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
Hotrod
January 24th, 2010
6:29 pm
At least the game was interesting to watch.
Mr. Heat Miser
January 24th, 2010
6:48 pm
Or how about a shot every time McConnell says a player is “locked up” with another player.
Dorkish.
I miss JP.
Bennett
January 24th, 2010
7:09 pm
If you really want to get messed up you can take a drink everytime Matt McConnell shouts “TO THE FRONT.”
Get The Puck Out
January 24th, 2010
7:10 pm
I hate to say it,well maybe not, but i think a coaching change is going to have to happen…again. But it includes the GM position also. It seems no matter how hard they try, their defense is just not good enough. And i think it’s not one of JA’s strength’s sooo Dud’s takes over and we start looking. Let Cunney take over and try to salvage anything the rest of the way. If Kovy wants the max per year he doesn’t fit in here. I just wish we could score and play a little defense. MAN- the more i talk about this, the more depressing it gets.
Brett
January 24th, 2010
7:42 pm
last nights game wasn’t so bad. I thought the team played well. The Nitti monkey just has our number! As far as Kovy is concerned he’s gone! Were just waiting to find out where he is going.
Tom
January 24th, 2010
7:56 pm
I love the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot game. Do you get extra credit for what Matt or Darren say in the place of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Tom
January 24th, 2010
8:45 pm
So Kari Lehtonen heads up to Chicago and is already a healthy scratch, http://www.chicagobreakingsports.com/2010/01/wolves-beat-griffins-5-1.html , John must have played his drinking game when he heard that one…
Dwayne
January 24th, 2010
9:06 pm
Kari stopped 32 of 37 shots the night before, I do believe, he must of felt like he never left Atlanta.
Larry the Cable Guy
January 24th, 2010
9:11 pm
>>Martin St. Louis, seen here “standing” between teammates and Ilya Kovalchuk, drew an interference call<<
Now that's funny…..I don't care who you are.
Brendan
January 24th, 2010
10:12 pm
Wolves fans must wonder, “Are we ever going to have a season without an appearance by Lehtonen?” He’s like a boomerang for them.
Okay, moving right along. I could not determine if Niittymaki’s streak of 15 games is the longest any goaltender has ever dominated another team. Does anyone know?
Brendan
January 24th, 2010
10:16 pm
One nice thing I’ve noticed about this year’s Thrashers telecasts is … without J.P. Dellacamera, Darren Eliot no longer refers to a stick as a “hockey stick” anymore. And that’s nice. For really, what ELSE could a stick be … other than a hockey stick, at an ice rink? I’m just asking a question.
Brendan
January 24th, 2010
10:23 pm
Trixie, I think I’m in the SPAM filters again.
By the way, if you’re the Minnesota Vikings, you don’t want the NFC title game to go to overtime. I’d say, “and you don’t want to play it inside a dome,” but their home field is inside a dome. Congrats to the Saints, 31-28, in overtime.
R. Stroz
January 24th, 2010
11:13 pm
13th, I have to try something different.
Nikita (in PA)
January 25th, 2010
12:01 am
I have to object to the whole Niitymonkey thing. Yep, he’s beaten us a number of times…but it’s no accident that 14 of the last 15 times he was playing for team that beat us on so many levels that goaltending was just a part of that. My point being that there’s no reason we can’t break that streak ow that he’s with the the Bolts.
And, um, I don’t like Matt McConnell. I suppose my favorite is Darren Elliott, for his tendency to go crazy over Moose and throw out bizarre turns of phrase. I like Dan Kamal, also.
sisu
January 25th, 2010
2:05 am
Brendan, according to the announcers there is only one better streak, 17 wins no losses for Osgood against Tampa.
Having watched the recap of the scoring in the Wolves games Kari looked okay considering he has not played in 9 months or so…
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
5:33 am
We had our opportunities, we just didn’t bury them. Nitty’s just an average goalie, the fault is our guys for not bearing down especially in the shootout. When you get down to Jeff Halpern as the scoring hero, you know you have blown your chances.
W-T-F game sounds great! I don’t know where we go from here.
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
6:29 am
I think we all need to figure out how we are going to take the Kovy deal, once it comes down. At this point, it is a foregone conclusion that it will happen. Seems like nothing is going on between Kovy’s camp and the Thrashers at least not that anyone is reporting. Our chances of making the playoffs are sinking deeper each day and since that’s the criteria for him signing long term, I guess we should figure on Kovy being traded in the near future.
Kovy is a very talented player. But I would not pay any player $11M/year, even with his numbers on a 13th place team or wherever they are at this hour. But the haul of players and picks back to Atlanta better be pretty big or this deal will be a bust like the Hossa deal.
Not Blind
January 25th, 2010
8:02 am
Moose totally blew the goal by Halpern. Hedberg committed way too early and got himself locked into a tripod with no way to take away the huge 5 hole his tripod left open. Look at the pic above. Halpern got to look at that target for several seconds before he shot.
