Kozlov gets off Schnide Island as Thrashers drill Oilers
Sunday afternoon, Slava Kozlov packed his bags, bade farewell to Jim Slater, Marty Reasoner and Nik Antropov…then exited Schnide Island. Slava took a pass from Todd White and beat Nikolai Khabibulin at the 11:59 mark of the third period to score what turned out to be the game-winner as the Thrashers bested the visiting Edmonton Oilers 3-2…extending their win streak to a season-high four straight.
Slava Kozlov is welcomed off the island by Ilya Kovalchuk and Maxim Afinogenov (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Later, Reasoner almost left Slates and Antropov alone to battle it out for “Last Off Schnide Island” honors, but his blast rang off the post with just under two minutes remaining in the game.
Kozlov finished the day with that goal as well as a secondary assist on Zach Bogosian’s tally that opened the scoring early in the first period. He now has seven helpers on the season and his +1 for the game brings him to a -3 for the season.
Kaptain Kovy got the primary assist on Zach’s power play blast…giving him 8 overall points in the three games after returning from his foot injury. He now has 12 goals and 18 overall points in the 11 games he’s played in.
Mad-Max Afinogenov continued his brilliance of late with yet another goal. This time he took a Rich Peverley breakaway pass from the Thrashers’ blueline and slipped a backhander past Khabibulin to tie the score at 2-2 with just 22 second remaining in the second. At the time, Edmonton was attempting to kill off an Ethan Moreau hooking minor. Afinogenov has four goals in the three games since fellow countryman and linemate Ilya Kovalchuk returned last Thursday.
For the season Max has 7 goals and 10 assists…he’s also a +1. Not bad for a “defensive liability”.
Maxim Afinogenov slips a backhand past Nikolai Khabibulin. For Max it was his fourth goal in three games (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Up to that point, the Oilers netminder had been unbeatable in the second as he’d turned away the first 12 Atlanta shots in that middle frame…many from close in. But Max’s nifty finish on the 13th got the better of him.
The Pevs Dispenser chipped in a pair of assists on the afternoon, bringing his season total to 15. His eight goals on top of that give him a team-high 23 overall points.
Johan Hedberg got the nod for today’s start and his 34 saves on 36 shots improved his season record to 4-1-0 with a .923 SV% and 2.63 GAA.
The Thrashers penalty killing unit continued their fine work on the season, killing off all five power play chances the Oilers were afforded. None more important than the holding the stick call Bogosian took with just 4:50 remaining in the game. Edmonton ended the game with a massive flurry around Hedberg, but the Thrashers’ trusty backup was up for the task and sent the Oilers out of town with the loss.
Atlanta converted on 2 of their three power play opportunities.
The Thrashers’ PK is currently the 5th best in the NHL…84.5% effective. The power play is successful 26.5% of the time, which tops in the league.
Moose turns away Edmonton's Dustin Penner. The 3-2 win improved Moose's record to 4-1-0 on the year (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
With the win, Atlanta leapfrogged over idle Tampa Bay to take over second place in the Southeast division. Their 10-6-1 record gives the one more point than the Lightning’s 20. Both teams have played 17 games. Washington has 28 overall points to lead the Southeast, but they’ve played 3 more games.
The Thrashers also moved past the Boston Bruins who, like the Bolts, have 20 points…Boston has played two more than the Thrashers, however. Atlanta will host Boston in their next game this coming Thursday night.
The 21 points now tie Atlanta with Philadelphia and the Islanders for 6th, 7th and 8th best in the conference. The Flyers have only played 16 games while New York has 20 games under their belts.
And finally…with three consecutive wins at home, Atlanta has pulled it’s record playing in Thrasherville to even at 4-4-0.
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87 comments Add your comment
Biscuit
November 16th, 2009
10:10 am
JLH ya gotta remember Gretzky always lead the league in turnovers too. Dynamic players always will.
Spud Webb
November 16th, 2009
10:41 am
I like Hainseys game, have since he’s been here. He gets ripped a bit in the blogs and I’m not sure why (the big contract?)??? He’s solid, if not spectaculor. Game in and out he’s there, doing what he’s supposed to.
