Thrashers loss to Bruins was as bad as it sounded
Greetings from sunny Florida. Well…actually where I am, it’s actually kinda gray and cloudy with rain expected…but it’s still Florida. I’m spending time down here at the lake house with the family for New Years. We’ve recently upgraded this place to circa 1990s technology and so I’m able to come to you by way of a dialed up internet.
Slowwwwwwwww….
I do, however, have modern-day techno-gadgets in the new vehicle and thus I was able to listen to last night’s beat-down in Beantown via satellite radio. XM provided the Bruins radio feed, so I was able to get their prospective of things…which is always interesting.
I’m sorry that I cannot recall the pairs names as they did do a very fine job of calling the game.
As I was “enjoying” the game while cruising through south Georgia and north Florida on I-75, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “I wonder if this game is really as bad as it sounds…or if this game seems so one-sided given the fact that these guys are just focusing on the team they are paid to cover”.
I mean, the last five minutes or so of the game, the pair of broadcasters piping though my radio started talking about the ice conditions at Fenway Park where tomorrow’s Winter Classic will be held. Oh, there was the occasional…”And Savard shoots, kicked out by Hedberg”…but then they would return to the subject of the New Years Day event and discuss the forecasted weather and if they were going to prepare any differently for it.
So, they were looking for anything to keep their listeners tuned in.
Well, when I got in shortly before 11:00, I checked the comments that were left by you all and yup, it sure appears as though it really was as bad as it appeared…maybe even worse.
Much of your observations mirrored what I heard coming from Boston for most of the game. The one phrase I think I heard 3 or 4 times from Boston was that the Thrashers had no “push-back” in them on this night. What they meant was that after getting down 3-0 after one period of play and chasing Ondrej Pavelec before the first intermission…again…the team seemed to just stand there and “take it”. There was no fight…no spirit…no intent to stir things up.
“Providing little resistance”, was another phrase used. I’m tellin’ ya… the radio broadcast guys from Boston were making it very clear that the Atlanta Thrashers simply phoned in that effort and rolled over…showing little or no pride in how they looked out there.
Phoning it in is inexcusable. Well…I mean, unless it’s using dial up to “phone in” this entry. 
Some of the low-lights include…Opie being chased for the second time in a week before playing 20 minutes. This time, he surrendered 3 goals on 10 shots in 16:50. Hedberg seemed to perform mop-up duties well by stopping all but one of the 20 shots he faced, however.
The Thrashers offense mustered up a grand total of 18 shots on goal themselves. With the way this team plays defense, they cannot have an off night in the attacking zone.
The power play took an Oh-fer…failing on all four of the man advantages they were afforded.
The normally reliable Marty Reasoner was a –3 on just 11:10 TOI.
Eric Boulton was a –2 on less than seven minutes on the ice, as was Chris Thorburn playing just under eight minutes.
This team needs a good kick in the pants right now…and I’m hoping John Anderson gives ‘em that prior to tomorrow night’s game in Buffalo. Last night’s phone in was simply embarrassing and if there is one player that does not feel that way and has the pride to come out of the locker room against the Sabres willing to at least put up a fight should be put on the next flight home.
Until then, I wish you all a very happy New Years…may it be enjoyable and safe!
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126 comments Add your comment
five_hole
January 2nd, 2010
2:06 pm
I just looked at the shift report on the game. Salmella’s last 2 shifts were the 2nd & 3rd goals Buffalo scored. After 4:15 of the 3rd, he did not appear back on the ice.
Bob
January 2nd, 2010
2:22 pm
“And folks, the Isles are the team that drafted 1st overall last June. We are barely, I repeat, barely ahead of them in the standings”
but wait, I thought all of those meaningless wins we had at the end of last year, screwing ourselves out of Hedman or Tavares, really meant something?!?
Matt
January 2nd, 2010
3:07 pm
Andy Murray fired by the Blues and still the same status quo in “Bluehoo” Land. Wake up ASG, you are not going to have EITHER team in the playoffs this year!
