Bizarre goal the difference in Thrashers loss
Thursday night the Thrashers got a pair of goals from team captain Ilya Kovalchuk. They got a two point night from Maxim Afinogenov, scoring a power play goal and assisting on one of Kovy’s. Nik Antropov was good for a pair of helpers…his fifth and sixth of the season… and Zach Bogosian chipped in with a fine short-handed goal as well.
Atlanta held the Washington Capitals to only 28 shots on goal…the first time all season they’ve held an opponent to under 30, (although they did so in Montreal prior to going into overtime), and the defense kept Alex Ovechkin off the score sheet all night.
The power play produced 2 goals on seven chances.
The penalty kill unit was perfect on all seven of the Caps man-advantages.
And they lost…5-4.
The difference in this game…a one-minute and twenty-eight second stretch in the second period in which Washington scored not once…not twice…but three times.
Tough night for Opie (Curtis Compton/AJC)
It all began harmlessly enough as Washington’s netminder Semyon Varlamov moved the puck out from behind his own goal over to Jeff Schultz. Shcultz then proceeded with it into the back end of the faceoff circle to the goalie’s right and flipped the biscuit up-ice out of the defensive zone….through the neutral zone…bouncing it’s way though the Thrashers end of the ice…toward Ondrej Pavelec who was stationed in front of Atlanta’s goal. Pavs crouched to deflect the puck away from the net and….
Oh no…OPIE!
What in the world….OPIE!!
How did that….OPIE!!!
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot…OPIE!!!!
It took a bad hop up off the ice just before reaching him…freaky enough play…but really, if you are a goalkeeper in the NHL you just cannot let that wind up in the net. If a goalie allows goals like that too often…then for him N-H-L will stand for Not Here for Long…with apologies to Jerry Glanville.
OK…fine. It’s 3-2 Caps with half a game to play. Twice before the Thrashers found themselves in a one-goal hole in this game and both times they drew even shortly there after.
Washington had taken a 1-0 lead just after the two-minute mark of the opening period as Eric Fehr took a center ice pass from center ice and broke in of the goal. He beat Ondrej Pavelec with the shot as defenseman Christoph Schubert sprawled in an unsuccessful attempt to make up for being beaten.
However, Atlanta knotted it up via the power play…one that lasted but three seconds. Max took the faceoff win by…what’s this? Nik Antropov…and push it past Varlamov to tie the score at one. After falling behind 2-1, Kaptain Kovalchuk evened things up with 2:58 left before the first intermission.
So, two times already they answered goals by the Capitals. Certainly with the way this offense is clicking they can find a way too….
Oh no…what the….$#%@! …now it’s 4-2 just 72 seconds later!
Alright…two goals down and still half a game to play. We’re still in this game…if we can just….
Oh my Gawd…not again. 5-2 just 14 second after the last one as Chris Clark crams home a rebound off the boards! What in the wide, wide world of sports is a-goin’ on out there?
And with that came the end of the night for Ondrej Pavelec. After 31:48 second and allowing five goals on 14 shots, John Anderson made the Moose call. Actually, it was 13 SOG and that…thing…from 180 feet away, but I digress.
Personally, I would have given Opie the hook 14 seconds earlier, although I’m sure some would have liked for it to have happened after the freak-show goal.
Hedberg did his part as he restored order in the goal…stopping all 14 shots he faced and allowing the team to try and claw their way back into the game. Moose now has a 1.40 GAA and a .964 SV% during the game and a half he’s played in.
To their credit, the Thrashers did indeed make a game of it at the end. Bogosian’s shorty at 4:51 of the third gave some hope…then Kovy’s power play slapper with under a minute to play provided an exciting finish.
Atlanta went on the power play…oh sorry, make that the Coca-Cola Power Play… for the last 30 seconds when Ovechkin took a tripping minor. Afinogenov had a couple of whacks at the puck from the right side of the goal in the dying seconds…but he and the Thrashers came up just short.
Who would you put in goal Saturday night?
- Pavelec - He's earned the right to be first in the goalie line (60%, 67 Votes)
- Hedberg - Throw some Moose meat at the Sharks (40%, 45 Votes)
Total Voters: 112
Loading ...Obviously, there will now be some debate and discussion in these parts given to the question of just who Anderson should toss into the goal Saturday when the Sharks swim into Thrasherville. Does he return Pavelec to the goal…telling him he’s the number one guy, just shake Thursday night off? Or does he go with the apparent hot-glove by riding the Moose?
