Thrashers still cannot get Niitty-Monkey off their back
The Atlanta Thrashers have now failed fifteen times to procure two points in the standings when going up against Finnish goaltender Antero Niittymaki. It doesn’t matter if he’s wearing a big Flying P on his jersey or a lightning bolt…when he’s between the pipes it spells Loss with a capital L for Thrasherville. This was again the case Saturday night when the Thrashers fell to the Tampa Bay Lightning 2-1 in a shootout.
Niittymaki’s take on this phenomenon…”I can’t explain it”.
Yeah well…I have a theory.
Somewhere in the icy, frozen outskirts of northern Canada, in a sealed vault deep in the basement hockey god’s ice rink…I’m sure there is a contract that was inked several years ago between the gods and Niittymaki. That pact, no doubt, assures the 29-year old Finn that, no matter what the circumstances, he will never, ever, never…ever… never….everrrrrrrrrr be beaten by the Atlanta Thrashers.
The only thing I haven’t quite figured out is… what is it exactly the hockey gods are getting in return.
Jeff Halpern scores the oly goal in the five-round shootout to beat Atlanta 2-1 (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
The Thrashers took a total of 38 shots on Niittymaki…out-shooting the Lightning by 12 during regulation and overtime. But after Antropov’s goal in the first period, the Thrashers couldn’t figure him out the rest of the way…including all five shootout attempts by Maxim Afinogenov, Ilya Kovalchuk, Bryan Little, Rich Peverley and Todd White. All but Max’s shot were on net.
Johan Hedberg, the latest Thrashers goalie to fall victim to the team’s Niittymaki curse, had yet another outstanding performance. He turned aside 25 of Tampa Bay’s 26 shots and the first four Lightning penalty shots. But his efforts fell just short as Jeff Halpern’s successful shootout attempt in the fifth round was enough to procure the win for the Bolts.
Hedberg is now 10-8-4 with a .915 SV% and 2.52 GAA.
The two regulation goals where both scored in the first seven and a half minutes of the game. Nik Antropov put Atlanta up 1-0 5:23 into the game…but Steven Stamkos’ power play goal just over two minutes later tied things up.
The Stamkos goal came via a 4 on 3 man advantage.
With Colby Armstrong and Steve Downie already serving time for roughing, Pavel Kubina then drew an interference call after colliding with Martin St. Louis….and coach John Anderson was none-too-happy with the ref’s decision.
“We had control of the game pretty much the whole way”, coach Anderson said. “The goal they scored was a 4-on-3. That was a phantom call. He ran into our guy and we got a penalty”.
Martin St. Louis, seen here standing between teammates and Ilya Kovalchuk, drew an interference call on Pavel Kubina that lead to a 4 on 3 goal (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Speaking of “phantom”…I heard a rumor that Todd White was slated to ply in Saturday night’s game, but I really didn’t notice him…did you? I looked in the box score and…yup… there he was, just to the left of the stat line that read zero goals, zero assists on zero shots on goal during 15:17 TOI.
White was re-inserted into the lineup so that Slava Kozlov could have a seat in the press box. Of course, given the Thrashers luck of late, that just meant that the Slava-matic was unavailable for the shootout…one of the aspects of the game he still has been very consistent with.
sigh…
Ya know…maybe we need to send Slava and White north to pay a visit with the hockey gods with a few cases of Labatt and Molson beer in tow…maybe even some Moosehead, eh?
Or whatever it is that worked for Niittymaki.
More S/F and Less S/A Not Equating To More Ws
For those of you who have express concern over the shot for/shots against deficit that normally shows up in the box score for the Atlanta Thrashers, check this out. In their last five losses they have actually out-shot their opponents. This includes the 8-1 Capital punishment administered on January 9.
Uh-huh…in fact, in their past seventeen games, they have won the SF/SA battle by an average of 32.0 to 30.2 and have taken more shots than they’ve allowed during a game nine times.
Their record in that span of games…4-8-5.
Thrashers Not-So-Special Teams Play
In the past five games, the Thrashers have gone 1 for 25 on the power play, which is a 4.0% production rate. Dating back to January 5, they have converted 3 of 43 man advantages…6.9%
In the past two games, they have given up 4 power play goals on 8 penalty kill situations…that is a 50% efficiency.
For the season, the Thrashers power play is 17th in the NHL at 17.7% and their penalty kill is 22nd at 79.5%. Both had been ranked at or near the top of the league in the first two months of the season.
And Finally…
Last night at TJ’s, I…along with the others sitting nearby…came up with a new drinking game. We call it, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Basically, whenever watching a Thrashers game on TV and John Anderson drops the “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot” bomb while the camera is zoomed in on him…you take a shot.