Nontheless, the Thrashers don’t appear to have anyone but Kozlov who is handy around the net. It’s just Anderson’s destiny that the one night he decides to make a statement to the players by sitting Kozlov is the one night that Kozlov could have possibly won the game for them although Kozlov hasn’t been a lock this year as he was last year.
Kovalchuk’s attempt was lame just like his play this whole year. He is a medium/long range sniper. He should drift in from the goalies right and shoot at about the top of the faceoff circle.
I’m afraid DW is going to do the equivalent of the Coburn deal when it comes time to send KK down the road. KK will never be effective in a 7 game series against somebody like Pit or Philly but he will be deadly against the Thrashers in the regular season possibly keeping them from the playoffs.
Russian
January 25th, 2010
8:10 am
Kovy will not trade until March 3. I will explain now. We have to play 9 games and Olympic break is coming. If you are GM and you know that Kovy is lazy defense player, but He can score a goal and bring a victory to the club. What are you going to do? Exactly. Keep him until Dead line is coming. Now this two scenarios.
First is positive and not likely. We are in Play Offs spot at March 2. Don will keep Kovy and let him play rest of season. Plus Don has to do some moves. He will be Buyer.
Second is negative and likely that will happened in Atlanta. We are out of Play Offs spot at March 2. Don will trade Kovy and let him go. He will ask some players for next season. I like a deal with Calgary. We can get talented and expensive Defenseman.
I can see a 3-d scenario, but I do not think it will happen. Kovy will be traded and come back to Atlanta after July 1 as Free Agent.
Red Light
January 25th, 2010
8:17 am
Found this on ESPN.com from Elias…
Antero Niittymaki made it 15 wins in 15 career games against the Thrashers with a shootout victory on Saturday. Niittymaki’s 15 consecutive wins versus Atlanta give him the fourth-longest start of career winning streak by a goaltender against one team in NHL history. The three longer streaks are by Ken Dryden versus Washington (19 straight wins), Bob Froese against Pittsburgh (17) and Chris Osgood versus Tampa Bay (17, which is also a current streak).
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
8:39 am
Red Light… good find… iI wonder if any of those Osgood wins date back to his time with St. Louis? I wonder if Nitty is the only one who’s done it with multiple teams.
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
8:42 am
WBF… I’ll have to see the trade first, but I’m fine with the Kovy move… my motto is “Love the Thrashers, not the players”. I want what’s best for the team.
However, if I have to watch Kovy win a Cup with Marc Savard in Boston, I might just vomit.
Here’s hoping the deal is with LA.
Ronnie Milsap
January 25th, 2010
8:57 am
18-8-5 over the last 31, 93 pts, playoff bound. quick exit. Thats with or without Kovy. Probably have a better chance at that without him. Here’s a toast to my first ever WTF on this or any other blog.
rightshot
January 25th, 2010
9:11 am
The only complaint I have with the game is the choice of Todd White on the shoot out. When I saw him on the ice all I could say was Whiskey-Tango _Foxtrot! (Now, where’s my drink.)
I would have put Kane, Slater, or even Boulton out there before White.
My dog Spanky has a better shot than White, and he’s a pug.
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
9:24 am
rightshot… haha… I thought the same thing. My first reaction was “Rawhide’s gonna have a field day with this one.”
Rawhide
January 25th, 2010
9:28 am
rightshot & GaVaHokie – yes…I muttered a “Whiskey Tango Foxtrot”…takes a drink… of my own when I saw Todd White come out for the shootout…with the game on the line. I mean, wasn’t Jim Slater still available?… Evander Kane?… Toby Enstrom?… N.E. Body?
sigh…
frenchy
January 25th, 2010
9:30 am
They all took a shot! What’s wrong with trying something else?
Kovy on a shoot out…what a waste!
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 25th, 2010
9:37 am
GaVa-I imagine that the team will try and move him out West. L.A. may be looking for a drawing card and Kovy could be just that. Like you, I’ll toss my cookies if Kovy goes to Boston and wins a Cup.
Savard-he seems to get injured alot more these days than in the past. You kinda wonder if his body is starting to break down. Something to think about when looking at his new long term contract. Boston’s offense is very weak, with or without Savard.
Alan R.
January 25th, 2010
10:48 am
Bill, I’ve never been on ice skates in my entire life, and even I could have taken a better shot at Niitty. Todd White ought to go the way of the Dodo.
R. Stroz
January 25th, 2010
10:51 am
When Todd White was sent in for the shootout, I’m convinced Anderson had already been playing the Whiskey Tango Foxtrot game and was more inebriated than Bruce Levenson at a Town HAll Meeting.
Red Light
January 25th, 2010
11:08 am
GaVaHokie: My crack research staff showed 1 win for Osgood against the Lightning came with St. Louis and 7 came when he was with the Islanders. By default, that means nine came with the Red Wings.
Interestingly, Jimmy Howard made 30 saves for his first NHL shutout in Detroit’s 3-0 victory over the Lightning, Dec. 17.
