Thrashers Desperately Seeking Sixty
Last November I asked John Anderson what he thought was the one main issue concerning the Thrashers…the one that most needed to be addressed if the Thrashers were going to make a serious run for the playoffs.
Without hesitation he said that the team needed to find a way to play a full 60 minutes on a regular basis. Sure, sure…it’s great that they usually find a way to fight back late in the game, but until they are able to play hard from the first drop of the puck to the last horn…they are going to have a difficult time of it.
“It’s great that they fight back”, the coach said of his team two months ago. “But it would be nice if we could put the other team behind the eight ball for a change”.
Nik Antropov is congratulated by Maxim Afinogenov after scoring against Tampa Bay (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Well, it’s late December…Christmas is gone and New Years is a few days away… and the Atlanta Thrashers are still desperately seeking 60 full minutes of play on a consistent basis. And Saturday night’s 4-3 loss in Tampa Bay was just the latest example of this dilemma.
Tied 2-2 after the second period, the Thrashers stood around as if they were still stuffed with holiday turkey and observed as the Lightning outshot them 7-0 during the first 16:50 of that final frame. The first shot on goal for the Atlanta was when Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 22nd goal of the season…but that was after Tampa Bay had built a 4-2 lead earlier in the period.
The two Lightning goals were scored without a whole heckuva lot of resistance from the Thrashers defense. The first cam after Vinny Lecavalier found Steve Downey all alone on the right side of the goal…who then found Alex Tanguay all alone streaking through the left side. Tanguay buried the shot for just his fifth goal of the season.
A minute and forty-one seconds later, Ryan Malone was left all alone and was able to pound home a nice rebound off of Marty St. Louis shot.
The Thrashers took five more shots against Mike Smith after Kovy’s goal but were not able to get the game tied and to overtime. In the end it was the 15th regulation loss of the season…nine of which have been by a single goal.
And after this loss, Anderson said…“We’ve got to play for 60 minutes…We just can’t play defense whenever we feel like it. Two hugest mistakes ended up in our net”.
There’s that “60 minutes” thing again, eh?
But the coach wasn’t alone in this thought as Ondrej Pavelec also remarked on the inconsistent Thrashers performances. “We played a good game and then we stopped playing for whatever reason”, said Atlanta’s goalie. “I don’t know what’s going on. It’s almost every game like that”.
Opie stopped 30 of the Lightning’s 34 shots on goal and took the loss. His overall record has now dropped to 9-10-3 with a .906 SV% and 3.42 GAA. He’s started six games so far in the month of December and he’s won only once while losing five. He’s faced 217 shots in December and has made 188 saves…a saves percentage of just .866.
Although he started Wednesday’s game in Boston…and surrendered 3 goals on 8 shots in just half a period, he did not take the loss in that game.
One Thrasher who has had a very good December is Nik Antropov. He score Atlanta’s first goal of the night to put the team ahead early. It was Nik’s eighth goal in the last nine games dating back to the loss in Vancouver. In the last four games, Antropov is a +4.
Marty Reasoner scored his third of the season, tying the score at 2-2 with 3:06 remaining in the second period.
Atlanta will play Monday night in New Jersey and Wednesday back in Boston to wind up calendar year 2009. Last I checked…those games, and the ones to be played in 2010, are all slated to be 60 minute games. The Thrashers had better find a way to play every minute of them…or they will find it very, very difficult to see their first minute of playoff action in the spring.
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64 comments Add your comment
Red Light
December 28th, 2009
12:54 pm
Goaltending isn’t and hasn’t been the problem. Sure, you’re going to let in some goals when opposing forwards are unmolested. Agree that Bogo hasn’t been the same since Nov. 15 but defense is a six-man thing, not a two-man thing. When the Thrashers were playing well, they locked up the neutral zone and played well in transition. Right now, they aren’t. Disagree that it’s JA’s system. When was the last time you saw Kovy or Max put on the brakes and get back on D. It’s like watching public skating out there with their glide turns and figure 8s.
Interesting that the Thrashers are 29th in the league in hits but dole out more hits and block more shots on the road than they do at home. They also give the puck away more than they take it away on the road by a significant margin (173 to 107).
How about some Olympic trivia?
This is Kovy’s third Olympic Games for Russia and if Schubert makes the German squad it will be his third time too. Can you name the other Thrashers who made the team when they were with the Thrashers in 2002 and 2006? There were three others in 2006 and two others in 2002 (I think)!