For the designated drivers that might be in the crowd, we have the drinking game in which Matt McConnell calls out “Todd White scores”!
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119 comments Add your comment
TableHockey
January 26th, 2010
3:31 pm
Should be interesting to see the PP tonight. I made it out to practice yesterday and they worked it hard. If practice translates to game time we “should” see faster rotations and some surprise players crashing the net.
We need a win tonight badly – which makes the cynic in me expect the Ducks to win by 3.
As far as Kovy is concerned – if DW can get something for him it’s better than having him walk for free but I’m sure whatever we get will be less than hoped for.
One huge concern I have if we don’t resign Kovy is how miserable of an off-season we will have. I’m still scarred by the UFAs we had to over pay to get to come here after Hossa wouldn’t resign. Though that could be different if there is a change in the regime. But I sense if the front office remains the same it will be hard to get any UFA to sign here for their true value.
Rambling now… need to get some coffee
World Be Free
January 26th, 2010
3:45 pm
Ennis, Kassian and a #1 would do it for me.
Not sure Darcy Regier would pull the trigger on that one.
rob
January 26th, 2010
4:05 pm
wbf,
Kovy would go over in Buffalo as well as Mogilny did. Great high scoring non defense playing mess! I say trade Kovy right NOW to any taker!!! We need a leader here!!! A true HOCKEY man. Someone who isn’t afraid to hit someone wearing the opposing jersey! There is ZERO enthusiasm out there on the ice. Slater Kane and whoever is with them seem to be the only consistent effort lately. Kane hasn’t stopped trying all season, taken some silly penalties sure but he’s still learning and at least he is trying. I hate to think what sitting on the bench with this team is teaching him in his rookie season. Good talent level here that needs a goalie and someone to motivate them. IF it doesn’t happen now, I’d rather see them just free fall completely out of the race rather than wasting time for all of us. I don’t see enough character on this team now to take it far anyway. Polish up the golf clubs and wait for next year!!!! The hockey gods must be pulling their hair out over this mess. No call ups from the minor to stir the pot, no trade talk to stir the pot, it is sad the LACK of passion for the game being shown on the ice right now. I wouldn’t mind a hard working team losing because they were outgunned, but to just skate around aimlessly like I have watched them do too many times this year is unacceptable.
Tony C.
January 26th, 2010
4:21 pm
If you had control of the team for a day, aside from resolving the #17 debacle one way or another, what would you do to turn things around?
Personally, I’d give one “Iron” Mike Keenan a call-I might not get to the postseason but we would definitely learn who really wants to get out on the ice and compete VS. those who’d like to play & get paid for it.
Maybe Keenan isn’t the “best” answer, but I feel that something drastic needs to be done-regardless of what happens with Kovalchuk-it seems to me that Mgmt. asked the room for a show of faith this fall and were rewarded with one of the best starts in team history-but now you get the feeling that that trust has been betrayed and the room i pouting over that fact. Keenan might be “tough love” but at least it’d be showing the boys some love.
Personally, I’m prepared to do horrible things to hypnotize the brothers that own Les Habs and get Gainey in charge down here-the man’s shown he knows how to build a fan-favorite winner in the south. Even though he and DW seem to have a fondness for smurfy lineups….
Bob
January 26th, 2010
5:18 pm
Tony, 1st step is Fire Waddell and replace him with a competent GM. Bring in a ball buster as coach, Hartley can give it another shot or Keenan is good as well.
Burke has said that the rumor is Kovy turned down a 10 year $8.5 per deal from us. If that’s the case, he can go screw himself and needs to be booed starting tonight. I fear that Waddell will cave in after the Olympics and sign him to a 10 year $10m per deal and he’s just plain not worth that much. Crosby, Ovechkin, sure. Kovy? Nope. Grossman is not doing his client any favors with that demand, he just won’t get it as a one dimensional shooter.
Lee
January 26th, 2010
5:24 pm
Hokie-Whoa, pretty serious, thanks.
rob
January 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
team for a day……take the C off 17, and put it up for grabs. Who wants to take responsibility on the team? Let them fight it out for that most inspiring and prestigious honor. Maybe even pass it around for awhile????? Doubt it but maybe taking it off 17 sends a message to him and he picks it back up?
Brendan
January 26th, 2010
6:26 pm
WBF, Kovy … as a Sabre? Lindy Ruff isn’t even dead yet, and he’s spinning in his grave.
Seriously, Kovy would have to learn how to backcheck to play in Buffalo’s system. And he’d hate it there. The weather’s probably about the same as his native Tver, Russia. So, for the same bad weather and nearly twice the pay ($6.5 million cap hit,) he’d do better to play in the KHL.