Since the Wings and Lightning don’t play again this year, if Niitymaki beats Atlanta Feb. 2, then he can tie Osgood’s mark in Tampa March 6 against the Thrashers.
From Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun on Kovalchuk situation:
But two league executives said they don’t believe his destination will be decided until after the Olympics wrap up Feb. 28 because the teams that want to make a pitch can’t afford to pick up what remains of Kovalchuk’s $6.4-million cap hit during the Games.
“Players are going to be paid during that break and those teams can’t afford to pay him not to play,” said one Western Conference executive speaking on the condition of anonymity.
Interesting!
Red Light
January 25th, 2010
11:12 am
I guess it could be worse. At least under that situation, we’ll have four more opportunities to see him play/loaf at home.
Wonder if the boo birds will be out in force for those four remaining home games.
I’d like to know: Would you boo Kovy before he left or only after he came back in another sweater?
rightshot
January 25th, 2010
11:14 am
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot
Sorry, I was thirsty.
TrueBlue
January 25th, 2010
11:20 am
This team sucks…plain and simple.
It’s terrible that this is the most talented lineup every iced by the Thrashers and they are still as bad as they were 6 years ago.
Smoothie
January 25th, 2010
11:24 am
What does Joey Crabb have to do? Or who must he pay off to come back to the parent club and get a chance to wreak some havoc? The man has caught fire with 8 goals, 9 assists and about a +10 over his last 15. If nothing else, he would be valuable on the PK and allow Peverley to focus solely on ES and his PP duties. For that matter, why doesn’t Kulda get a look? He’s only +30 or so for the season!
Barry
January 25th, 2010
11:29 am
Ya that shootout was a joke. Looked like everyone was going 5 hole and that was the smallest possible hole there was, so why shoot there? Some of our players need to do a deke, forhand-backhand, something, anything. Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot. I think it’s quite obvious our special teams is what had us in the playoffs early on in the year and it’s our special teams now that’s got us on the outside of the playoffs looking in. 1 for 25 on the powerplay is just…wow…can’t even come up with a good word that describes how sad and pathetic that is. Everyone stands around and nobody moves to even create any open lanes or anything.
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
11:41 am
TrueBlue… I still argue that the 05-06 roster was the best in franchise history, and would have made the playoffs if not for the goalie injury fiasco. (Lehtonen, Garnett, Dunham, Shields, Berkhoel)
We finished with 90 pts, just 2 pts shy of the 8th spot (Tampa Bay)… one more regular season win over Tampa and we were in.
http://hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/leagues/seasons/nhl19272006.html
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 25th, 2010
12:03 pm
This team will not move forward until the Kovy situation is resolved. Until then, we will continue to tread water with our noses just a hair above the water line.
Had we made the deal in October, we could have had the replacement parts in place, moving in a positive right now instead of hanging from the rafters of Philips Arena by a thread.
Just look at Ottawa; move Heatley and rid yourself of the distraction.
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
12:13 pm
Yeah, who would have thought Ottawa would be in 5th place after trading Dany Heatley for Michalek and an invisible Cheechoo?
There is light at the end of the tunnel… just get this over with.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 25th, 2010
12:15 pm
I thought Ottawa got jobbed in the trade, but at least they got rid of the distraction. That is what is killing this team right now, the distraction. We see it, but Bozo does not!
ThrasherTim
January 25th, 2010
12:25 pm
Rawhide – great line on Todd White! Right now, the culprit of our latest struggles is the Power(less) Play as per the stats above. No movement…no bodies in front. I mean, “Coach A., the rest of the league has tape too and they MIGHT figure out what we’re doing.” Mix it up!
Here’s another sad observation – we are only ahead of 4 teams in the league right now despite still being alive for the playoffs. Wow.
Red Light
January 25th, 2010
12:27 pm
Smoothie: It may have something to do with options, or the fact they don’t think Crabb is an NHLer. With so many teams scouting the AHL, if he was a “hot NHL prospect”, you’d think some team might have inquired about his availability by now. I think Kulda is just getting more seasoning. He’ll get more playing time in Chicago, but given what you say, once the fire sale begins, maybe they’ll call him up for the last month to see what he can do?
It is frustrating that we haven’t seen many call-ups this season.
Not Blind
January 25th, 2010
1:22 pm
Yeah, they didn’t think Coburn was ready either. Don’t you know they were whooping it up in Philly when they pulled off that deal.
Smoothie
January 25th, 2010
1:34 pm
When Little and White barely have 8 goals for THE YEAR, it can’t hurt to try Crabb for a couple weeks. Pretty sure Boris and Peanut have waiver-free options. Anyone else other than Opie I’m not sure of tho.
R. Stroz
January 25th, 2010
1:54 pm
Here’s an idea.
Lets trade Kubina for Coburn and hope for a reverse Zhitnik trade.
