Another Thrashers attempt to win two straight ‘Staals’ out
The Carolina Hurricanes are mired in the middle of a horrific season with league’s worst record. They were 14-27-7 as they came into Philips Arena for a Thursday night match with a Thrashers team who…if a few other scores fell their way…could have moved into the 8th position in the Eastern Conference with a win.
However, just the day before, the Canes announced that they were switching captains… Rod Brind’Amour handing over the ‘C’ to Eric Staal. Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said that the new captain “is the player around whom the team will be constructed” during Wednesday’s announcement.
Well, if Thursday night’s performance is any indication of what the future holds for that organization, they should be just fine as the new captain led his mates into Thrasherville and spanked the home team 5-2 behind his hat trick. Staal had 8 shots on goal.
Eric Staal's second period shot gets past Ondrej Pavelec. Opie saw 4 of 21 shots get past him (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
The Thrashers were trying to win two consecutive games for the first time since an overtime victory against Montreal and shootout win against the Rangers back in mid-December. To find the last time they strung together two regulation wins, we have to go back to…flipping back through schedule…back to…ah, here we go…all the way back to November 28 and 30 when they beat Philadelphia 1-0 and Florida 4-3. However, as has been the case since, their “win streak” was stalled out at one.
Or would that be… “Staal-ed” out?
For Carolina…this was only the fifth road win of the season.
Starting for the fifth time in the past six games, Ondrej Pavelec… who is now 12-13-4 with a 3.47 GAA and .903 SV%… surrendered four of the goals on 21 shots. The 22nd shot that resulted in Staal’s hat trick came while Opie as on the bench.
That’s right…the Thrashers held the ‘Canes to only 22 shots. Granted, three of them came during a third period in which Carolina was entered with a 4-1 lead. But this is the second time this week that Atlanta held a team to fewer than 25 SOG but wound up losing. Last Monday they were blanked in Florida 1-0 and held the Panthers to just 24 shots.
Atlanta was held without a goal on all six power play chances…four of which came in the third period. “On special teams, I don’t want to use the word horrific”, coach John Anderson said in the post-game presser. “But that’s the first thing that comes to my mind…our power play isn’t generating a lot”.
Carolina, on the other hand, had three goals on four power play chances.
With the loss, Atlanta is now 22-21-7 and remain at the 51-point level. Combined with the Islanders shootout win against Florida, Tampa Bay’s overtime win against Toronto and Philadelphia’s shutout against the Rangers, the Thrashers now find themselves tied with the Panthers for second place in the Southeast Division and one point ahead of the Lighting. They reside in the tenth place spot in the conference along with the Panthers and Canadiens…all three now two points behind the 9th place Flyers and three points behind Boston and the Islanders who are 7th and 8th.
I guess if you want to look on the bright side…if the current win-one-lose-one trend the Thrashers have been on lately continues, then we should all be treated to a victory Saturday while viewing the game at TJ’s…right?
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95 comments Add your comment
Putting On The Foil
January 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
Please! Just FIRE SOMEBODY.
James Brown
January 22nd, 2010
12:03 pm
I don`t know who to blame all thses bad starts on….always 2-0…..3-0…and now 4-0…….I would say its the coaching staff and Captain that have to get this team ready to play………………agree with Smoothie at this point…………No Playoffs again………….I hate our ownweship too……….no accountability from top to bottom…………sad
Bob
January 22nd, 2010
12:11 pm
we stink.
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
12:19 pm
Did y’all see JA’s big “changes” over on Viv’s blog…what a joke.
Might as well mail it in cuz they have no prayer with those lines and this lack of “give a crap” in the lockerroom.
Darkhorse
January 22nd, 2010
12:20 pm
Could not have articulated any better myself Bob…..
A “C” level 16 year old student in juvi puts in more effort than this team.
Drew
January 22nd, 2010
12:31 pm
It’s not just one thing, it’s EVERYTHING that’s wrong with this team and organization..Fire’em all…even the Blue Crew.