WM
January 2nd, 2010
3:23 pm
This team is done. How you loose a game when you’re up 3-0 is beyond me. I’ll bet anyone on this board that we finish below Carolina at the end of this season. Matt, biggest difference b/t us and St. Louis is that the fans there care and management listens because there is a long tradition of winning. Here fans are beginning not to care anymore and management doesn’t have a clue…they’re just lining their pockets with our hard earned dollars, plus we’re so use to bottom feeding, why change now? I hate saying it, but the Thrashers will be re-located before the 2012-2013 season.
Smoothie
January 2nd, 2010
3:28 pm
While Whitey hasn’t scored a goal in forever, he is not by any stretch our biggest problem right now. He is fine as a 2-way defensively responsible C playing 3rd line minutes. In fact, I really liked him with Kane and Armstrong. Problem is, they weren’t producing many goals playing together.
The bigger problem is Slava. He’s just not very good on the forecheck and his lack of speed hurts him getting back if / when he takes a chance and pinches in deep to try to get the cycle going. Why JA hasn’t at least tried him with Peverley and Army I’ll never understand. That was our best line at the end of the season last year for 20+ games. At least he might have enough defensive protection with those 2 if they were to be re-united.
Problem is, that leaves a line of either Kane – White – Little if you leave the Russian Front together. But that would still be better than Kane – White – Finny. If the KWL line were assembled for the next several weeks, they should be charged with focusing on defense and making the safe play. Occasionally, if the defense is good, they will get a good breakout chance and might be able to capitalize on their speed for some goals.
I’d rather see that than Kozzy – White – Little, Kozzy – Slater – Little, Kozzy – White – Finny (NOOO!) or any other combo that doesn’t give Kozzy a banger like Kane, Army or Thorburn to protect him. Or you could move Finny down a line and let Kozzy play with Kovy and Antro. It’s our first PP unit anyway and Kozzy said he would be willing to play RW if it was better for the team. Well, anything but the status quo w/r/t Kozzy would be better for the team!! Do something JA…sit him, reduce his minutes…something!! Kozzy is a much bigger liability than White or Little.
Smoothie
January 2nd, 2010
4:07 pm
Bob, this one’s for you bud:
“Islanders — John Tavares will be happy to see December end. The Isles’ star rookie was scoreless again on Thursday and has just one goal in his last 11 games. He also was stopped on the decisive shootout attempt in Ottawa.”
Looks like Tavares did not fare any better than Kaner in the month of December. Let’s compare their numbers, shall we?
John Tavares – 42 GP: 16 goals, 12 assists for 28 points (-7)
Last 16 games: 6 goals; 1 ASSIST!! for 7 pts and a -7
Evander Kane – 39 GP: 10 goals, 6 assists for 16 points (+5)
Last 16 games: 2 goals, 1 assist for 3 pts and a -4
So it looks like each player has hit a bit of a wall in December. It will be interesting to see which player rebounds best and finishes strong. Will one of them have a Stamkos-esque finish in him?
Of course, to be fair to EK, he’s only getting 14 mins / gm without any PP time. Plus, he works his tail off on the PK and was pretty darn good there till recently. Until very recently, Tavares was averaging in the neighborhood of 19-21 mins / gm. His mins have been reduced over the last 5 or 6 to about 17 mins. Let’s hope he doesn’t find his “mojo” tonite against us like his buddy Moulson did the last time we played them.
Brendan
January 2nd, 2010
5:39 pm
Bob, I think we could make an argument that, had Kovalchuk re-signed in back in July, those games were “meaningful” insofaras they caused #17 to make a longterm commitment to playing in Atlanta.
Obviously, that didn’t happen. And, maybe, won’t happen. So, yes. A less than honorable finish to the 2009 season by Atlanta might have blocked our division rivals, Tampa Bay, from landing Hedman in the draft. Bygones. Can’t be undone.
