Moose dropping piles of saves all over Thrasherville
Johan Hedberg may be just less than four months shy of his 37th birthday, but one thing is for sure…he’s not showing any signs of slowing down due to his escalation in years. In fact, he’s playing with the enthusiasm and agility of a goalie 10-12 years his junior.
After Tuesday night’s 2-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks, Hedberg has now gone three straight starts in which he has allowed the opposition but one single goal. Combined with last weekend’s game in Tampa Bay and last weeks start in south Florida, he’s stopped 82 of 85 shots faced in those trio of games…which calculates to a .967 SV% and 0.98 GAA in 183 minutes of play.
Going back over his previous five starts, he has four games in which he’s only allowed one goal per as on January 7 he turned aside 29 of 30 New York Rangers shots on the way to a 2-1 shootout victory. As you’ll recall, that win snapped the nine-game holiday losing skid the Thrasher were on.
Johan Hedberg makes one of his 34 save against the Ducks (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Even counting the debacle against the Caps on the 9th, he has a .935 SV% and 1.76 GAA in his last five outings. Overall for the season, he is now 11-8-4 with a 2.46 GAA and .917 SV%.
Although Ondrej Pavelec has performed much better of late, Hedberg play between the pipes has by far been the most consistent between the two. And as I have opined before, if the Thrashers are going to get through “Kari Down ‘09-’10″ and still be in a position to make a playoff run…they are going to have to do so riding the Moose.
Unlike last week’s disappointments in Tampa and Sunrise, Florida…the team was able to reward their goaltender with a win as Colby Armstrong netted the game’s first goal and Maxim Afinogenov’s power play tally in the third gave them just enough offensive production to carry them through.
Max’s goal snapped an Oh-fer fourteen stretch of fruitless man advantage opportunities for the Thrashers. For the night, they were 1 for 4 on the power play while successfully denying Anaheim on all four of their power play chances.
“Before the game we spoke about we wanted the power play to get going and how it’s going to win the game,” Afinogenov said afterward. “We just tried to shoot more and I think its working. We got a couple of shots…The puck was bouncing there for me. I just tried to put it into the net and it worked”.
As for the win itself, Moose remarked, “It’s a big win for us tonight…We’ve been deserving to win the last few weeks, and tonight we managed to get the extra goal. Hopefully that’s what we need to put us on a roll here”.
Well…if it’s a “roll” the Thrashers are to get on, it’ll have to be continued Thursday night in Philadelphia, where the Thrashers last won a game…hmmm…when was it…the Hoover administration? Maybe I’ll have Trixie look that up in the morning.
Of course, it was just last November 28 that Atlanta finally snapped their long losing streak to the Flyers…a 1-0 shutout authored by Hedberg in which he stopped all 34 shots that got though on his goal. Two night’s later, he helped the Thrashers to a 4-3 win over the Florida Panthers.
Why is that significant? Well…that was the last time Atlanta has put together back-to-back regulation wins.
Given his play this season…and especially of late…my hope is that the team will once again be riding the Moose into Philly and he and the Thrashers can drop that little streak off as well.
And Finally…
Yes folks…we have a star in our midst. Our very own Mr. Heat Miser has made the cover of Atlanta Magazine….just scroll down towards the bottom and you’ll see him and his hair in all it’s flaming glory! It’s a part of their “67 things every Atlantan must do”.
Seeing that Mr. Heat Miser…a pround member of the Nasty Nest has graced the cover of that publication, I guess one of the 67 manditory things is to partake in the “You Suck” chant down to an opposing goalie at Philips Arena.
Congrats Heater…you just remember all us little people now that you’ve made the big time!
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156 comments Add your comment
Smoothie
January 28th, 2010
9:47 am
WBF is right. Joey Crabb is another Slater-esque type player who will battle relentlessly in the corners and along the wall as well as crash the net with abandon. He has scored 10 times in the last 16 gms. I reckon he has made a pretty good case for a call-up. Send Pops down and bring in more new blood at least until Kari is ready to return.
rob
January 28th, 2010
9:52 am
I think they are afraid of calling up from Chicago. Doing so means there is a problem at the top, and heaven forbid we admit THAT! Chicago is there for the Thrashers for a reason. It keeps everyone on notice that if your dedication slips, there are a hungry group of guys who WANT to play at the NHL level. Think they wouldn’t make the most out of even a 2 or 3 game stint here? Probably run into everything that moved that wasn’t in a Thrashers uniform, maybe get a little excitement going with it, and we the fans sure would appreciate it. Let’s see what else we have down on the farm, bring a few up and let the guys know it is time to buckle down and play hard…..or else.
mr. mike
January 28th, 2010
10:00 am
Ben; excellent, mature, Brendan-esque post!