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2010
12:35 pm
Smoothie-do you think we are in line for a 3rd consec 76 point season?
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2010
12:44 pm
Anyone see the Philly highlights last night? Looks like Philly is gooning it up again
Hartnell and Avery went at it klast night. I’d best the last oerson to stick up for avery, but I have an issue when a guy like Hartnell, who wears a visor fights any player without a visor.
Regardless of whether it’s Avery or not, take off the visor before you fight.
World Be Free
January 22nd, 2010
12:46 pm
Anyone see the Philly highlights last night? Looks like Philly is gooning it up again
Hartnell and Avery went at it last night. I’d best the last person to stick up for Avery, but I have an issue when a guy like Hartnell, who wears a visor fights any player without a visor.
Regardless of whether it’s Avery or not, take off the visor before you fight.
Ronnie Milsap
January 22nd, 2010
12:47 pm
Thrashers are awesome, they play their hearts out each and every game. They practice hard and pay attention to detail. What a two way player Kovy is, he is worth the 11 million per year he wants. Am I the only one who can see this?? AM I?
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
I don’t think we’ll do THAT poorly, but I think we’ll be lucky to see 84-86 points as it turns out. Unfortunately, I predicted 86 points in the contest I think. That now seems to look like a best-case scenario.
To get to a record of 38 – 34 – 10 for 86 pts, we’d have to go 16 – 13 – 3 in the last 32. Even that seems like too big a mountain to climb.
R. Stroz
January 22nd, 2010
12:51 pm
What is Anderson smoking?
FIRE WADDELL AND ANDERSON
Give the jobs to Dudley and Cunnyworth.
GaVaHokie
January 22nd, 2010
12:58 pm
Uh oh… it’s coming from TSN’s main page now… Kovy is “unofficially” on the trading block…
http://tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=307228
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 22nd, 2010
1:25 pm
Milsap-Stevie Wonder endorses the Hawks
Stroz-now that’s a great idea
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
1:39 pm
Kovy – Pevs – Thorbs**
**Thorburn has only been on the ice for 2 ES goals in the month of Jan: once with Slater & Reasy (NYI) and the other time with Slater & Kane (TOR). No reason to take Thorburn off that line. Kovy works harder to get his own shots when there isn’t another Russian across from him. Pevs should get more pucks to him in prime position.
Army – Slater – Little
Slater and Little work really hard, cycle well and back-check pretty well; having Army on the same line will work better than Kane because Kane seems to get too offense / forechecking-focused and doesn’t get back on a rush. In fact, Kane’s been on the ice for the third most ES goals in January behind Fins & Pevs. Army knows he’s not fast enough to get too carried away in the O-zone and will put a premium on defense.
Kane – Antro – Max
The only way to cover up for Max is against weaker competition and playing alongside Antro; perhaps Kane can jam home some of Finny’s weak-ass wrist-shots. At the very least, Kane will be in the right place at the right time as he has a nose for the loose puck. Playing against weaker competiton will keep these guys from getting burnt so often. Antro can stay high and get back on most plays.
Kozlov – Reasy – Boults (occasionally White when Kozlov needs a break)
Changing the D-pairings wouldn’t be a bad idea either as Bogo needs a break from playing against the best forwards and so many minutes. His offense isn’t out-weighing his deficiencies on D. Let him play 10-12 mins ES with Boris on the 3rd pairing. He can get 3-4 mins / night extra playing on the PK with Big Bo as well. Salmela can play with Hainsey on the 2nd pairing. There will still be breakdowns because Hainsey isn’t physical enough, but I think Anssi can be taught to watch for this and bring the help if necessary. Kubes and Tobes are fine. They will have an occasional bad game but that happens playing against the best forwards all the time. Can Salmela handle 20 mins / night tho?