At least, I think, we got a decent player at #4. I don’t know that Atlanta could have managed to unseat anyone but Colorado in that draft. So, we might have been looking at Duchene, but no higher. Plus, as you know, the lottery draft is determined by the pingpong balls. Even the L.A. Kings, technically, had some chance at John Tavares.
If someone is asking me who I’d rather have, over the longhaul, Kane, Duchene, Taveres or Hedman, my answer would be John Tavares. But honestly, I don’t think anyone would do badly with any of the them.
The Kings and Capitals are now tied, 1-1, after two periods.
Brendan
January 2nd, 2010
6:06 pm
Matt, I feel your pain. I’ve had those moments of exasperation, too. But for these owners, I keep saying it, “this is Year Three of the 4-year building project.” It was THEIR JOB (ownership’s) to sell Kovalchuk on it. They had to convince him that what we’re building in Atlanta, is worth being a part of, moving forward. Annnnd, that they would be able to FINANCE it, moving forward.
I wish I could say that Atlanta’s ownership was astute, and accountable, and attentive to fan concerns. But the truth I believe is this one: They just don’t know how to run an NHL hockey club. They don’t understand the ‘dynamics’ of it. And, on top of that, they legitimately have poor judgement. The AS, LLC doesn’t set out to anger fans. They don’t “try to be stupid.” They just make bad decisions.
And on the hockey front, I think … that THEY THINK … they’ve got one of the greatest hockey minds in ALL of the NHL today, in Don Waddell. And they’ll tell you why they think that way, if you ask them. With no smirking, giggling, or innuendo. They’d tell you how RESPECTED Don Waddell is. They’d talk about his participation in Team USA Hockey, since the 1980’s. They’d tell you what a Draft Day Guru he is, citing Heatley, Kovy, Enstrom, Kane, Bogosian and Valabik, along with Little, Slater, Lasu, Redmond, Leveille, and even Kari Lehtonen. And although they don’t like to talk about the trade, they would tell you that Braydon Coburn was a great draft pick, too, made by Waddell. Then they’d say, “And don’t blame Waddell for that trade. We made him do that one.” Though, technically, none of the AS, LLC could identify Alexei Zhitnik in a police lineup. They never said, “Zhitnik’s here, or YOU’RE NOT.” They said, “Get a defensemen to stabilize our blueline and improve our PP, to get us into the playoffs.”
If you challenged them to defend Waddell’s trades, they’d quickly point out the Marc Savard acquisition, Slava Kozlov on Draft Day 2002, and most recently, Pavel Kubina and Tim Stapleton, for Exelby and Colin Stuart.
And if you DARED to suggest they cannot land free agents, asking them how the Brian Campbell negotiations are going, they’d tell you that Ron Hainsey is a far better defender, at a fraction of the price that Campbell got. And then they’d point to the 35-points that both Maxim Afinogenov and Nik Antropov have, in 40 games. While telling you that “Don Waddell made two of the greatest moves during all of free agency.”
Do you see how it works, Matt? Do you see it, now? You might as well be talking to a wall, or arguing with a monkey.
I hear ya, Matt. You just screamed, “But what about the consecutive 76-point seasons? How can ownership defend that? Especially, when those results cost them 100% PURE PROFITS from playoff revenue?” Matt, I thank you for that sane, rational hypothetical question. Here’s their answer, “Now obviously, those weren’t the results we wanted. But we had injuries. Kari was hurt, etc. There was bad officiating at key moments of key games in the season for us.”
I mean, it’s painful to listen to the words that are pushed from their brain and out their mouth holes. But the one thing I can tell you … is that this team is NOT leaving Atlanta. Not before 2019, anyway.