In the past, when the goalie in question was Kari Lehtonen, I’ve advocated putting him back in. A goalie is going to have an off night here and there…but if he’s feels as though one bad outing is going to cost him his job, the pucker-factor is gonna get a tad high for the kid. Opie has done well overall and I don’t think one bad game should cost him the starting job…at least not right now.
But I would have a very short leash on him Saturday.
So, I’ll toss the question out to you. Do you think Pavelec should be the man ‘tween the pipes when the Sharks attack Saturday night?
Or is Opie’s returning to the net this weekend…ahem…a long shot?
Drilled For Two Minutes
Ondrej Pavelec wasn’t the only person in Thrasherville having a rough couple of minutes Thursday night.
During the Two Minute Drill…an in-game contest in which a lucky fan wins a prize if the Thrashers score during a specific two-minute time frame…featured a good friend of this blog. I call him “Pinhead” because the hat he wears sports about 13,852 Thrashers/hockey pins on it. He’s the husband of “Libby”, who opines in the comment section occasionally…she would prefer it if I call him “Mr. Libby” here.
Unfortunately for Pinhead, the plan did not go accordingly as the Thrashers did not score during his allotted time frame.
Washington, on the other hand, did score twice…or was it three times, I lost count… during his Two Minute Drill. I believe Jay Bird told him that because of that, Mr. Libby owed him a prize.
Tough night all around, Pinhead! But hey…you still got to sit next to one of the prettiest ladies in the arena last night!
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132 comments Add your comment
R. Stroz
October 24th, 2009
9:56 am
Due to the AC/DC concert last night at the arena, expect the ice to be a little rough tonight. The crowd at Philips last night was a little red in more ways than one.
Darkhorse
October 24th, 2009
11:04 am
Looks like Hedburg gets the start tonight per Ben Wright’s tweet. I assume it’s reward for coming in and playing well after Pavs was pulled the other night. The Sharks offence scares me a little with Moose in net, but hope to see the guys all respond well from that sloppy effort against the Caps.
Rawhide-Sorry we can’t make the party bus, but the wife and I will be there cheering from somewhere in the club. Bring the good Karma and drinks with everyone!
Smoothie
October 24th, 2009
12:13 pm
I wonder if the Moose decision has as much to do with Pavelec’s physical well-being as it does his mental state of mind. He got drilled pretty good in his crease during the 1st period by a Caps player after Kubina slid along the ice to neutralize him on a breakaway. Or was it Kuby that slid right into him pinning his left leg against the post?
Adam
October 24th, 2009
1:11 pm
Did anyone see the hit Ruutu put on Tucker last night? I’m not a fan of either player & their both known for this type of play but that hit was way late & about as dirty as I’ve seen this year. This is exactly what I worried about when Carolina signed Ruutu. I’m glad he didn’t lay a hit like that on a Thrasher.
Anyone care to guess how long the league suspends him?
Adam
October 24th, 2009
1:38 pm
Wow, only 3 games!!!
I believe that players that deliver illegal hits like that should suspended for the amount of time it takes the injured player to return. If the hit is career ending then a lifetime ban is in order. ie Bertuzzi
Maggie
October 24th, 2009
2:08 pm
“if you are a goalkeeper in the NHL you just cannot let that wind up in the net.”
You are an idiot Bill. Nuff said.
HookyBob
October 24th, 2009
4:47 pm
Bill,…in my mind, you are a fine hockey blogger with a respected opinion. Please keep on keepin on,… just as you have been.
San Jose in 2 hours. Go Blue.
ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24th, 2009
7:12 pm
45 seconds…ouch.
ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24th, 2009
8:07 pm
At least in the second period they delayed the first goal against by 10 seconds…that’s incremental progress.
ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24th, 2009
8:17 pm
Per the SJ peeps, Kovalchuk is out for the rest of the game after “taking a shot off the foot”. The replays showed that Marleau should’ve gotten the goal, the puck was rather clearly in the net before the net was dislodged (which was before the whistle).
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
8:26 pm
San Jose’s announcers are crying a river of tears that Marleau’s rush to the net, where the puck winds up under Hedberg, in the net, was a disallowed goal. They’re utterly flabberghasted. “Toronto’s wrong. They’re just wrong. How can they not rule that a goal? How? When you have conclusive evidence of a puck in the net? That’s why we go to review. I’m not buying it. I’m not buying it, at all.”