I’m like a little kid today, lose all 3 of my fantasy football games, lost a few hundred betting but the Thrashers come through with a GREAT weekend!! That makes everything ok!!!!
GREAT JOB THRASHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
jwizzle
November 16th, 2009
11:14 am
For the record…I am FINALLY warming up to Opie, a slow thaw if you will
I was proud of him Friday (a few other times as well) and will start to give him props here and there. Go Thrashers!
Riceowls8891
November 16th, 2009
11:23 am
Smoothie: I hope you’re right. It may be the greatest moment in hockey history for Americans, but I imagine the Russians see it differently.
On a related note, it seems weird that in my lifetime, I’d go from cheering against the great Russian Bear, to cheering them on once Hainsey and the Americans are eliminated.
ben
November 16th, 2009
11:41 am
my personal feeling is that the low tv ratings are that way across the NHL. I think it’s partly a self fullfilling proficy. I think ESPN decides what’s cool w/ sports and have for years. To that end, the NHL needs to put itself on ESPN no matter what, and they need to put a team in CT. There is a group of people, my sister’s ex-boyfriend among them who religiously follow whatever ESPN puts in front of them. As a person with a Communications degree, I tell you now that TV ratings don’t pick up DVR or internet views and are somewhat self-reporting.
I saw 1 stat about 2 yrs ago that said that 10K watch the thrashers every night. If that is true then the 50 people i’ve met must mean we all live in the same suburb. What I think is going on is that the NHL knows little about how to market an event to people who are not die-hard fans of the team in a given city.
I think the NHL is lazy and there is a fear factor w/ coming into the cities in a lot of America. I also think the entire NHL needs to start on a new economic model. Because a lot of teams keep having money problems.
I have said for years that teams need to lease the front of the jersey and maybe even the center ice logo out.
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
12:01 pm
Stan-and The Midway has some great burgers too!
Hotrod
November 16th, 2009
12:06 pm
7th in the division!
Lets keep it there or better boys.
Every shift counts!
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
12:07 pm
I think you will see the NHL back on ESPN in the next year or two. The NHL and ESPN were partners for 25 years. Much of the early success of ESPN was in part due to th NHL viewership. Not that ESPN feels it owes the NHL, but they know there’s more viewers out there available that are on Versus in prime time instead of ESPN. The league knows it has to get back in with ESPN in some way, so it works for both teams.
ESPN needs to dump poker anyhow. Boring!
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
12:24 pm
Here’s a great line I saw about the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs-
“Kessel is like the lead violinist of an orchestra forced to play with a garage band”
The Maple Loafs
stendec
November 16th, 2009
1:15 pm
Forgive my tardiness! Gone ballistic watching Falcons deteroriate from a well coached professional football team to a group of undisciplined heartless thug losers. Did Michael Sick sneak back into Flowery Branch while I was not paying attention? Sure seems like it! But I digress. I am so proud of Thrashers I am almost misty eyed! Four consecutive victories. An 18-7 scoring advantage! An average of 4.5 goals scored to 1.8 surrendered. Obvious Sori Letemin (who?) has not been between pipes! More pleased that Thrashers have toughed up on home ice. That is a necessity for a playoff/championship team in any sport! Goaltending has been out of this world during last four contests. Offense has done what has had to be done. Especially in narrow win over Edmonton Oilers. Team cannot continue at this torrid pace but end of current winning streak simply must not result in start of losing streak! Maybe these ice guys do get it after all! Congratulations. Keep on keeping on. ++STENDEC++
KovyRules
November 16th, 2009
1:36 pm
Smoothie, I never imagined you’d be up to blogging by 9 AM after the condition you were in yesterday – well done, soldier!
WBF, not only are the Laffs a garage band, they are better paid than 26 teams that are currently ahead of them in the standaings. And one of the Thrashers bloggers recently suggested DW should be replaced by Brian Burke – that is proof positive that some fans will never approve of the job DW is doing.