Matt
January 2nd, 2010
7:30 pm
Brendan-That sound you hear is me thumping my head on the table during this first period. Woeful! Is it too late for me to move back to Minnesota, freeze my buttocks off and cheer for the Wild?
stendec
January 2nd, 2010
7:47 pm
Pretense is over! Yardbirds no longer even acting like they give a damn. Anyone who think these quiteers care are delusional or downright ignorant! Send them to Hamilton. Send them to Hell! Send them some damn place. Every single player has cashed it in for season! Every damn one of them. This goes beyond embarrassing! A 3-0 deficit to the Islanders. The damn Islanders? After only 20 minutes? Some apologist tell me how this giveup bullshet is heading in the right f#cking direction! To Hell with these heartless piles of commode residue. ++STENDEC++
Bob
January 2nd, 2010
7:47 pm
“Bob, this one’s for you bud”
Dude, if you think Kane has a prayer of becoming the player that Tavares is, well then, giddyup
Bob
January 2nd, 2010
7:49 pm
this is a good hockey club. Pollyanna, whereforeartthou?
Brendan
January 2nd, 2010
8:04 pm
In the first two contests, the Islanders spanked us by 3 goals. What’s the lead tonight? Three goals. Yes, folks. The offensive juggernauts that are former Thrasher Jon Sim and Richard Park, joined Moulson as a trio of goal scorers.
Unless the Thrashers overcome this deficit, they will be 1-7-2, for 3-points out of a possible 20, over their last ten (10) games.
Finny scores! It’s 3-1. I love it! Who “overcomitted” on the play? Yep, the pylon Andy Sutton. Don’tcha just miss “Mandy?”
But I digress. The Saint Louis Blues canned Andy Murray today. Atlanta does nothing. And now it’s 4-1, Islanders! Who got it? Brendan Witt?? Is that who got it?
Kozlov has now been goaded into a high-sticking penalty on Jon Sim. This team is a comedy of errors. I swear. They’re in total disarray. Better not point out that the “Emperor isn’t wearing any clothes.” This just in, from Mr. Levenson. “The team is sporting the finest silk from the Orient.” D’oh!
Brendan
January 2nd, 2010
8:10 pm
Here’s your boxscore: http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009020615. Andy Sutton is already a -2 in this game, thanks to the 2nd goal by Finny. Thrashers are on a PP. It’s 4-2, Islanders.
Smitty
January 2nd, 2010
8:22 pm
9 goals given up in the last 4 periods. I guess we are out of the Vezina hunt.
stendec
January 2nd, 2010
9:53 pm
The losing streak has reached monumental proportions! The damn thing may never end. Tell El Kapitan Ilya “Another Misfire” Kovalchuk that I can fire a puck wide during a shootout for a lot less than this Russian fraud demands. Choking bestard! Moose surrendered far too many goals in a true Kari Lehtonen showing then was a virtual sieve during the shootout. Still no excuse for choke job by supposed team captain! No morale victories. Just another link in the lengthy losing streak chain! Spare me the magnificent rally bullshet. Islanders completely lost focus after taking 4-1 lead then could never regain composure! Pity point. May have deserved it. I damn sure do not think so! Maybe Yardbirds will not win at all in January. A distinct possibility! ++STENDEC++
LAC
January 2nd, 2010
10:02 pm
Well how many more ways can we lose a game ?
Road trip, Game 1, Refs were TERRIBLE, we played fairly well, our goalie was bad at the start.
Game – 2 Close but let another weaker team win, and a guy scores his first goal in 19 games…
Game – 3 A pretty good effort overall, a lucky bounce for NJ and we are
doomed again.
Game – 4 DID NOT SHOW UP PERIOD !
Game – 5 We can ill afford to lose 3 goal leads… Buffalo is NOT a
high scoring team, then that fluke bounce…
Game – 6 Good comeback, then usual reliable goalie falters badly in
shootout…
Game – 7 Will be a BLOWOUT to end this dismal streach.
4-10 in December AWFUL !
We need a shake-up, too bad the people in control have no idea what they are doing !
Smoothie
January 2nd, 2010
10:54 pm
Tavares was brilliant tonite! Unless he miraculously learns how to skate, I don’t see how he’ll be a superstar in this league. Perhaps he’s just getting more attention before, but for my money Stamkos will be better over time. And I’m fine with Kane over Tavares as I think he has the skills to be a perennial 30-goal scoring power forward who plays really good defense.