I don’t believe any of that KHL non-sense. That’s just about taking the money. There isn’t as much prestige winning that trophy than the Stanley Cup. Though, playing in his native Russia, he might just eclipse Ovechkin as their National Hero Icon. How often do Russians get to see Ovechkin, in their native land?
Red Light, another awesome post from you. And Adam, too.
For a while, yet, Atlanta will still be able to talk about the playoffs. Those teams at #7-12 will continue to falter and flounder, such that Atlanta might have some reason to think they’re still in it. And that’s all the ownership wants.
Then Kovy grabs a live microphone during a Natalie Taylor postgame interview, after a home win, to say something like, “We really need your support the rest of the way, to make the playoffs. Keep coming out to give us that boost.”
And I think it would be awesome if a fan, near that hypothetical interview, could scream, “And Kovy, we really need you to SIGN, to make us keep coming out.”
NASCAR Dave
January 26th, 2010
6:45 pm
I smell a LOSS.
stendec
January 26th, 2010
9:39 pm
True Thrasher Captain Moose Hedberg singlehandedly secured two points at Loseland. Thank you Mr Johan Hedberg sir. You are a professional in every sense of the word. If one of the damn fools in blue had not physically restrained Mr Hedberg so the Ducks could score then he would have recorded a shutout. This man not only cares about fans but possesses a tremendous heart. THE HEART OF A WINNER! See Russian slacker Ilya “Pay My Slacking A## Millions” Kovalchoke was a healthy scratch. What? He was in lineup? Guess I failed to notice since the talentless bestard was his usual invisible self. What? Missed an empty net in closing seconds which almost allowed Ducks to register equalizer? Not a bit surprised! Will miss Moose Hedberg when team relocates. Will relish exit of el kapitan. Uncaring SOB! Hope he savors Olympics. Sincerely hope Russia gets routed. Embarrassed! Sick of this Maryann Hossa quitter. Thanks again Mr Hedberg sir. God bless you! Will always be #1 goalie to me. ++STENDEC++ Kari who?
MB
January 26th, 2010
10:46 pm
Thanks Adam for the voucher to tonight’s game. Overall solid effort…especially from Moose and Peverley. Haven’t seen many games lately, so I’ve dismissed much of the Kovy bashing as the usual betching. But as a fan of his, I’m very, very disappointed to say that the guy couldn’t have cared less tonight. Didn’t seem to be trying at all, not even on the offensive end of the ice. Then after a obligatory tap of Hedberg’s pads at the end of the game, he rushed off the ice like there was contest to be first in the locker room. Just sad to see. Wish I felt happier after an all-too-rare victory.
R. Stroz
January 26th, 2010
11:07 pm
I’m truely disappointed that I didn’t show up on the score sheet tonight with an assist on the second goal.
Just prior to the second goal, I started screaming “Screen The Goalie” through THE BULLHORN at the top of my lungs, and low and behold, Army immediately went to the front of the goal, screened the goalie, and MAx scored.
The funny part was that everyone around Section 222 turned and pointed at me as if I had scored the goal.
On the next power play, everyone was screaming “Screen The Goalie.” See how easily new fans learn the game. Now, if we could just teach the coaching staff as quickly.
Smitty
January 26th, 2010
11:19 pm
Could not believe White was on the PP. I yelled out why is White on the PP and the guy in front of me looked backed and said why is he on the team. I did not say anything the rest of the game. But we won.
R. Stroz
January 26th, 2010
11:33 pm
Bob – I actually believe THE RIGHT COACH can turn Kovy into a two-way player.
Many moons ago, the Thrashers had a one-way center that took stupid penalties. Because of this and few other factors, mainly money, our brillant GM didn’t sign him to a proactive contract and said center went away.
This defensively irresponsible center found a strong willed coach named Claude Julien in his second year with his new team. Marc Savard went from a historically negative plus/minus ratio to a positive 25 plus/minus ratio last season.
Now, does anyone really want to see history repeat itself?
Why did the Thrashers get nothing for Marc Savard?
1) The team was trying to make the playoffs
2) Waddell didn’t want to pay Savard 5 million/year for a one-way player, as Waddell didn’t know the value of a top tier center.
3) Waddell didn’t offer Savard a proactive contract showing a lack of commitment.
It’s deja-vu all over again. Our GM doesn’t learn.
Brendan
January 26th, 2010
11:41 pm
Ranallo Warning??
Brendan
January 26th, 2010
11:57 pm
R.Stroz, any moment now, Bruce Levenson will tell us, “I think we know how to sign free agents.” How’d that Brian Campbell acquisition work out? Luckily, Campbell didn’t sign here, and the non-acquisition looks ‘brilliant’ in hindsight. But that’s not really the point. The point is … Bruce THOUGHT that the money was the one and ONLY issue, as it relates to signing free agents. The point is, Bruce, that you cannot simply ‘throw money at a problem’ like a politician, and expect to fix it. Or placate anyone. A politician might be able to pry your vote that way, but sooner or later, the voter figures it out. And asks, “So, what’s your strategy? Other than to THROW MONEY AT A PROBLEM.” As ownership, they better come up with a plan before the NEXT ELECTION, which is in October, not November, for them.