Stat Smoothie
November 16th, 2009
2:06 pm
Thanks KovyRules! I am of hearty stock with a tough liver and the sense to drink a few waters during the day, ice in my bourbon and several more cups of water before bed! If we keep getting weekend weather like this for our games and the team keeps playing well, I may be getting even more gaschmacked than yesterday…good thing I have some sick leave accummulated!!
Now, I’m gonna follow-up on someone’s (I think JLH??) request from a previous blog entry asking for stats showing that Kovy was a greater defensive liability than our Crazy Legged friend, Maximum Finny.
I checked the official stats on NHL.com and I could not be more surprised at some of the stuff I found, but I was not surprised to find that Mad Max was a greater turnover (”giveaway” if you’re talking hockey speak) risk than Kovy.
Player Gives Takes Goals
Afinogenov 16 23 8
Peverley 16 16 8
Kovalchuk 5 4 12
Antropov 9 6 0
Crotchby — 22 gives in 20 games; only 10 takes and 10 goals
Ovechkin — 15 gives in 14 games; only 12 takes and 14 goals
Thornton — 19 gives in 22 games; only 13 takes and 5 goals
Other Notables: Derek Roy with 16 gives in 17 gms; Zetterberg with only 10 gives in 18 gms
Mind you, these are the “official” stats maintained by the league with respect to taking care of the puck. I’m not quite sure how they define a “giveaway”, but I’m thinking it is the turnover of a puck that leads directly to an offensive rush for the other team. Otherwise, you would have to think these giveaway numbers would be slightly higher if they counted every time a guy fumbled the puck in the neutral zone.
But it’s nice to see that Finny is no worse at turning over the puck than some of the most creative playmakers in the league. Perhaps we are too hard on our new top RW, who may prove to be the best free-agency acquisition of the year.
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
2:06 pm
Kovy-Leafs’ fans wanted Brian Burke in Toronto for 2 years prior to his arrival. Now they want to toss the GM “savior” into Lake Ontario. Who would ever want that job!
Smoothie
November 16th, 2009
2:16 pm
Also, I think some of you may be making our stoic Russian friends out to be more sensitive than they really are. Just note Kovy’s latest dead-panning comments at the expense of Lindy Ruff and Buffalo of an example of how much Kovy cares about his team and teammates.
Surely they possess as much national pride as we do as Americans, but when it comes to international competition, I don’t think they harbor any resentment for 1980. Hell, it wasn’t so much a turning point in the Cold War as it was simply the biggest team-sport upset in the history of sports (in my opinion).
The Russians were DOMINANT to the point it was comical and for Herb Brooks’ boys to pull of that “miracle” was nothing short of amazing. But Herbie had nothing but the greatest respect for Tretiak, Kharlamov etc and their coach Tikhonov was widely recognized as one of the greatest innovators in hockey history.
Lastly, guys like Kovy, Finny and Antropov weren’t even born yet so I don’t think they would be offended by the Herb Brooks spoof. They know their hockey history but they didn’t “live it” like perhaps Kozlov or a Fedorov may have as a child growing up in Communist Russia for their entire childhoods.
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
3:21 pm
Max was in Buffalo for 10 years. He had plenty of opportunities to learn to play a complete game at both ends of the rink. How many players stay with one team for 10 years these days?
He had his chances, Lindy and Darcy did him a favor. Buffalo is doing Ok without him. Good for both parties.
Hockey Biltong
November 16th, 2009
3:47 pm
I heard The Midway has GOOd beers for cheap , too.
Hockey Biltong
November 16th, 2009
3:47 pm
D
Christy
November 16th, 2009
4:29 pm
don’t suppose anyone is an ESPN insider and can sum up Hradek’s comments on Kane and Kovy on his blog today?
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
4:33 pm
Biltong-you are correct on the beer prices at Midway//how did you know?
JLH
November 16th, 2009
4:49 pm
Christy – Here ya go ……
EJ Hradek:
Atlanta Thrashers rookie winger Evander Kane continues to impress me: I got to see Kane in person against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on Thursday. The 18-year-old certainly doesn’t look nervous about life in the NHL. The fourth overall pick in this past June’s draft, Kane is a big kid with good wheels who loves to drive to the net.