Oh yah, by the way, Thrashers really suck eh?
Freakin’ hosers.
Brendan
January 3rd, 2010
12:10 am
Ranallo warning?? Not seeing one …
Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please. Your attention, please. We have a NEWWWWWWW +/- leader on the Atlanta Thrashers: It’s Nik Antropovvvvvvv. http://www.nhl.com/ice/playerstats.htm?fetchKey=20102ATLAASAll&sort=plusMinus&viewName=summary
Pavel Kubina’s practically season-long dominance of the plus-minus stat is over. He’s been dethroned. Congratulations to Nik Antropov.
Brendan
January 3rd, 2010
12:40 am
Tonight, in the World Juniors tournament, there was a major upset. Switzerland rallied for a late goal vs. Russia, then won it in overtime.
It’s Canada vs. Switzerland tomorrow in one semi-final. The other will see USA vs. Sweden. I hope there’s another upset brewing. Okay, I hope there’s TWO! I want Switzerland vs. USA for the Gold!!
Brendan
January 3rd, 2010
12:50 am
Andy Sutton was a -3 in this game!
Miss him yet?
Uhh, also a -3, however, was Atlanta’s Christophe Schubert. D’oh! If Ilya’s “bags are packed,” he didn’t show it tonight. He had 4-points, including a goal, and was +3. Kovalchuk did miss on his shootout attempt. At +3 was fellow countryman Nik Antropov, who had a goal. Finny had 2G and 2A, for 4-points and was “even” on his plus-minus.
Max Afinogenov now has 39-points in 41 games. He’s earning his $800,000 a year, and then some. But, he’s also still making plenty of lazy, intercepted passes and is careless in the neutral zone. And yes, he coughs up the puck a lot. I think he also has three (3) GWG, unless I’m confusing him with Kane, which I may be. Peverley has six GWG, I’m sure of that. Todd White has 3 goals all year, but one of them was a GWG.
At +2 tonight, were Anssi Salmela and Toby Enstrom. Toby Enstrom is the assist leader on the Atlanta Thrashers. That’s kinda nice for him.
Rawhide
January 3rd, 2010
12:54 am
Brendan – No Ranallo Warning until the morning….
R. Stroz
January 3rd, 2010
12:56 am
Rawhide – You suck, I was waiting to be first in 2010.
World Be Free
January 3rd, 2010
7:55 am
Smoothie-I said all along that Hedman will be the superstar out of this draft, not Tavaras. JT will turn out to be a very good center, maybe a first line center but not a game changer in the long run. Hedman is the 2nd coming of Nic Lidstrom.
LAC-Buffalo was down 3-0 to Pittsburgh in their previous game and came back to win. You are correct, Buffalo is not a scoring machine, but they are a team that takes advantage of their opportunities.
Any news on Kari? I actually give this coaching staff credit for doing OK this year with two nevermind goalies. The team did well last year in the 2nd half of the season when Kari was on his game, a difference maker. We need a timetable for his return.
The Hotstove Boys made it sound like this is the week for a Kovy decision. They made it sound that the delay was not management’s, but Kovy’s camp and their reaction to the latest and maybe final offer. The captain should know that this negotiation is having a horrific effect on his team. I have never seen a contract negotiation drag on like this, ever.
World Be Free
January 3rd, 2010
8:03 am
Brendan-what a great Jr. championship. I am so glad we have been able to see the games, thanks to NHL Network. I used to be able to see these games every year when I lived in Buffalo; Canadian television broadcast the games during every holiday. It was another added bonus for the holidays!
Happy Sunday folks; time to put aside the losing streak and enjoy our last day of rest before we have to go back to work.
Brendan
January 3rd, 2010
11:15 am
WBF, indeed! Happy New Year to everyone. Let’s enjoy it this last day of FREEDOM!!