Jeff
January 22nd, 2010
1:47 pm
The “Red Sweater Curse” strikes again!
stendec
January 22nd, 2010
1:49 pm
Ilya “Even My Misfires Are Worth Big Bucks” Kovalchuk to the once Atlanta Flames? No. No! NO! NOOOOOOO! A thousand times no. I love the Calgary Flames. I hate the Atlanta Yardbirds, uh, Trashers, eh, Chickens, duh, Thrashers! Chicago? Home of organized crime kingpin Barack Hussein O…, excuse me, Al Capone, and the revived Blackhawks. Where the Siberian #### can be reunited with his booty buddy Maryann Hossa? Sounds like a good fit to me. I say good riddance to bad rubbish! Let one of the other players skate just as impressive figure eights for a whole lot less moola. ++STENDEC++ In the words of Captain John Luke Picard, Make It So. ASAP!
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
2:16 pm
Looking at Calgary’s cap issues and contracts, they might make a logical trading partner. Plus, they are hurting for offense. We are hurting for 2-way centers and defense.
Enter Ollie Jokinen, who is a UFA next season. While he is a good 2-way player, he is better in the SE where he can take full advantage of his offensive skills and not have to be so defense-focused as in CGY.
Calgary would probably LOVE to have a western Canadian boy like Armstrong. He fits their mold and can jam home rebounds / dirty goals. He’d be a nice opposite fit to Glencross or even Iginla.
Rene Bourque is a UFA next year as well but I see CGY wanting to re-sign him. Perhaps a Jamie Lundmark or even an Eric Nystrom might come back to us in a trade since they are UFA’s.
The key here is if CGY is truly ready to unload Phaneuf because of his huge contract. At $7 M per year, it probably seems even worse paying him that much when Jay Bo is making slightly more. Would they bite on Hainsey since he’s supposedly a vaunted offensive D-man? In fact, I think Ronsey is getting mis-used here in ATL as he is being asked to lock down the crease and his puck-moving skills are being wasted.
How about this?
ATL gets: Jokinen, Phaneuf, Lundmark & Colin Stuart!
CGY gets: Kovy & his rights, Colby & Moose to back up Kipper.
Calgary saves $2.45 M in the process and we move on and start building this thing around Kane, Bogosian & Phaneuf and hopefully Ollie.
Pevs – Ollie – Thorbs
Kane – Antro – Max
Stuart – Reasy – Litts / Slates
Boults – Lundmark – Slates / White
Kubes & Tobes
Dion & Zach
Boris & Salmsy (Kulda)
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
2:24 pm
EDIT: I doubt CGY would take such an expensive player in Hainsey without any guarantee of keeping Kovy. We’d have to send back a D-man so we’d likely end up giving them Boris and then the ASG will have to pay Hainsey $4.5 M to play 3rd pairing minutes.
Matt
January 22nd, 2010
2:27 pm
Fire Waddell NOW and THEN trade Kovy.
five_hole
January 22nd, 2010
2:42 pm
Had to wait to watch the game this morning on replay. It comes down to special teams. They scored 3 PP goals; we got zero. And on at least 2 of the PP goals we had Hainsey stationed in front of our goal, watching the play as ‘Canes cruised into the slot & scored. He might as well have been eating popcorn & drinking a cold one.
I say it again; we have as much or more talent than we’ve ever had here. Certainly enough talent on paper to make the playoffs. The difference comes down to the coaching. I think John Anderson comes across as a nice guy, as a motivational guy, but nice guys finish last and he isn’t motivating them enough.
Russian
January 22nd, 2010
3:08 pm
**to five_hole**
Great Point about Anderson. He is nice guy, but he is not a NHL Coach.
GaVaHokie
January 22nd, 2010
3:11 pm
Smoothie… was Hainsey supposed to be part of your offer?!
MASHAPlayer7
January 22nd, 2010
3:23 pm
Brad Ratgen of Hockeybuzz reports that Sykora to the Thrashers. Great, another soft aging european player. ugh!
Smoothie
January 22nd, 2010
3:29 pm
Masha – in a trade with Minn or just eventually as a FA, not that I put too much stock in their rumours.