In his first 16 games, Kane has six goals, 11 points and a very nice plus-10 rating.
Kane is part of an improving team that has won four in a row. It’s a long season, but these Thrashers look like they have a real shot to make the playoffs.
And the club’s good start likely is making contract negotiations with star winger Ilya Kovalchuk a bit easier. I won’t be surprised if he signs a new deal to stay in Atlanta sometime in the next few weeks.
JLH
November 16th, 2009
5:03 pm
Smoothie – Thanks for the “official” giveaway stats, but there is no way in he*l that Ilya only has 5 turnovers this year. I go to every game and I have seen games this year where he had that many in one game. I guess my definition of a turnover would include “unforced errors”. How can giving the other team the puck (other than shots and dump ins), whether it results in a rush or not, not be a turnover. I’m also sure that Max has more than 16,….. so maybe we can never know, unless someone who watches every game starts charting them. The coaching staff might have such stats, but I think it highly unlikely that information would ever be made public. I would love to compare notes with anyone else who might join me in charting “JLH Turnovers” over these next 3 home games. 4 of the next 5 games are also televised. I can see there being some leeway on turnovers if we are cycling the puck in the offensive zone, but I would love to see what numbers a variety of folks come up with.
Lee
November 16th, 2009
5:47 pm
OK, I need some thoughts on this here Do any of you have any thoughts on Bogosian’s puck possesion. I mean I love thathe’s scoreing goals, but I think he should be passing a little more Whenever I see him he seems to have the puck. After all, he is a defenceman.
Dandylions
November 16th, 2009
5:50 pm
JHL – I would like to help you keep stats but I drink too much to count every giveaway. But I do agree with you about Kovy – sometimes it seems he tries to make too many moves with the puck and loses it.
Nate
November 16th, 2009
6:10 pm
Lee – I love Bogo’s puck possession. He’s the only guy I’ve seen other than Kovy that can take it end to end to set up the team in the offensive zone. I hate the dump and chase crap when we’re on the PP. We always do better when one of them carries it in so we don’t have to give up possession then gain it back to set up. Bogo’s so graceful he could play wing if he wanted to probably. I’m glad he’s on D though.
Old Time Hockey
November 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
I could see Bogosian as a rushing defenseman in the mold of Coffey or Bourque. That skill would be SO valuable in today’s game. I’d like to see him take it end to end more often.
World Be Free
November 16th, 2009
7:45 pm
Not only do I like Bogo’s puck possesion, but I also like his edge and leadership at 19. Good comparisons to Bourque, may favoirite defenseman over the past 30 years even though Bourque was a Bruin.
Gotta admit I thought Kane should have gone back to juniors. But EJ is seeing the things we are all seeing too. Great to see this kid grow in front of our eyes.
All we need is Kovy’s signature on a contract.
Nate
November 16th, 2009
8:29 pm
WBF – Yes. Yes. And hell yes!
ben
November 16th, 2009
8:29 pm
i bet he’ll do it next summer
Brendan
November 17th, 2009
12:25 am
KovyRules, I simply must clarify something here. I was recapping what JEFF SCHULTZ, an AJC writer, advocated doing, back in 2007. I have certainly been critical of Brian Burke moves since winning the Cup in 2007 with Anaheim. They’re well documented. Has ANYONE been more critical of the Kessel trade than I have? Did I express BURKE VICTORY for his move to trade Kubina and Stapleton to Atlanta for Colin Stuart and Exelby? No, I didn’t. Stapleton is a team leader in the minors and Kubina sometimes plays top minutes here, has 3 goals, and is +7. Does that sound like Waddell-bashing to you??? Is that “Exhibit A” for proof positive that some fans will never approve of the job DW is doing. Good Lord.
Burke was probably trying to shed payroll ($5 million) while acquiring a less expensive, serviceable player in Exelby, and a depth center in Colin Stuart. Who Burke discarded, for some mysterious reason.
When Waddell does something good, I give him credit for it. When he does something bad, I criticize him for it. Some people get hyper-sensitive that I advocated making a change at the GM position, after seven completed seasons and no playoff wins. Does that make me a KOOK? Does it?? Does it really??? Is that a fair assessment?