GaVaHokie
January 25th, 2010
1:59 pm
How about Armstrong to Philly for Coburn… then Rawhide’s head explodes trying to figure out who won the Hossa deal on top of the Coburn for Zhitnik trade.
ben
January 25th, 2010
2:18 pm
I feel that we got jobbed by D-WAD when the Thrashers didn’t trade Kovy at the season’s start. This team got set back by doing nothing.
Adam
January 25th, 2010
2:54 pm
I for one would like to see the C taken off Kovy’s jersey and put on Pev’s or Antro’s. I also don’t think Kovy ever should have gotten it before he signed the paperwork. He’s not playing like he wants it anyway. If he’s going to be traded set the tone right with the rest of the players now by providing them with better leadership.
I also hope he gets traded to a team in the west. I think the overall talent pool is better in the west. And yes I grew up in Chicago but I’ve just about lived here in Atlanta as long as I did up north. I’m a Thrashers fan first, as painful as it is, but I’ve seen some pretty bad days with the Hawks too. I think we can get the most in return from the Blackhawks and I understand them not wanting to pay him for the break but it’s got to happen now not later. Give them a 2nd round pick to go with Kovy to make it happen.
Now I know everyone is going to be like “GIVE UP A PICK TOO?!?!?!” Yes, give up the pick as sweetener. Why? I bet you Dollars to Doughnuts Kovy gets injured in the Olympics and his trade value at the deadline will be less than a bag of pucks. Talk about a Whiskey, Tango Foxtrot moment that’ll be… Get what you can in return now and secure your lineup for the remainder of the season.
In a perfect world Dudley would be the one making this trade. In a parallel universe somewhere maybe all the things we’ve wished for has happened and a chunk of my money would be in the Atlanta Spirits coffers… Ah to dream… but this is the world we’re stuck in and Dwadd is making the calls and a trade will happen most likely with Philly, Montreal or Boston. The only ones that’ll be happy with the deal will be bartenders & liquor stores owner across Thrasherville because we will have endless WTF moments eight times a year until Kovy retires.
Well at least most of my money is “safe”
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
3:32 pm
I don’t think you can take the C until you trade him. A captain’s role is so crucial to the team, even if we believe he has not been fulfilling the role most of the season. You take the C and appoint someone else with the previous captain still on your team? It’s not like what’s happening on Carolina, where an older player near the end of his career is being replaced by a younger leader.
Taking the C at this point would be like divorcing, remarrying and keeping your ex-wife in the basement. The new leader or in this case, your new wife wouldn’t appreciate it.
Lee
January 25th, 2010
3:40 pm
I think unless Kovy can prove something, and I mean something, not just a goal, I mean a good amount of points, I want the “C” taken off of his jersey and I want it on Slater’s or Antropov’s. Antropov has always been a good leader that is always out there playing with heart. And Slater, one of my favorite players next to Moose. He just doesn’t give up. Ever. Whenever I see him, he’s always out there working his butt off. He is one of the leaders in the team that we can’t afford to let go. Usually in the 3rd period, he really steps up and leads the team. Kovy just doesn’t look like he’s having fun and frankly, he’s playing like an AHL player, and one more thing, Kovy CANNOT play defense, not the whole team can, but him ecspecially.
I want him to be traded to either Chicago or Toronto. I’ve heard a lot of rumors say Toronto might willing to trade Phil Kessel and Chicago might give us Kris Versteeg.I like chicago, their probably my favorite team in the West, not sure why. Maybe it’s because their successful, unlike, cough, the thrashers.
Now, why are the thrashers unsuccessful? For 2 MAIN reasons, there’s A LOT more, but anywayz, their D is AWFUL! Ugh, they cannot clear the puck, they cannot guard the net, they cannot check, they cannot intercept, it’s just flat out wrong. Nex, the thrashers, when they get on offense, which rarely happens, they have to get back on D. They make som of the worst passes I have ever seen, I’m not sure if JA has ever taught them about that. Also they make too many passes. They try to make the most perfect play ever. And guess what? It never works. Why? Because you’re more likely to score on a rebound than just a shot itself. Also, because they pass too much, it gets intercepted way to often and easily. All they need to do is shoot and get a SOG so they can get a rebound. It’s that simple. But NO!! They have to do it the hard way.
Hmm, well speaking of simple, wouldn’t it just be more simple if we didn’t waste are time watching this lazy team?
Adam
January 25th, 2010
3:45 pm
WBF – Then lets go the the polygamist route
and name a co-captain.
Brett
January 25th, 2010
3:55 pm
Dudley has nice hair?
Tom Lysiak
January 25th, 2010
4:53 pm
The Kozlov scratch was a long time coming. How many times on the PP during the previous two weeks did he muff passes that came to him? Complete lack of concentration or desire (or does he already know Kovy is outta here?). He is certainly not the only one (White, Little, etc.), but it was long overdue.
This is the easiest team in the world to defend on the PP. Everything is geared to Kovy. Other people who have decent/great shots (Toby, Slava, Zach) always defer to him. No doubt he is a sniper, but one dimensional teams lose. Double him or collapse your entire defense towards him and you beat this team. Because, there is no consistent secondary scoring threat. Everyone acts like they are afraid to score on the PP because the “game plan” was to get it to Kovy.