Hokie – yes and no. I was going to but then I thought about CGY needing goaltending depth for Kipper. I don’t think they’d be willing to take Hainsey AND Moose as they wouldn’t save any money under the cap. Would they take Hainsey, Kovy and Army or Hainsey, Moose and Kovy? Any team who trades with us will want cap relief of $2 – 3 M at least so it’s probably Army OR Hainsey.
As I said before, it will be a matter of which team is desperate enough for offense as they slip out of the Top 6 spots (think Zhitnik in 2007) in an attempt to not only keep their playoff aspirations alive, but also make a deep run. In my opinion, the logical candidates are:
1) Calgary
2) Boston
3) LA Kings
4) NY Rangers
5) Ottawa? doubtful
6) Detroit? more doubtful
MASHAPlayer7
January 22nd, 2010
3:35 pm
He said trade was reported…but no details on for whom/what. Maybe trade White straight up??? Waddell would clear a little salary that way.
TheFan79
January 22nd, 2010
3:40 pm
Maybe if we start boycotting the games owners would finally realize that change is needed on this team.
Fire somebody would you .
Rawhide
January 22nd, 2010
3:41 pm
He said trade was reported…but no details on for whom/what. Maybe trade White straight up??? Waddell would clear a little salary that way
MASHAPlayer7 – Oh, if the hockey gods were actually to smile upon Thrasherville in such a way….
TableHockey
January 22nd, 2010
3:56 pm
Eklund says Sykora is not coming to Atlanta….. soooooo I guess we will see him here later next week?
GaVaHokie
January 22nd, 2010
3:58 pm
Smoothie… was just curious because you left Hainsey out of your line combo’s.
Eileen
January 22nd, 2010
3:59 pm
Last night’s PP, power pass, was so incredibly frustrating to watch. It is clear that the players are supposed to get the puck to Kovy. Every other team has figured that out and therefore, does everything to block his shot. Then we lose the puck down the ice.
I drove home so incredibly frustrated and angry. Again we heard, “we started out slow”. Geez, enough excuses. Play 60 minutes.
joedaiceman
January 22nd, 2010
4:03 pm
I finally figured out the defensive strategy for the Thrashers. Put 5 skaters on the ice, tell them to act like forwards, skate around like it is a beerfest and then let the goalie handle that pesky little thing called defense. Brilliant. This team does not have a scoring problem, it has a scoring against problem and nobody is stepping up.
The only guys I see playing with heart out there are Slats and Evander.
Red Light
January 22nd, 2010
4:24 pm
Rawhide Question:
To make the best possible deal for all concerned, particularly Atlanta, would it make the most sense to sign Kovalchuk and then deal him to his team of choice?
Example: Lets say Waddell knows LA is on the Grossman-Kovalchuk list and he calls Lombardi and says: if I sign Kovalchuk for an average of $9.5 million for eight years, will you take him? In return, I want X, Y and Z, or W, Y, and Z.
That way, Kovy goes where he wants with a new deal, Waddell looks better because he actually was able to sign him (somebody) and he gets a little more value from the deal, and LA doesn’t have to negotiate to sign him long term between the trade and June 30, which takes the pressure off them.
Too logical I guess! Thanks, I answered my own question.
alex
January 22nd, 2010
4:50 pm
it’s no even return for kovy. we in lose, lose situation like usuall under dw for last decade. stendec you so worry about kovy, try not to be, he already got bronze for olimpick, bronze world champ, two gold world champ, mvp world champ, and going to get his money and stanly cup for sure. instead checking kovy money please assess worth of person you working for in spokeperson position, you lovly michigan boy dw. it’s line nhl teams for services kovy, just one team wanted you boss – alaska “weasels” he going to take you on same position and kiss kovy @$$ in peace.