I am routinely saying that Waddell has done better in “Rebuilding, Phase II” than he did in “Building, Phase I.” I give him credit for Bogosian and Kane. Who knows what Daultan Leveille and Angelo Esposito will become for Atlanta? One of my favorite Waddell “coups” was the Erik Christensen for Eric O’Dell trade. Not to mention “netting” a 2nd round pick for the 40-year old Matthieu Schneider at the 2009 trade deadline. Is this Waddell-bashing, in your view? How so??? In what way?? Explain.
I think Brian Burke has made one (1) good deal since becoming Leafs GM. The Luke Schenn deal, at the 2008 draft, for ‘throw away’ draft picks, from the Islanders. Aside from that, he’s acquired a bunch of goons and overpaid for Komisarek. I might be wrong, but I think Burke actually signed the Jeff Finger deal. But I’m not sure on that one. I cannot rightly recall if it was Cliff Fletcher who named Ron Wilson Head Coach, or if it was Burke. I think it was Fletcher, with a pretty consensus understanding that Burke would become the GM, and that Burke’s intentions were to hire Ron Wilson. I respect Ron Wilson for all that he’s accomplished in his many years in the league. The one thing Wilson is missing … is a Stanley Cup ring. On the International stage, one of the top things you can do is win a Gold Medal. In the NHL, the Coup de Grace, would be … being the Coach and GM that finally, finally, finally got Toronto off the clock. That’s why I think I Burke took the job. All the talk of Ron Wilson being the “Marty Schottenheimer of Hockey” talk would all end, if they brought home the hardware. Toronto is a rough place to be a GM or a Coach. They’re both constantly under the microscope. And there’s no doubt, in my mind, that the Toronto media played a big hand in Burke making that trade for Kessel, at the expense of two 1st rounders, and a 2nd rounder, during a period of “rebuilding.” I don’t really support that concept, but it could work. It seemed like a lot of “risk” to me. And much of it “unnecessary.”
Now, what Jeff Schultz was trying to say, in my estimation, was that a Stanley Cup-winning GM might be available on the market, if “zero playoff wins over 7 years Waddell” were let go. Or was it eight completed seasons at that point? What does it matter? We’re still at zero. Personally, I think too much is made of that. To me, the bigger picture is, and has always been, that this franchise has had eight (8) top 10 picks with which to build itself. The issue, to me, isn’t zero playoff wins. It’s where are the Conference Finals berths? Where is the accountability? I’m delighted that Waddell is getting better. But who gets this kind of longevity, without tangible results? One division title is nice. But that’s not what they play for. They play for playoff success. That’s the season that matters. GM’s don’t chase division titles, they chase Cups. And if not that, then playoff wins, to please their owners, by making them MONEY. Playoff revenues are 100-percent pure profit. In Vancouver, they fired David Nonis after three winning seasons simply because the Canucks never reached the Conference Finals. When the Penguins were rebuilding, after picking Fleury 1st overall in 2003, Malkin 2nd overall in 2004, Crosby 1st overall in 2005, they FIRED GM Craig Patrick, because the team was, ONCE AGAIN, back inside the lottery draft for 2006. It was HIGH TIME for accountability. THIS DOES HAPPEN ELSEWHERE in the league. Were the Penguins KOOKS for making a GM change???? Were they really?? Truly??? They hired Ray Shero to make the “no-brainer” Jordan Staal pick in 2006. Ray Shero hired Michel Therrien to coach. When the Penguins were FALTERING again at Christmas 2008, guess what he did, KovyRules? Give yourself a gold star if you said, “he fired him.” Then Shero hired/promoted Dan Bylsma. The rest of the Penguins season is history: A Stanley Cup win over Detroit that Spring, in 2009. What’s the lesson? Accountability for results. It happens in virtually every other market in the NHL.