Team defense sucks. Pure and simple. Other teams can pitch a tent in front of our net. You don’t have to look far past these stats to see one of the problems (forwards not playing defense):
Kovy has 30 goals and is +3.
Max and Pevs have 16 goals (each) and are -8 (love the scoring, but…)
Kozlov has 8 goals and is -14.
Todd White has 4 goals and is -16.
Contrast all those to Antro who has 13 goals and is +17. I don’t profess to be an expert, but even a fan like me who never played the game can figure that out.
Last, I would be less shocked to win the cup this year than I would be to see Kovy resign. If he wanted to be here and play for this team, there is no reason to have waited. They committed to him with the “C” and it was on him to commit in return. No way a one dimensional player (30 goals, yet only +3), who pouts constantly, deserves 10 million per year, much less 11.3 million or whatever the rumor is he is holding out for.
You pay one guy that much for a decade or more in the salary cap era, you have put all your eggs in one basket. No way to field a balanced, scoring team when one guy makes that much money. You are destined for lots of lunch-pail type players and that is what this team already has enough of. I’d much rather have Kovy, Kozlov and White replaced by whoever they get in trade for Kovy. Get guys who want to play here and make it THEIR team, EVERYONE’S team, not Kovy’s team.
No doubt everyone knows we will be moving Kovy and the return will be less. But, somebody may panic and make a desperation bid to go for the cup. Hopefully we can work teams like Chicago that have known cap issues and steal some good, young players under contract already. Seems better than continuing down this same path….
rob
January 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
Take the C off and expose him for what he is…..a talent with no heart! You have to have heart to be a C in the NHL. Talent gets you some nice goals, but HEART pulls a team together and holds people ACCOUNTABLE (think that horrible Caps fiasco). HEART shows the way to win the close games(Tampa Bay), and drives a dagger through the ones you are SUPPOSE to win (can anyone say Carolina!!!)
Brendan
January 25th, 2010
6:29 pm
Red Light, thanks for that Elias Sports Bureau update on Niittymaki. So, four (4) more wins to go!!
Brendan
January 25th, 2010
6:33 pm
Even if we could trade for Coburn, using Armstrong, the previously existing trades stand. I think we can make an exception for a “rental” trade, the way St. Louis does it with Tkachuk. But we cannot act as if we “rented” Coburn to the Flyers for a period of years/seasons.
I’m thinking Braydon Coburn has a no trade clause, at this point. It’s kinda funny to think about it, but I think Slava Kozlov is the only Thrashers to get ask for a “no trade clause” in his contract. The Thrasher who asks for a NTC is the guy who plays here because he likes where he lives.
rob
January 25th, 2010
6:46 pm
Rawhide,
Or anyone else who may have knowledge. I have been in Atlanta for some years now, born and bred in Buffalo (don’t hold it against me I moved right?). Been cheering all that time for the Sabres, going only to the Thrashers games when they were here. Well my wife finally found “Hockey Love” and being from here, she cheers for the Thrashers. After some soul searching I decided that I will always cheer for the beloved Sabres (except against the Thrashers now), but I am never moving back and the Thrashers are my home town team (for better or for worse…..waiting on the better) So we have been to quite a few games this year some good some bad, watched all the rest on Sports South or NHL Package (even the french called one in Montreal). With all the transplants and fans from Flames/Knights eras here, why isn’t more pressure brought to bear on management and players? The only articles I see are just someone saying what happened in practice, who the lines were, and who will be in net……not quite what I’d say JOURNALISM so much as just writing what was given/spoonfed to them. Where is the fans voice?!?!?!? Who is looking out for US? Very disheartening that my wife, who is still learning the game (fanatically I must add I have created a monster!LOL) can see the problems that need/aren’t being addressed. I know overall hockey might not be a huge success here, but a few strong playoff runs and hard play might change that (the Hawks are a good example here, compare the attendance when they were sucking for so long and now that they have had a few brief years of some success). So with that thought where is our spokesperson and how do we get a real one?
Smitty
January 25th, 2010
7:22 pm
Rob,
Imagine the type of coverage this team would get in Toronto, New York or even our home town team in Buffalo. I think the more bad publicity this organization would receive might lead to some major changes.
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
7:39 pm
Adam-we will need to move the team to Salt Lake City to make your suggestion legal
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
7:51 pm
Rob and Smitty-I can remember in the 80’s and mid 90’s when the Sabres we not too good. Their record in 1987 was sooo poor, they had the 1st overall pick. So we know Buffalo has weathered some lean years with the Sabres.
The difference between Atlanta and most hockey towns, is the lack of media pressure to make changes when the team is in a prolonged slump. There is no bad publicity here, because most of the Atlanta media has their collective heads up their shorts when it comes to hockey and the Thrashers. Especially once NASCAR season starts in a few weeks.
