Comments on: Thrashers ‘The good, the un-good and the ugly’ http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/ A fan’s perspective on the Atlanta Thrashers, with a dose of humor and a hint of irreverence Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:25:09 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Red Light http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-3/#comment-13801 Red Light Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:52:52 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13801 The thought occurred to me before last night's game that some teams actually benefit from their star player being out of the lineup, because collectively they simply cannot look for him to bail them out with a highlight-reel goal in tough situations. While these Habs are shadows of their former selves (they haven't won the Cup since 1993!), are too small and defensively inept (last night anyway), these Thrashers showed me something last night. Gave up two two-goal leads, and each time responded with quick goals to take the lead again. Kubina's goal was downright comical with the defenseman draped all over him and he still was strong enough to get his stick on the puck. Look, I am, and always have been, tough on this team because I can't stand the way management deals with personnel issues. However, at this juncture hope is more realistic than ever, due to the presence of Bogo, Kane, Little, Enstrom and the new leader of this team: waiver-wire Peverley. He makes a huge gaffe with a giveaway on Plekanec's goal, but still led all Thrashers forwards in ice time and wins 75 percent of his draws last night. He has two goals and four assists since Kovy went on the shelf and competes as hard as anyone. I know many of you are fans of RP and rightly so. While Antropov isn't cut out of the same mold as Peverley, he has eight assists in the last five games. Of course, it would be nice to see him end his goal-less streak soon. He hasn't scored in 13 straight regular season games. The good news? He went 19 straight games without a goal last season in Toronto and still finished with 28 goals. Sadly, there is a home game on the horizon. Maybe Rawhide can ask Anderson why the team won't practice more often at Philips when it's available. The dungeon on Satellite Blvd no way mirrors their home rink and the Thrashers are 14-24 in their last 38 games at home. The thought occurred to me before last night’s game that some teams actually benefit from their star player being out of the lineup, because collectively they simply cannot look for him to bail them out with a highlight-reel goal in tough situations. While these Habs are shadows of their former selves (they haven’t won the Cup since 1993!), are too small and defensively inept (last night anyway), these Thrashers showed me something last night. Gave up two two-goal leads, and each time responded with quick goals to take the lead again. Kubina’s goal was downright comical with the defenseman draped all over him and he still was strong enough to get his stick on the puck. Look, I am, and always have been, tough on this team because I can’t stand the way management deals with personnel issues.

However, at this juncture hope is more realistic than ever, due to the presence of Bogo, Kane, Little, Enstrom and the new leader of this team: waiver-wire Peverley. He makes a huge gaffe with a giveaway on Plekanec’s goal, but still led all Thrashers forwards in ice time and wins 75 percent of his draws last night. He has two goals and four assists since Kovy went on the shelf and competes as hard as anyone. I know many of you are fans of RP and rightly so. While Antropov isn’t cut out of the same mold as Peverley, he has eight assists in the last five games. Of course, it would be nice to see him end his goal-less streak soon. He hasn’t scored in 13 straight regular season games. The good news? He went 19 straight games without a goal last season in Toronto and still finished with 28 goals.

Sadly, there is a home game on the horizon. Maybe Rawhide can ask Anderson why the team won’t practice more often at Philips when it’s available. The dungeon on Satellite Blvd no way mirrors their home rink and the Thrashers are 14-24 in their last 38 games at home.

]]> By: Libby http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-3/#comment-13796 Libby Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:39:02 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13796 Bill, Our prayers are with your Family. Loved the game last night. Pevs is just such a great player. I do believe that this team has more heart than any Thrasher team ever. Bill, Our prayers are with your Family. Loved the game last night. Pevs is just such a great player. I do believe that this team has more heart than any Thrasher team ever.

]]> By: Tim http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-3/#comment-13794 Tim Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:33:11 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13794 I think the Kovy injury will eventually be a good thing... assuming he is back on the ice on or ahead of schedule of course. He was so hot that some of his teammates were going even further out of their way to get him the puck. More guys remembering that they can shoot the puck too will be the silver lining to the cloud that is Ilya's broken foot. SOAPBOX ALERT!!! ONE BLOG, ONE SPORTS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST AND ONE SPORTS CENTER ANCHOR AT A TIME! I WILL PREVAIL OR DIE TRYING!!! EFFORT is not a verb! I think the Kovy injury will eventually be a good thing… assuming he is back on the ice on or ahead of schedule of course. He was so hot that some of his teammates were going even further out of their way to get him the puck. More guys remembering that they can shoot the puck too will be the silver lining to the cloud that is Ilya’s broken foot.

SOAPBOX ALERT!!!

ONE BLOG, ONE SPORTS RADIO TALK SHOW HOST AND ONE SPORTS CENTER ANCHOR AT A TIME! I WILL PREVAIL OR DIE TRYING!!!

EFFORT is not a verb!

]]> By: Smoothie http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-3/#comment-13789 Smoothie Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:24:20 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13789 I think I'm the new ranallo! I've been "smoothinized"!! I think I’m the new ranallo! I’ve been “smoothinized”!!

]]> By: Smoothie http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-3/#comment-13788 Smoothie Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:23:08 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13788 Bill, so sorry to hear about your brother. Many prayers to you and your family for a speedy recovery. I too hope he won't suffer too much pain and discomfort while healing. LAC, thoughts and prayers to your family as well for your grand-daughter's full and speedy return to good health. Bill, so sorry to hear about your brother. Many prayers to you and your family for a speedy recovery. I too hope he won’t suffer too much pain and discomfort while healing.

