYPE OF GRINDER THAT EVERY TEAM NEEDS.
2) GET KOVY SIGNED
3) WHEN KARI COMES BACK, GIVE HIM A FEW GAMES AND THEN TRADE HIM