Ay, aye, aye. It was 3-0, San Jose, at the time. “And now, look! Todd White scores. That MISSED CALL is now a 2-goal swing.” Waaaaah.
If I owned the Kleenex Company, I’d ask this San Jose broadcast crew to be my spokespeople.
Sharks score. It’s now 4-1. It was a fluke goal, that caromed in off Marty Reasoner. The shooter? Atlanta’s Ron Hainsey. So, that’s Reasoner, from Hainsey, for the Sharks. Hedberg’s night is over. Andre Pavelec is now over.
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
8:29 pm
Ondrej, even. Sorry. That’s a big mea culpa.
Tom
October 24th, 2009
8:29 pm
ugh…
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
8:31 pm
So, all of a sudden, the Thrashers have lost three in-a-row? 4-1 is a big hill to climb. So, Kovy’s out, too?
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
8:56 pm
Florida’s David Booth may have sustained a very serious injury tonight when he was drilled by Philly’s Mike Richardson. Richardson caught Booth with his head down, entering the Flyers zone. Booth saw him at the last possible second but couldn’t really brace the impact. After the collision, Booth took a face-plant directly onto the ice. He did not appear to move. Booth was carried out on a stretcher. The hit was so noteworthy, that the Flyers fans, who once booed Santa Claus, stood and cheered for Booth’s well-being. I hope David Booth can make a full recovery from this. He’s a big part of the Florida Panther’s core nucleus. If Booth is lost for an extensive period of time, that’s going to potentially cripple their chances for reaching the playoffs this year. Not that those odds were good in the first place. By the way, Richards was tagged with a 5-minute MAJOR and a game misconduct.
ranallo10 (in AT)
October 24th, 2009
9:05 pm
Look at that…40 seconds into the third and ATLANTA scores a goal. Like I said, incremental progress.
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
9:08 pm
Way to go, Evander Kane! Is that his third on the year? It’s 4-3, now. Maybe there’s still a point in the standings to be salvaged?
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
10:05 pm
Hey, Atlanta outshot somebody! 27-25. Moose yanked this time in favor of Pavelec, who did pitch a shutout in relief.
I think Philly beat Florida. Buffalo has scored with just 8 seconds left in regulation, to force overtime with the Tampa Bay Lightning. With some luck, the Sabres can pull out a win. I believe Washington won its game with the Islanders, in overtime. Carolina and Minnesota are tied, 2-2, with 15:21 left in the third.
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
10:07 pm
Here’s the box score from tonight’s game, in case anyone’s curious or interested. http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009020134
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
10:10 pm
Hainsey, Kane, and Kubina were the only Thrashers who were +1 for this game vs. the Sharks.
Tom
October 24th, 2009
10:38 pm
Hey Rawhide, you have your headline written, just add Part Deux.
stendec
October 24th, 2009
10:44 pm
I will spit on and call a sorry son of a betch (or betch whichever is appropriate) the first nutcase on here who praises poor little Thrashers for another valiant home loss. BULLSHET! The real Thrashers are back. Heartless losers who act like damn compliant betch dogs in their own f#cking arena! Make more excuses for the commode residue if you must. There are no damn excuses! I said an extended losing streak would commence. The streak is now three and counting! No end in sight. Moose surrendered one damn goal during warmups! Two fans remained when the deficit reached an insurmountable 4-1! Captain Illya Kovalchuk inspired the boys by a heartless example. He feigned an injury early in the first period then joined Sori Letemin for a few drinks! What the Hell? Both the uncaring bestards are getting well paid anyway. Gutless quitters. Untalented frauds. F#ck this uncaring bunch of prima donna giveups! Close loss my a$$! So tired of all you damn apologists. Hope the losing streak continues until your exhaulted goaltender savior returns. No more single defeat choke jobs. Then the lopsided losing will really begin! Come to Loseland NHL. Paradise awaits. A team with no fight or heart is waiting. A certain two points! To Hell with em. ++STENDEC++
Brendan
October 24th, 2009
10:50 pm
Well, the Wild pulled it off, in overtime, over Carolina, 3-2. So, Tampa and Carolina left points on the board tonight, but the Islanders didn’t help us out any. The Isles had the Caps, 2-0, with 13:58 left in regulation. Capitals won, 3-2, in overtime. Dagnabit! Mandy Sutton had an assist.
In other news, Ottawa collapsed tonight. They had Boston, 3-1, late in the third. But Bruins rallied for two late goals, then won it in the shootout. I think it was Bergeron with the lone S/O tally.