Smoothie
December 28th, 2009
1:51 pm
Here are some interesting stats that may show that Kozlov is the major problem in our Top 6 and not White. Check this out:
In the first 10 games, White was a combined -5 with 3 GS (1 PPG) & 1 A. He was on the ice for 3 ESGF, but he was out there for 8 ESGA. So who was on the ice with him when those goals were scored against?
1) Afinogenov – 6 times, but 1 was an EN at the end of a game
2) Kozlov – 5 times, but Kozzy was on the ice for both of Todd’s ESG
3) Little – 3 times, but Litts was on the ice for 2 ESG with Todd
Now for comparison’s sake, our hero (not lately), Rich Peverley has been struggling big-time over the last 13 save for the Dallas game with a combined -6. In fact, he is a -6 in the last 4 games alone! So who was on the ice with Rich when ES goals were potted against us?
1) Kozlov – 4 times with no time on ice when a goal was scored at ES except vs MTL but Peverley was not involved
2) Little – 2 times, both in the last 2 games
3) Afinogenov – 2 times, both against NJ. However, Max fed Pevs the GW against Dallas when playing 4 v 4 in OT.
Conclusion: NEVER PLAY FINNY AND KOZZY TOGETHER!! And if the original iteration of the Little White Russian line is to be re-united, it should be used at home when we can utilize them as the team with the final line change to maximize favorable match-ups.
The one thing that JA hasn’t really tried much of this year is letting Kozlov play with Peverley AND Armstrong. While it is not ideal since Army seems to mesh so well with Kane, perhaps re-uniting this trio, which was our best for 20+ games at the end of last season, as the 2nd line will ignite Pevs once again playing against less physical 2nd lines. As for a good 3rd line combo, I think Kane – Reasy – Little may work out okay assuming you leave Finny with Antro & Kovy.
Ideally I think it might be best putting White at C with Kovy & Antro so White can focus on winning draws, back-checking and getting the puck to Kovy to start the rush. White is best if he doesn’t have to do the heavy lifting as he is weak on the cycle. But with the time and space provided by Antro & Kovy, perhaps he’ll rack up some assists and an occasional goal. It’s worth a try as he is hardly our worst player right now as he is a combined -1 over his last 13 games and Even over his last 6 with 3 assists. Then again, perhaps he belongs with Kane & Army on the 3rd line.
thasher fan
December 28th, 2009
2:15 pm
there is always that “it” factor that no one can explain but makes things happen. that was exelby. yes, kovy can have all his friends and pretend like he really cares more about the thrashers than his personal glory, but X cared about the team, the city and its fans. and he didn’t care if he had to knock over a few opposing team players to make his point. bring by X
Putting On The Foil
December 28th, 2009
2:33 pm
Hey Rawhide. Have you or anyone else ever did a blog on the best players to ever suit up for the Thrashers and if they could all play together (obviously all in their prime), what kind of run would they make in the playoffs? Just curious. Would be interesting to see what everyone had to say.
Rawhide
December 28th, 2009
4:43 pm
POTF – That’s an excellent suggestion for a blog… there have been some good names that have passed through these parts. I’ll see if I can work that in sometime.
Now sorta on that topic…I was asked by Daculafan a few weeks back which former Thrasher would I most like to have back. My first response…Dan Snyder. Outside of that, probably Marc Savard.
LAC
December 28th, 2009
10:21 pm
Another game another LOSS, granted they played better, it is still a loss and BIG changes need to be made.
Why is todd white allowed to play ? Can Stupid waddell not see this, I mean The Man With NO BRAIN, NO.
Carolina whipped Wash tonight, and are moving up on us.
I predict by the Olympic break we will be LAST in the Eastern Confrence… Face it folks, this team is BAD and getting worse…
What a great end of the year this is !
No hope for any wins on the remaining 4 games, so on 1/7 when they return home to about 5,000 fans, they will have a 9 game losing streak… Just great.
anderson needs to go as his “system” is not workable, but we have ALL been down this same road so many times, Nothing ever changes with this bunch !