I frequently read/review tsn.ca as well as Bruins & Flyers fan blogs(no one does it as well as Rawhide, however). The ENTIRE rest of the league would be batsh!t to get Kovalchuk on their team. He’s never been a defensive player; but he is a “once in a decade” acquisition for any team in any sport & to think he’s only a few games away from departing is quite sad.
Unfortunately; I don’t buy the “9th alrgest city/Philips lease” stuff anymore. Los Angeles is a larger cith than ATL; and the Rams left; Cleveland was larger at the time than ATL when the Browns bolted.
I think it is close to 100% that the Thrashers are gone in no more than 2-3 seasons, assuming no re-signing of Kovalchuk. I find that almost heartbreaking….
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
10:15 am
It’s a damn shame Colin Stuart was traded, and then, subsequently not claimed on waivers when the Calgary Flames sent him down to the their AHL affliate.
One game last season, I watched Colin Stuart and Joey Crabb go into the corner to get a puck. Watching Crabb and Stuart pummel the guy with the puck reminded me of the Hanson Brothers. I just laughed and thought, that is what this team has needed for years.
World Be Free
January 28th, 2010
10:18 am
Darkhorse-excellent George quote. Billy’s electric piano solo on “Get Back” is one of the classics of all time. Almost Rick Wakeman. I was thinking more of “Revolution” when reflecting on current thougths about the Thrashers.
Smoothie-Just look at Ottawa as an example of success through hard work. As a Sabres’ fan, I have always hated Ottawa. But you have to give them credit this their current position in the standings, with all their injuries.
Somaatl95
January 28th, 2010
10:29 am
The Future (If DW goes and we Get Decent Ownership): “Welcome Thrasher Fans to the “Coke” as the Thrashers have another sellout game at the Coca-Cola Arena here in the lovely city of Atlanta. After a decade of constant turmoil and losing superstar Ilya Kovalchuk a few seasons ago the Thrashers Organization faced a large scale revolt from Fans and Season Ticket Holders alike, finally forcing the club to fire Don Waddell and promote Rick Dudley to General Manager, who made more ‘common sense’ moves in his brief stint as GM than any moves done in the history of the club. New ownership has revitalized this club on a level not seen in Atlanta since Arthur Blank purchased the Atlanta Falcons and changed the history of that franchise, changing the futures of the Thrashers and Hawks alike. We now go down to the ice as Natalee Taylor talks to newly crowned Co-captains Rich Peverly and Evander Kane on what it is like leading this young team, now that Atlanta truly lives ‘The Hockey Way’! After that the puck will drop as the Thrashers hope to dominate Sydney Crosby and the Penguins, who have not have a victory against the Thrashers in their last 6 meetings. Stay tuned!”
It can happen, maybe by a LONGSHOT, but it could be a possibility. Anyone who remembered the Braves in the 80’s would have called you crazy if you would have told them they were about to win their division 14 times in a row, and nobody ever expected the Falcons to break their “Back to Back Winning Seasons” curse.
Isn’t it nice to dream a little dream?
I’m just sayin….
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
10:33 am
World: Getting Alfie, Michalek and Spezza back during the past six games certainly didn’t hurt the Sens. Elliott has played unbelievably well in Leclaire’s absence and they now have a seven-point cushion over the sixth place teams. Just goes to show how some teams are able to respond to a bad performance like they had in Atlanta. They haven’t lost since!
Smoothie
January 28th, 2010
10:34 am
Indeed Ottawa is a fine example of how you keep ur players on their toes. Accountability! What a novel concept. Look at what they are doing without a certain selfish 50 goal scorer. And they even acquired the extreme example of Byran Little: Cheechoo who is barely a 10 goal scorer now.
That’s why I want to get my hands on a Patrick Sharp (ideal best case but unlikely) or a Blake Wheeler. We need a superb 2-way player to lead this team and help transorm the paradigm. I appreciate Ben’s passion for Kovy, but you have to move on when the player’s agent starts holding ur franchise hostage. I hate to see Kovy go cuz I know what he’s capable of, but he’s no different than Hossa in that he’s not going to give 110 percent despite what he says in the media. He even has a better team than in 2008 when Hossa decided to dog it post-All Star break.
World Be Free
January 28th, 2010
10:36 am
Red Light-translate to some of the player supposedly being offered by L.A. in exchange for Kovy. They are offering up some hungry young players, if the names rumored in the offer are correct.
Hockey Biltong
January 28th, 2010
10:49 am
Ben- nice sentiments.
If I was going to buy the Thrashers, I’d wait until Kovy was traded, and the value of the team was as low as possible. I would pray that we received a good return for Kovy, and upon buying the team, totally remarket and repackage it.