Lots of people don’t like Brian Burke. They find him to be an egomaniac. Or arrogant. And his track record of draft selections past pick #40 isn’t exempliary. But one thing he does have, whether people like it or not, is a Stanley Cup ring, as a full-time NHL GM. He may have “lucked” into Pronger at the right time, but aren’t many GM’s who win the Stanley Cup the beneficiaries of a some LUCK along the way? Alll-right-ee then.
Was Jeff Schultz a kook to suggest that the Thrashers, after no playoff success, should pursue a Cup winning GM? I say no. Would I have chosen Burke? Stop. I don’t think Brian Burke would return our phone calls. So the point is moot. I don’t rightly know, maybe someone can tell me, how many playoff wins Brian Burke has to his credit, as a full-time, named NHL GM. However many that is … well GOOD for him. He should be very proud. I root for Don Waddell to succeed. What else can I do? He’s the GM. He has to answer for playoff wins and losses. He has to answer for the DIRECTION of the team. He has to answer for the team’s identity. He has to answer for roster retention, contracts, and hiring coaches to mold and shape the team. When he gets something right, I give him credit.
js
November 17th, 2009
12:30 am
With the way the team is playing now, all Kovy needs is to see fans fill the seats. If we can give these guys the support they are now earning, then the signature will come. The Gladiators even played to a full house this past Friday night. High school and college football only have a couple weeks left and then they must fill the seats to get players excited about playing here.
Sadtoseeitthisway
November 17th, 2009
5:06 am
LeThrash are off to a great start, and I really like what I see. Exciting play, great goaltending, excellent coaching and roster decisions. Even a slow start by a few fan favorites and Kovy`s injury have not crippled this team as it would have in the past. All they need is our support. The players deserve it, they`ve earned it. When at the games, there`s one thing off-ice that really hits you. There aren`t many people here. Look around, there`s a LOT of empty seats. Don`t say thats because a lot of season ticket holders don`t show up. There aren`t that many. And yes they do show up. They DO care. What`s really out of whack? The arena is about 25,30,35 percent? full. Sad to say it, but if you`re there, you know it. You read the paper the next day, attendance figure says 11 to 14 thousand, and you say HUH, What? How Many? How in the H can they say that many? We all wish the building was 3/4 full when it was clearly less than half full. Somewhere, somehow, Its sad there`s no rule here requiring the truth must be told. As you enjoy the game, and the short lines at the beer stand, and the ease at which you can move about. The view is great when the row in front of you is empty. and some sections have nothing but empty rows. But the record of that game will show a lot of empty seats were counted plus all the people who work there too. I hope the ASG can pay Kovy and the rest of the players with those wishful attendance figures. Stay tuned.
Miami Screaming Eagle
November 17th, 2009
7:37 am
Brendan-
the Thrashers should have gone after Pat Quinn from Day One.
I think Quinn has the right personality to start a franchise, pick the right coach and step behind the bench if he needed to in a pinch.
Look around the league; most coaches and GMs are recycled every few years. Only Regier and Ruff, as coach and GM have stayed intact in one play over the past decade.
Attendence is horrible; it won’t get much better until the local media stop black-balling the Thrashers. Management has to address this with the local media.
Dwayne
November 17th, 2009
7:37 am
Out of a playoff spot…quick, Trade Kovy while we can get something for him!!!
Christy
November 17th, 2009
8:16 am
JLH – many thanks.
Jimbo
November 17th, 2009
8:37 am
Brendan- you are one well informed, literate kook. Season is starting upside down when Stendec hops out of the asylum to pen something nice about the Thrash. Life in Thashworld may not end on 12-21.
Trixie (rawhide's Secretary)
November 17th, 2009
9:20 am
This is your official 10-minute Ranallo Alert.
New Rawhide blog in 10 minutes.
Brendan
November 17th, 2009
11:26 am
Someone just whispered to me that Brian Burke has 39 playoff victories to his credit. 27 with Anaheim, and 12 with the Canucks and Hartford Whalers. Honestly, I did not know that. But it’s an interesting stat.
Don Waddell will, eventually, win a playoff game as a named, full-time NHL GM. It is going to happen. Waddell was named the GM in 1998. Whenever that win happens, I’ll gaze at my calendar and say, “I thought it would be sooner than this.”