Still a Sabres fan, but the Thrashers are #1, Buffalo is #1a.
Scotty
January 25th, 2010
7:57 pm
Todd White being skated out there for a shootout try with the game in the balance?
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT???
*downs a shot*
Lee
January 25th, 2010
8:12 pm
Scotty-Kovy too eh?
Scotty
January 25th, 2010
8:29 pm
Lee, I can understand sending the team’s leading scorer out there in the second round of a shooyout. But Todd White when failing means you lose the game?
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT???
*downs a another shot*
LAC
January 25th, 2010
9:29 pm
You are correct WBF, everyone on this blog knows what a complete WIMP the beat writer than covers hockey here is, He is nothing but a complete TOOL of ajc/spirit/waddell and will do anything THEY say instead of doing what the FANS demand !
R. Stroz
January 25th, 2010
10:04 pm
How many days till February?
Didn’t Waddell say the Kovy situation would be resolved by February? OOPS, Waddell didn’t say February of which year.
What date will Waddell draw as the next line in the sand?
Inquiring minds want to know!
R. Stroz
January 25th, 2010
10:06 pm
LAC – Have you ever thought of painting the Three Stooges on one of your rail cars, with the faces of Levenson, Waddell, and Seydel imposed for Larry, Moe, and Curly?
Brendan
January 25th, 2010
10:44 pm
Larry, Moe, and Curly would probably be offended by that. Their schtick is INTENTIONAL.
World Be Free
January 25th, 2010
10:48 pm
LAC-I get pissed when I watch the news or listen to “Sports Talk Radio” and hear nothing about the Thrashers. What’s the problem here? These guys have 8 hours to fill in with sports and they cannot toss hockey a bone every here and there? Good that we, as true hockey fans have this orum to air our views amongst our peers.
680 and 790 need to get their acts together; I boycott both because of lack of hockey coverage. The beat writer’s shortcomings are why Bill and our blog get all my time.
Curly
January 25th, 2010
10:53 pm
I am offended.
Brendan
January 25th, 2010
11:03 pm
Ya know, it suddenly dawns on me just how much this market CAN endure, hockey-wise. Even now, arguably at its worst, most exasperating moment EVER, given where we OUGHT TO BE … BY NOW … hockey is still surviving. And well, that is astonishing. Really. It is.
Here we have remorselessly clueless ownership, tied to a manager just happy to collect a paycheck … AND YETTTTT, Blueland still manages over 10,000 fans. And these are people who KNOW BETTER, but can’t help themselves. They show up, anyway. They’re THAAAAT hockey addicted.
Remember when we didn’t know any better? And we soldout 38 of 41 home games in the Inaugural season. Yeah, well … that’s the LEVEL of hockey interest in this town. All it needs to survive … is accountable ownership. Hockey hasn’t started yet in Atlanta. And it won’t, until ownership committed to trying to win the Cup is installed. That’s never happened with this franchise, in all its various ownership incarnations.
Red Light
January 25th, 2010
11:32 pm
You can’t get any intelligent basketball coverage either. It’s football, signing day, spring football, the NFL draft and then preseason football in this town, not that any of the local teams are worthy of it.
But look guys, it’s depressing to know what could have been. Philips could have been a great venue with fans and novices alike, pounding down the door to get in. Problem is, they handed over the reins to a would-be Maserati to those better served driving a hay wagon behind two mules.
No local promotional presence except a few hospital visits here and there for photo ops and a bunch of nameless players with surnames most of the ya-hoos down here can’t pronounce. Then, we get to the game and have to listen to J-Bird do the same inane contests and listen to music so loud you can’t have a conversation with a guy in the section next to you (no one sits in your section anymore). It has been the same BS every stinking year. Rare are highlights. Keys to the Game offered up seven minutes into the game.
No originality from building to building. What drives me insane is the PA announcer stepping on his tongue and doing an excitable goal announcement even though we’re down 4-0. The radio coverage for this team from day one has been a joke. More than half the fans that would even think about listening to the game can’t get it on their car radios 25 miles north of the arena.
This franchise is a Vaudeville act gone bad. The first three years you were hoping it was just growing pains, now those pains are terminal diseases.
On the ice and upstairs in the idiot’s corner asylum the problems are even worse. Anyone who thinks he and they know what they are doing in personnel matters high above the Arena are delusional or simply don’t know hockey.
Take the remaining pieces that are left with the young kids, blow it up and start over. The building needs to go to a general admission set-up so those willing to still watch this garbage are in range of the $1 t-shirts that stupidass bird shoots out of his pea shooter. And, what’s with the Blue Brothers guards with Thrash? They get paid for that, or does it just go on their resume as Fan Experience Assistant.
We all should be furious, but that’s what I love about you guys, is that even after putting up with this ineptness for 10 freaking years, you’re still here and your still hockey fans, and that my friends you just can’t put a price tag on. I hope the Ducks win by 16 tomorrow night and maybe that will wake somebody up in the executive lavatory! But, I doubt it.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2010
5:26 am
You know Brendan, if our Canadian media friends would open their eyes and see things the way you have explained, they might wonder how in the world we get 10,000/night. They need to examine our “rich history”.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 26th, 2010
7:51 am
Red Light, excellent post. I couldn’t have said it better.