The Leafs are 0-7-1 on this young season. They had a WEEK to prepare for this game vs. Vancouver. The Canucks won, 3-1, with the empty-netter at the end. Toronto’s in trouble. They need Kessel. They need a lot of things. The Islanders might be the better team between the two of them. Straight up, the Isles are 1-8 and Toronto is 0-8. But the Isles actual record is 1-4-4, for 5-pts.
Answering truthfully, at the conclusion of last season, which team did you think was in WORSE shape, the Islanders, Avalanche, or Maple Leafs? I might have been tempted to say the Avalanche. But just look at them! They’re kickin’ tail and takin’ names so far this year.
Sara
October 24th, 2009
11:53 pm
Well if “To Hell with em” is your final word on the subject, Stendec, I hope that’s the final word from you. This team – any team – can do without “fans” like you. It’s one thing to point out screw-ups or weaknesses with a team, it’s something else entirely to dump a heap of crap all over all of them. Guess what – teams all across sports get down by a score or two or sometimes more and battle their way back into the game. Sometimes those battle-back efforts come up short and sometimes they don’t. But only when you completely give up on the game after you get down are you truly heartless. And that’s something we’ve all seen out of the Thrashers of the past and I for one am very proud of this team we have that they show more faith and guts and heart than you do.
Sara
October 24th, 2009
11:56 pm
Now that I have that out of the way – it was an exciting game tonight though the final score and loss of Kovy (whether for the night or longer) were sure bummers. And I had the pleasure of finally meeting Smoothie as well as Paminski tonight which was great! Slowly but surely I’m getting to put faces with names around here. Hopefully one of these days I’ll manage to make it over to TJs and meet more of you.
stendec's doctor
October 25th, 2009
12:26 am
CVS, Walgreens, Publix, Kroger, Walmart, and Rite Aid are out of his medication.
Does anyone have a two by four?
stendec's proctologisty
October 25th, 2009
1:59 am
Doc, there’s no medicine that can help him. I’m afraid we need to perform surgery.
Alan R.
October 25th, 2009
2:02 am
That was a bad loss. I couldn’t watch the game tonight, but I was watching the box score. I don’t know how the players looked, but seeing the score 4-1 in the second period made me really cringe. Seeing it was Hedberg at the helm for it made it even worse. I’m happy Pavelec kept them from scoring anymore, but we needed to capitalize on whatever other chances we had.
We need to do more to come back from these highly uneven scores, or we as fans will be sorely disappointed throughout the year.
Tony C.
October 25th, 2009
4:59 am
Funny.
This guy wrote this like two weeks ago:
http://snidesports.blogspot.com/2009/10/thrashers-report-hainseys-own-goals-in.html
Tough luck loss, was surprised that Coach didn’t put O-P back in as the starter…. See yall Thursday???
Smoothie
October 25th, 2009
11:00 am
After last nite’s disappointing loss to a tired Sharks team, I’m beginning to realize that Kozlov needs to be reunited with Peverley and Armstrong. There isn’t enough size on the Kahlua line to maintain puck possession and Kozzy doesn’t jibe well with Afinogenov because Finny likes to dominate the puck before passing or shooting.
And if Kozzy isn’t going to have the puck on his stick for the purpose of setting up other players then he is rendered rather ineffective. Moving him to the “third” line might get him going. And Kane showed last nite he can play with anyone due to his speed, reach and puck savvy.
Move Kaner up to the 2nd line and let he and Max terrorize teams with their speed and ability to get to the net. White is the perfect defensive complement for their risky tendencies. But Kane has demonstrated the ability to get back on D and break up plays / rushes with his superior back-checking.
This allows Little to move back to the top line where he needs to be handling ES face-offs. Also, playing up the middle would allow Little to get more opps to score from between the circles as Kovy and big Antro demand so much attention from the defense. Antro needs to shoot more and I don’t think if will at center where he feels the incessant need to set up Kovy.
If we don’t make adjustments like these to capitalize on the natural talents of our forwards, then puck possession, lack of scoring chances and poor transition D will continue to plague this team.
Maggie's Doctor
October 25th, 2009
11:03 am
It’s that time of the month again.
Rawhide
October 25th, 2009
12:02 pm
Maggie – Yes…you are absolutely correct. 185-foot goals are not only acceptable, they are in fact common place in the NHL. It was a blistering shot that he had absolutely no chance on