stendec
December 28th, 2009
10:22 pm
The losing streak lives on! Damn heartless Yardbirds stunk up New Jersey which is almost impossible to do considering the suffocating stench in that Yankee state already. Another mail in job by losers. Moose looking more like untalented Finn Kari Lehtonen every time he takes to the ice. Kapitan Ilya Kovalchuk has packed it in for remainder of season. Ship his sorry uncaring Maryann Hossa a$$ to whichever deluded team that still thinks the Russian is worth a damn. Totally embarrassing debacle in a long series of gag giveup jobs. Glad Coach John Petrino no score system has been ingrained so well into these clueless quitters. Close up Loseland. This season is finished. No playoffs. No more highlights. No more hope. Sure am happy that all damn apologists are happy. Ship the untalented bestards to Hamilton. Hell, anywhere but Atlanta. The sooner the damn better. To Hell with all of them. ++STENDEC++
stendec
December 28th, 2009
10:27 pm
I like you LAC. You think with your mind and have the common sense to see the obvious. Comments light on sites tonight. Guess apologists have pretty much run their gambit of excuses. Freefall unabated. Likely to stay that way. Yardbirds will claim cellar before long. Deserve it!Best. ++STENDEC++
Brendan
December 28th, 2009
10:37 pm
I didn’t see this one to be able to comment on it, but here’s your box score. Shots were even. Ilya’s still scoring with consistency. 27 assists for Toby Enstrom. That one kinda snuck up on me.
http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009020576
Smoothie
December 28th, 2009
10:38 pm
If y’all (stendec and LAC) are so convinced that the season is a total bust and hope is gone, then does that mean we won’t have to read your drivel / crap for the rest of the season?? Perhaps comments are light because we are tired of getting bombarded with the same freakin’ rearranged script of mindless jibber-jabber and name-calling. It’s one thing to criticize with constructive analysis, but it’s a completely different thing to do nothing but bash a team you supposedly like and care about. We hardly ever hear from you two when things are going well. At least Sage of Blue(s)land posts some positive stuff when we are actually winning. Broken records you are.
Brendan
December 28th, 2009
10:54 pm
Valabik was in the sin bin when Parise netted the GWG, PPG. Dagnabit!
Eric Boulton spent seven minutes (7:00) in the penalty box and has 7:54 in total ice time. Well, he sure made the most of that! Why did Andrew Peters get a game misconduct? Again, I didn’t see this one. I’m out of town.
I see that Marty Reasoner got his 4th of the year, and was a +2 in this game. Our +/- leader, Kubina, was a +1, too. Folks, if the Sky were actually Falling, imagine what Kubina might fetch at the trade deadline. When we first acquired Kubina, my thoughts were exactly this, “This is an upgraded Matthie Schneider. I just hope Waddell can net a 2nd round pick for the guy.” At this rate, we might get better than that for him. Every GM knows Atlanta is weak, defensively. So, for Kubina to be doing as well as he his, plus-minus-wise, is substantial. Waddell’s phone will ring for Pavel Kubina. And, I suppose, Afinogenov, too. Last year, the Sabres couldn’t GIVE Max away.
There’ll be takers, this year. I think Colby Armstrong can be moved, too. It’s possible to trade Todd White. I wouldn’t cut him/put him on waivers. A good GM could package White as sweetener for a team thin up the middle. The return could be a prospect or a high-end 3rd rounder. Maybe even something towards the bottom of the 2nd round, like picks #55-60. Todd White still has another year left on his deal. His cap hit is something like $2.3 million.
But, let’s not talk “firesale.” This is the sixth loss in seven (6/7) games, and fifth (5) in-a-row. The Thrashers just can’t have these kinds of prolonged losing streaks. Not when they need 54-points, or more, to make the playoffs, with just 44 games remains. In “plain speak,” that means, from here on out … the Thrashers must go ten (10) games over .500, or it’s sayonara, baby, in terms of the playoffs. A record of 25-15-4 would do it.
When I conducted the “Guess the Thrashers Points Totals” contest in the offseason, most/many of the bloggers had the Thrashers in 8th place or higher in the East. Ask your yourself this question, at nearly the mid-point of the season, (just three games away,) do you still feel the same? Technically, Atlanta is still in playoff position, tied for 8th with the NY Rangers. Or, do you feel that a record of 25-15-4 the rest of the way is, as presently assembled and coached, out of reach?
stendec
December 28th, 2009
10:58 pm
Glad to see the two biggest damn Yardbird apologists of all decided to check in. So happy you two clueless jerks enjoyed yet another close MORAL defeat. Totally mindless. Must be so damn proud of losing streak. Morons! ++STENDEC++
Rawhide
December 28th, 2009
10:58 pm
Brendan – Peters got the game misconduct for having his jersey pulled off during the fight with Bolts.
Anywhoooo…here’s a new blog to discuss latest loss.
fanfan
December 29th, 2009
9:00 am
I have said it before, and will say it again. No future for ice hockey here. History DOES repeat. Save $$, simplify the ownership, and invest it in the Hawks so we can compete for NBA title. This time less is more.