R.Stroz, do you think the ownership will ever grow a brain? They clearly don’t have any kind of handle on the ‘dynamics’ of running an NHL team. Believing that Don Waddell hung the moon … just isn’t going to cut it. It may well be all ‘fine and wonderful’ that Don agrees with their every thought, and smiles politely at their every suggestion, the bottom line is … he ISN’T making them any playoff money. He’s not making them any regular season money, either. He’s just patronizing them. Meanwhile, players talk amongst themselves. And guess what they say about Atlanta? “It’s a great place to collect an NHL paycheck, if you can’t get one ANY OTHER WAY.”
Brendan
January 27th, 2010
12:06 am
Okay, folks. Here’s your boxscore. http://www.nhl.com/ice/boxscore.htm?id=2009020780.
A few things standout from that boxscore. Thrashers were outshot, 35-34. This is still too many shots again. Thorburn was in a fight. But, to me, the story of this game was Zach Bogosian’s team-leading 24:08 in ice time. On the evening, all the Thrashers d-men were “even” on their +/- stats. Here’s how the minutes breakdown: (1) Bogosian, 24:08, with 3 shots, (2) Kubina, 22:11, with 2 shots, (3) Toby Enstrom, 19:38, with 2 shots and an assist, his 35th of the season, (4) Ron Hainsey, 18:16, 4 shots, (5) Boris Valabik, 17:33, 3 shots, and finally, (6) Anssi Salmela, 14:29, 1 shot.
Other interesting items … Peverly got his 25th assist of the year and Max Afinogenov marches towards 20 goals, with his 17th of the year, which was ALSO the game winning goal (GWG). Finny finished a -1, 3 shots, and 14:28 in ice time. And yes, Todd White played and was a -1, with 1 shot, and 13:04 in ice time.
Hooray, a regulation time win vs. a Western Conference opponent. I think Jonas Hiller is a superb goalie. They’ve got a nice tandem going in Anaheim. The Ducks needed these points. I think they’re around 11th place in the West.
The Detroit Red Wings, believe it or not, are only in the 8th spot in the West. They’re struggling to get points. They held a 2 goal lead, with 90 seconds left, vs. Phoenix tonight. The Coyotes rallied for two late goals, then won the game in overtime. S’up wid dat, Wings fans? Last year, Columbus (14th), St. Louis (13th), Anaheim (11th), and Calgary (9th) were all playoff teams. Taking their playoffs spots are Colorado (drafted 3rd overall), Los Angeles (drafted 5th overall), Nashville (drafted around 10th or so), and Phoenix (drafted 6th overall). I feel bad for Columbus. I think they’re going to have to fire Ken Hitchcock. And the longer they wait to do it, the worse it will be, if it isn’t too late already, in terms of salvaging a playoff berth.
Rawhide
January 27th, 2010
12:17 am
This is your 10 minute Ranallo Warning. I’ll have a new blog posted just as soon as I can figure out the right wording for the title.
stendec
January 31st, 2010
1:38 am
In a slide? Cannot win a game to save your life? All hope seems lost? Who is on the schedule? The Atlanta who? Fear not! The losing streak will soon be a distant memory. These heartless quitters are just playing out the string! Sorry son of a ##### alleged captain Russian Ilya “Not Worth A Russian ####” Kovalchuk cannot score or play a #### lick of defense. The Siberian #### does skate a mean figure eight! Only joy this Maryann Hossa clone receives from hockey is of the Olympic varity. Hope Russia gets waxed by whoever the #### is on the schedule! I have submitted my final contract offer to the agent of the uncaring Soviet. A stale hot dog, a flat soda pop and $2.99 per game with an incentive, not completely heartless, of $50 bucks per assist and $100 per goal scored. That money will remain in cofers! Still more than this team cancer is worth! I admire and respect true Captain Johan Hedberg tremendously. It is my belief he is the only professional hockey play in Atlanta that gives a #### about winning or the few remaining fans. That said. My hero did a Kari Lehtonen type act tonight (last night, sorry). Must be physically exhausted but Moose was a virtual sieve. Final goal was a pure Sori Letemin marshmallow! Okay big fellow. ####. Just ####. All club members except Mr Hedberg can roast in ####. Apathetic unconcerned losers! May this group wind up in Hamilton or someplace even colder. Pieces of commode residue! ++STENDEC++