LAC, thoughts and prayers to your family as well for your grand-daughter’s full and speedy return to good health.

]]> By: Midfield http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-2/#comment-13787 Midfield Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:22:52 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13787 Brendan, in Quebec, both English and French announcers pronounce Pavelec with the 'tz' sound at the end, which is close to the proper pronounciation in Czech, I believe. Brendan, in Quebec, both English and French announcers pronounce Pavelec with the ‘tz’ sound at the end, which is close to the proper pronounciation in Czech, I believe.

]]> By: Rawhide http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-2/#comment-13786 Rawhide Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:21:39 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13786 Thank you everyone...brother is resting well, though still in considerable discomfort. <strong>LAC</strong> - My thoughts and prayers are with your grandaughter and family. Now, as promised...<a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/04/with-kovalchuk-out-thrashers-leave-it-to-peever-for-goals/" rel="nofollow">a new blogity-blog</a> to discuss last night's exciting win. Thank you everyone…brother is resting well, though still in considerable discomfort.

LAC – My thoughts and prayers are with your grandaughter and family.

Now, as promised…a new blogity-blog to discuss last night’s exciting win.

]]> By: Alan R. http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-2/#comment-13785 Alan R. Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:51:38 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13785 My thoughts are with your brother, <strong>Bill</strong>, as well as your granddaughter <strong>LAC</strong>. May they both get well soon. My thoughts are with your brother, Bill, as well as your granddaughter LAC. May they both get well soon.

]]> By: Michael B. Shapiro http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-2/#comment-13784 Michael B. Shapiro Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:26:44 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13784 Rawhide One of the "goods" that I don't think has been mentioned: faceoff percentage. We continue to be in the top 6 or 8 teams. Un-good in this area has been Nik, but his point a game plus in assists might be an offset. Guess his linemates should continue to take draws in his place. Another "good" is the not so shabby +/- for the team. True that the 2nd line has been struggling and Whitey and Max both are -4, and Kubina is a +6. That's not such a bad spread for a team that frequently has players who work their way into double-digit negatives (yes, I know the season is still young). Still, only 5 players (including Kovy at -1) are below the waves on this figure. Another "good" is that we're getting scoring from all over the place (perhaps an unforeseen "good" if there is such a thing from Kapitan Kovalchuk's injury....maybe it'll keep rubbing off onto our power play so that the opposition can no longer focus only on Kovy??) Amazingly, after 11 games in the season ONLY Jimmy Slater is without a point (heck, even our goalies...or at least one of them....has an assist!) And now on to the really important matters of the day...who will be the last person off Schneid Island this year? Fans will recall that last year Jimmy Slater was one of (if not) the last Thrashers to find a life raft and leave the Island. This year we're down to six contestants: The Professor (sorry, MaryAnne has already left the Island), "Harry" Reasoner, the aforementioned Nik Antropov, newcomer Christoph Schubert, Tobi Enstrom, and last year's winner, Jimmy Slater. In fairness to Jimmy, I must note that he's played a mere 4 games compared to his opponents who have all played 11, except Schubert who has played 9 games. The Professor leads the pack going 0 for 19 shots, followed by Tobi's 13, Schubert's 11and Nik's 9. "Harry" and Jimmy trail with only 6 shots. So sports fans....who'll be the last to launch their life raft and escape Schneid Island this year? (Inquiring minds want to know). Go Thrash!! Rawhide

One of the “goods” that I don’t think has been mentioned: faceoff percentage. We continue to be in the top 6 or 8 teams. Un-good in this area has been Nik, but his point a game plus in assists might be an offset. Guess his linemates should continue to take draws in his place.

Another “good” is the not so shabby +/- for the team. True that the 2nd line has been struggling and Whitey and Max both are -4, and Kubina is a +6. That’s not such a bad spread for a team that frequently has players who work their way into double-digit negatives (yes, I know the season is still young). Still, only 5 players (including Kovy at -1) are below the waves on this figure.

Another “good” is that we’re getting scoring from all over the place (perhaps an unforeseen “good” if there is such a thing from Kapitan Kovalchuk’s injury….maybe it’ll keep rubbing off onto our power play so that the opposition can no longer focus only on Kovy??) Amazingly, after 11 games in the season ONLY Jimmy Slater is without a point (heck, even our goalies…or at least one of them….has an assist!)

And now on to the really important matters of the day…who will be the last person off Schneid Island this year? Fans will recall that last year Jimmy Slater was one of (if not) the last Thrashers to find a life raft and leave the Island.

This year we’re down to six contestants: The Professor (sorry, MaryAnne has already left the Island), “Harry” Reasoner, the aforementioned Nik Antropov, newcomer Christoph Schubert, Tobi Enstrom, and last year’s winner, Jimmy Slater. In fairness to Jimmy, I must note that he’s played a mere 4 games compared to his opponents who have all played 11, except Schubert who has played 9 games. The Professor leads the pack going 0 for 19 shots, followed by Tobi’s 13, Schubert’s 11and Nik’s 9. “Harry” and Jimmy trail with only 6 shots.

So sports fans….who’ll be the last to launch their life raft and escape Schneid Island this year? (Inquiring minds want to know).

Go Thrash!!

]]> By: Tom Cable http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/2009/11/02/the-good-the-un-good-and-the-ugly/comment-page-2/#comment-13783 Tom Cable Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:06:14 +0000 http://blogs.ajc.com/iceman-thrashers-blog/?p=4397#comment-13783 I've won all my domestic fights. I’ve won all my domestic fights.

]]>