New radio deal with a better signal, send video to all tv outlets to encourage airing of product during sports segments.
Entice season tix holders with fabulous deals and open up the upper level to bare bones minimum pricing.
Install knowledgeable and motivated mangmnt. and coaches. keep the good and dump the useless.
This team with the right chemistry could go far.
It needs to change now.
No more lameness, no more uncaring from a fractured ownership.
Rawhide
January 28th, 2010
10:51 am
I frequently read/review tsn.ca as well as Bruins & Flyers fan blogs(no one does it as well as Rawhide, however).
Mr. Mike – blushing Awwwwww…shux
World Be Free
January 28th, 2010
10:53 am
Biltong-you get my vote!
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
11:08 am
World: Look at this blog about Jack Johnson.
http://kingscast.net/frozen-royalty-dean-lombardi-jack-johnson-is-learning-his-craft%E2%80%A6belatedly/
World Be Free
January 28th, 2010
11:52 am
Very interesting Red Light. I know Carolina gave up on him, lost patience with his desire to stay IN school instead of signing and making the transition to pro hockey.
Betcha the folks in Michigan like getting slammed about their program!
Riceowls8891
January 28th, 2010
12:41 pm
One wonders where this team would be if Kari had been healthy, and White, Little and Slava were even 90% of last year. Sigh, I think my head just exploded.
GaVaHokie
January 28th, 2010
12:57 pm
These guys know the problem in Atlanta is ownership, not the fans.
Miami… I wouldn’t be too sure of that… attendance is horrible. And, how many times can the league afford to bail out every team that falls into trouble? Something’s gotta give at some point. We JUST might be the city that gets the short end of the stick.
… just being devils advocate… I want to believe the same way you do, but the whole landscape is a mess. From ownership, management and fans (not excluded).
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
1:09 pm
Not to mention sponsors. For the two-minute drill, the winner used to get a Hummer. Now he/she gets a $150 gift card to restaurants. Snicker…..
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
The Hummer isn’t LEED certified. The ASG must keep its priorities in order.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 28th, 2010
1:24 pm
GaVa-Washington is no better hockey town that Atlanta. The product was bad, the ownership horrible and nobody showed up. Give us an ownership group that cares and commits and the seats will be full again.
Heck, look at Chicago and Boston! Both cities suffer from poor attendance for years, until ownership changes in philiosophy.
People in this city are stupid-
Brendan
January 28th, 2010
1:33 pm
Stroz, you always make me burst out laughing. Keep ‘em coming! I think I’m going to petition MENSA to admit Bruce Levenson. Think they’ll go for it?
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
1:37 pm
Stroz: But, isn’t the B.S. they have been feeding us for the past five years LEED certified?
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
2:19 pm
Red Light – That would be Levenson Golden Grain certified.
alex
January 28th, 2010
2:20 pm
just get it from russiam web site. idiot gm in interview with sov. sport started ” i am not going to answear kovy contract question”. don if even 5% decency left in, please resign. like knight from hawks. instead sometimes finally you going to be fired. i hope i still be alive, team still be here and this day should be georgia state holiday.
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
2:31 pm
Brendan – Yes, this MENSA group would go for it:
Monkeys
Engaging
Neanderthal
Spirit
A$$clowns
MENSA
Brendan
January 28th, 2010
2:43 pm
Well played, Strozie.
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
3:09 pm
Miami, GaVaHokie:
Here’s a bit of attendance history from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Washington. As we all know, NHL attendance is really tickets distributed, not actual gate attendance. Not sure it’s all tied to ownership or philosophy!
Atlanta has averaged 15,185 fans per game through the first nine seasons and the average will likely drop under 15,000 after this season. This will be the fourth season in 10 years with an average less than 15,000 per game. Their best season, as has been widely reported in this blog, was the inaugural year with an average of 17,206.
Boston has averaged fewer than 15,000 fans per game in only one season since 1995-96, and that was in 2006-07. Their worst stretch was from 1989-90 through 1993-94 at the old Boston Garden, but they always averaged 14,000-plus.
Chicago had three brutal seasons at the gate: 2003-04, 2005-06 and 2006-07. From 1989-90 through 2000-01, the Blackhawks averaged 18,007 per game, and posted the franchise’s highest average ever last year: 22,247 per game.
Washington has averaged 15,612 in attendance during the past 19 seasons with just six seasons under 15,000 per game (2005-06 and 2006-07 were the most recent instances). Their highest average was last season with 18,097 per game.
During the past nine seasons before this year, the other four Southeast Division teams’ average attendance has been: Carolina 14,976, Florida 15,617, Tampa Bay 17,090 and Washington 15,380.