Matt
January 22nd, 2010
5:15 pm
If I still had hair I would be pulling it out in clumps by now given the play from last night and the Kovy news of the day. Watched some of the Caps-Penguins game on NHL network last night. Is it too late to try to get Ovechkin for Kovy straight up?
atlthrashsuck
January 22nd, 2010
6:27 pm
Wow is all i can say… Really we beat the canes’ twice and lose badly the 3rd? The thrashers play with no consistency. This team plays with no grit or pride but just to collect their paychecks! Yay! 4 years without a playoff berth or win! Good roll for the thrash (which they truly are)!
atlthrashsuck
January 22nd, 2010
6:30 pm
FIRE COACH ANDERSON
TRADE PAVELEC
WIN GAMES
HIRE A GOOD COACH THAT HAS NHL LEVEL OF STRATEGY
RE SIGN KOVY OR EXPECT ATTENDANCE TO BE LESS THAN 1,000
Then they mite make the playoffs!
rob
January 22nd, 2010
8:06 pm
JUST A THOUGHT…. I saw a post saying that we are all saying the same thing over and over and over. No heart, questionable leadership, losing fan base. How many people are on this blog though? How about a real article in the AJC embarassing the team from ownership down to the stickboy, and every lazy player and non inspiring coach/GM in between? The truth, and nothing but the truth…..10 years and one 4 and out playoff spot!?!?! All the Trashers are are underpaid golfers. Put a SPOTLIGHT on them and ask them some hard questions!!!! COME ON let’s have some ACCOUNTIBILITY here!!!! Maybe then we can actually get around to playing some HOCKEY!!!!!!
Jimbo
January 22nd, 2010
8:57 pm
The Perfect Trade Package- Captain Coaster, Donnie Brilliance, JA, The Spirit owners, and Kozy for anyone who really cares about hockey and winning. WE NEED A VERY LARGE BROOM, aged dead wood is hard to move.
LAC
January 22nd, 2010
9:45 pm
Rob, I have asked the deadbeat beat writer of this “so called paper” to pin waddell down and ask him when does he plan to resign or what do you think of everyone calling for your head. What does that IDIOT do ? Resorts to calling me names !!!! Can you believe it ?!!!
I offered to put up $10,000 in a fight, he whips me he gets $10K, I win he asks THE questions. But again, as is his childish style, he resorts to name calling the fan base, much like his “hero” levenson who does the exact same thing.
This paper has GUTLESS reporters in the sports field, I am NOT talking about Mr.Bill Tiller, who does an EXCELLENT job, but then he does not “work” for the paper.
They are afraid they might offend someone and be banned from
reporting on the team, so what do they do ? Write STUPID articals, like waddell and his daughter, which was the worst thing I ever saw on a sports page.
So the beat writer, is a tool of the spit, I mean spirit clowns who will do nothing to offend them with, as you say Rob, THE tough questions.
I agree it is way PAST TIME for people who write for this rag to step up and rip the GUTS out of first waddell, the the owners. We have GREAT hockey fans in Atlanta, and we deserve a LOT better on the ice and in the paper.
Offer still stands villimore… let’s see some GUTS !
Paminski
January 22nd, 2010
11:14 pm
See you at TJ’s on Sat.
Hockey Biltong爽
January 23rd, 2010
12:55 am
Open letter to the Trashers.
I went to that game. You All Sucked Loud and Long.
Don’t come back till your are all grown up and ready to play for real.
Regards,
one very pissed off fan.
p. s. You let Staal get a hat trick?
Where is your shame?????????
Dwayne
January 23rd, 2010
8:06 am
I will now turn my money and support over to the White Basketball League. Hopefully they will bring back those short-shorts and lower the goal to 8 and 1/2 feet.
rob
January 23rd, 2010
9:26 am
too bad our farm club wasn’t closer. We could all go cheer them on instead and get the teams attention that way. And that way it would be easier to get some of those guys up and playing w the team. could put them up in the northern burbs and get them more fans than the Thrashers til they straighten up.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 23rd, 2010
9:51 am
rob – there’s a reason why the farm club isn’t closer-even less fans to show up to games.