James Brown
January 26th, 2010
9:14 am
790 the Zone will not give the Thrashers any coverage except for Chris Dimino`s horrible Air Tran hockey report “some mornings”. Steak Shapiro is still miffed that the team moved over to 680 for a better deal a few years ago…………now that the Braves have made 680 their flagship station I bet Shapiro is fit to be tied……………At least John Kincade will call out the Thrasher`s management and so will Jeff Schultz occasionally in the AJC…….Waddell enjoys the luxury of flying under the radar here…..can you imagine him having to answer to the Toronto press???….not bad work if you can get it
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 26th, 2010
9:57 am
Howard Berger, Don Cherry or half the other hockey writers in Toronto? What kills me is Mike Milbury on the Hotstove, making it sound like all the problems with the Thrashers are owner related; poor Don Waddell’s hands are tied.
The owners don’t make countless poor personnel decisions.
Rawhide
January 26th, 2010
10:50 am
Not knowing who is the healthy scratch yet…but it really seems to be coming down between either Todd White or Slava Kozlov. Between the two, I would rather skate Slava given that he can at least be of benifit if the game goes to a shootout.
Also…if…IF…IF…the Thrashers get two points tonight…and Florida and the Islanders each lose in regulation, the Thrashers would tied with FLA, NYI and BOST with 54 points one point behind eighth place NYR.
Just sayin’….
Schroeder
January 26th, 2010
10:58 am
“IF,IF’S AND BUT’S,WERE CANDY AND NUTS OH WHAT A GREAT SEASON THIS WOULD BE!!!!
Hockey Biltong
January 26th, 2010
11:13 am
It all flows downhill.
Owners care only about b-ball.
Hockey mangmnt needs to huddle and soul search to make ownership change their view to appreciate hockey more than they do presently.
This team is the best I’ve seen on paper in years. But, if there is not a Bunsen burner under everyones collective ass, then the fans, who are at the bottom of the pile, see and feel the lack of effort clearly on the “give a crap o’meter”.
There is weird crap going on at so many different levels in this org. that I’m suprised that the lights even get turned on in time for the start of the game. I see and read things that drive me batshit.
And I’m pineing for the day when David Mcdavid or some other worthy owner grabs the reins of this franchise that has so much unrealised potential……
Right now I’m just throwing up in my mouth…..
Hockey Biltong
January 26th, 2010
11:16 am
I think my great blog got lost. damn.
Hockey Biltong
January 26th, 2010
11:19 am
ahhhhh.uuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrp.
TableHockey
January 26th, 2010
11:27 am
Chris V is reporting that Slava and Pop are the scratches for tonights game. Here’s hoping it doesn’t go to a shoot out.
Rawhide
January 26th, 2010
11:31 am
Chris V is reporting that Slava and Pop are the scratches for tonights game. Here’s hoping it doesn’t go to a shoot out.
TableHockey – Yup….and Moose starts tonight too.
Brett
January 26th, 2010
12:00 pm
Great post Red Light! I couldn’t agree more! At some point management has to recognize that something has to be done to bring the fans back. I’m a former STH that has been to one game this year. I hate it! I so enjoyed going to the games,but I just couldn’t continue to subsides the inferior product. It seems as though this organization has been in a constant rebuilding phase. At what point does management say, “Enough is enough” and spend some money to build toward a Cup run? You have to spend money to make money!!
R. Stroz
January 26th, 2010
12:01 pm
So Slava is sitting out.
Based on a combination of Murphy’s Law and Anderson’s luck, overtime and a shootout tonight.
The only question is: Will Todd White be shooting if the game is on the line?
World Be Free
January 26th, 2010
12:15 pm
Looks like a number of teams are dropping out of the Kovy sweepstakes.
Could the Sabres be in? Kovy to the Sabres? Now that would make the 3.16 game vs. Buffalo very interesting. Physcho Sabres fans and Kovy in white with the slug on his chest against the Thrashers. Can’t wait for everyone’s reaction on this one.
Just trying to stir the pot on a boring day.
R. Stroz
January 26th, 2010
12:27 pm
Could the Sabres be in? Kovy to the Sabres? Now that would make the 3.16 game vs. Buffalo very interesting. Physcho Sabres fans and Kovy in white with the slug on his chest against the Thrashers. Can’t wait for everyone’s reaction on this one.
If that happens, I’ll drag an effigy of Don Waddell from my house to Philps Arena.
Alan R.
January 26th, 2010
12:28 pm
Could the Sabres be in? Kovy to the Sabres?
Hmm… I’m thinking of something…
Ah, yes. Here we are.
“He’s every day, he’s smiling, and that’s the most important thing. In Buffalo you can’t smile. If you smile you sit on the bench.” – Ilya Kovalchuk on Maxim Afinogenov
English Teacher
January 26th, 2010
12:31 pm
I lol’d @ TWS.
John Anderson
January 26th, 2010
12:38 pm
“Could the Sabres be in? Kovy to the Sabres? Now that would make the 3.16 game vs. Buffalo very interesting. Physcho Sabres fans and Kovy in white with the slug on his chest against the Thrashers. Can’t wait for everyone’s reaction on this one.”
WHISKEY TANGO FOXTROT !?!?
everyone take a drink
Rawhide
January 26th, 2010
12:41 pm
Could the Sabres be in? Kovy to the Sabres? Now that would make the 3.16 game vs. Buffalo very interesting. Physcho Sabres fans and Kovy in white with the slug on his chest against the Thrashers. Can’t wait for everyone’s reaction on this one.
WBF – If that happened, I would think the only appropriate reaction from the Thashers fans would be…
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
FI-RE WAD-DEL
clap-clap-clapclapclap
…for the entire 60 minutes of the next home game.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2010
1:12 pm
Boy I like to get everyone’s blood moving, but there’s a few posters I haven’t heard from yet that we can count on for colorful reactions.
I think we need to give us your feelings on Kovy, the possibility of him staying and the effects of moving him. We need to have a discussion beyond just calling him a bad captain, lazy and all that stuff. The next few weeks are key to this franchise, for today and the distant future because this guy is our best player and their is no close second. Judging him strictly as a talented hockey player, should this team pony up and sign him long term or should we stop any negotiations today and get what we can for him? We have talked about this for months, but the time is now for a decision.
So folks, what is our decision as fans?
Smitty
January 26th, 2010
2:21 pm
Could Lindy Ruff get some physical and/or defensive play out of Kovy?
Could Lindy get Kovy to play around or in front of the net like Vanek?
What would the Sabres have to give up?
Buffalo is a blue collar town. Kovy’s not exactly a blue collar player.
But with 18,000+fans cheering him on who knows what he might become.
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2010
2:43 pm
I gotta say, Montreal and Minnesota are looking pretty smart with the Poulliot and Lattendresse swap… something like that would be nice right about now.
This was the same time of year we picked up Peverley and it changed the dynamic.
Red Light
January 26th, 2010
2:45 pm
I can’t see Kovy in Buffalo for longer than it takes the Sabres to win the Eastern Conference with him in that lineup. He’d revel in the excitement for three months and then Sabres fans will join us in booing him wholeheartedly in Oct. 2010.
Frankly, Regier isn’t stupid enough to give up too much for a rental but I’d take anyone off that roster except for Rivet, Lydman, Grier and Tallinder and be thrilled with it. The younger guys know how to play hard, fast and don’t care about what the talent is around them.
DEAL HIM WBF!!!
Adam
January 26th, 2010
3:01 pm
WBF- The key for this franchise is already passed. Like I said at the start of the season this team needs to have 4-6 home games in the post season this spring. Until that happens they will flounder in the bottom 3rd of the conference.
Lee
January 26th, 2010
3:10 pm
At least John Kinkaid will call out the thrashers, Buck Belue doesn’t give a crap, well it seems like Don Waddell doesn’t either. Oh, well, nothing new, we can just sit back and relax and watch our team slowly hitchhike their way to Canada.
World Be Free
January 26th, 2010
3:10 pm
Gotta agree with you Adam.
Also, I do not see Buffalo stepping up and getting Kovy, thought that’s what they need to compete. Their west coast road trip showed that Buffalo is a good team with a great goalie. They need Kovy more than any other team in the east, but they don’t have the guts or the assets to make the deal.
Philly might do it, or L.A. Everyone seems scared by the $11M/year demand.
Schroeder
January 26th, 2010
3:11 pm
Unless the NHL changes the rules to allow a DS(Designated Scorer)like the DH in baseball,Kovy will always be an offensive minded forward,as he has grown up knowing only how to shoot a one-timer and the ocassional quick wrister. That is why I have always thought that a sign and trade is the best option for this team.I realize that he is the “FACE” of the franchise,but I think we can all agree that this team needs a facelift.There is always the possibility that by trading #17 we might lose the “pedestrian” fan. Although if Dudley can orchestrate a deal that could bring us a couple of real 2-way forwards and some defensive accountability is forthcoming,a new face of a winning franchise would not only appeal to the pedestrian fan,but give us hard core types some hope. I say sign him,trade him and get some more pieces to make a run not only this year but more years down the road. I liken #17 to a career .215 hitter that hits 40 homers w/100 rbi but commits 60 errors.Fun to watch hit,but will give you ulcers in the field.
Lee
January 26th, 2010
3:11 pm
kinda random, but where has EOB been?
GaVaHokie
January 26th, 2010
3:19 pm
Lee… banned for life… seriously.
I’d be fine trading Kovy to Buffalo if Tyler Ennis or Zach Kassian came back in the package, but we’d probably only get Jochen Hecht as a roster player.
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++