Here’s the shocker: Colorado average attendance for 23 home dates is 13,766. They have declined every year after the lockout.
Rawhide
January 28th, 2010
3:44 pm
Per C-Viv…Hedberg starts again and Kozlov sits again.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 28th, 2010
4:31 pm
Nice work Red Light
GaVaHokie
January 28th, 2010
4:48 pm
Red Light… You joke about the Hummer Two Minute Drill… but, I’ll also throw out the “Powertel Power Play”.
…The KB Homes giveaway… the golf game to win a year lease on a BMW… you’re right… Corporate Sponsors are “down”.
I have a feeling the person who coordinated all those promotions isn’t with ASG anymore… or maybe even let go when ASG took over (can’t remember the timeline) and replaced with one of “their guys”.
They should probably go find that person and bring them back… double their salary.
Somaatl95
January 28th, 2010
5:09 pm
Could be worse, could be the Summers Eve Power Play, where the power play ALWAYS “AIMS TO BE FRESH”
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
5:21 pm
Actually, more apropos would be…The Puck Agency Power Play
Grossman’s company!
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
5:23 pm
How about the “Absolut Vodka Power Play”, you need a shot to watch it, Kovy already has.
Red Light
January 28th, 2010
6:00 pm
Could be a tough night for the Flyers. They’ve been sitting around at home for three days in the midst of a 13-day homestand, during which they will play only six games. That means they’ve been driving the kids to school, fulfilling the long list of honey-do’s including providing some manly duties. And you all know what that means: no legs!
The last time the Thrashers won two in a row was Dec. 12 and Dec. 14. A one-goal home win against Montreal, followed by a shoot-out win at New York. Lightning strikes twice in 45 days?
You heard it here first! Thrashers win tonight by a goal.
Miami Screaming Eagle
January 28th, 2010
7:38 pm
I like the “Hot Pockets” power play. Not that Hot Pockets have a catchy slogun, but they make me wat to throw up, just like our power play.
HookyBob
January 28th, 2010
8:14 pm
Red Light: After Slater’s goal I’m on board with your prediction (smacking knuckles on forehead (ie wood)).
Hope Moose holds up. Stendec is sooooooo right about Moose. He gives everything, and if not burnt by a bad bounce or bad luck, delivers a chance for two points. Inexpensive and well liked by teammates,…he’s got my admiration. I sure hope we can keep him after his playing days are over. Bet he makes a mean lefsa too.
Rawhide,…your plan for 6th place may also be coming to fruition (again sacking knuckles on forehead). Go Blue,…beat the goons. Wonder if Bolts and Carcillo will have a go?
Biltong,…managed to find the Allegash Curiex (sp). Enjoyed it but had a headache the next day. Will stick with Allegash Duble or Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout.
Finally, whatever happened to those pre-game prayers? Maybe that is part of our problem this year.
Two questions: 1)What do you think of this trade,…Kovy and Hainsey for Dion Phaneuff…? 2)Is it very feasible?
Oh,…oh Philly just tied it.
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
8:48 pm
How about the “Blue Crew Power Play” because the bounces aren’t going our way.
rob
January 28th, 2010
8:57 pm
dam 3-1!!! Even my 3 year old son already boos when he sees the Flyers jersey!!!!
rob
January 28th, 2010
8:58 pm
Do you think anyone would be interested in Hainsey? Big guy that can’t hit the end boards if they stand still!!! KOVY SCORES!!! 3-2 Between that and his one moment of back checking earlier….did Nik hit him with his stick in the locker room the other night? LOL
Rawhide
January 28th, 2010
9:08 pm
He’s here…he’s there…he’s PEV-RYWHERE!!!!!!!
HookyBob
January 28th, 2010
9:38 pm
Moooooooooose…….
World Be Free
January 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Jimmy Slater, I am sorry I ever doubted you.
He’s to the Thrashers what Matt Diaz is to the Braves.
I hate the Flyers so this was even more fun. Nice game in the middle of all this Kovy BS.
Replayed tomorrow afternoon-TiVo time!
HookyBob
January 28th, 2010
9:49 pm
Rawhide, correct me if I’m wrong,…. but methinks the Boys in blue are in 6th place in the east.
I sure hope the ASG pay attention to the brain-trust makes up the Ice Man’s blog.
stendec
January 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
Thrashers steal two critical points in Philadelphia! How? A 3-1 deficit after two periods was completely erased by a trio of highly unlikely third period markers! True Captain Johan Hedberg was not his usual stellar self with three goals allowed during the first 40 minutes. The red hot netminder literally got physical down the stretch to make sure the Flyers got no more! Rare that a Thrasher goaltender allows three markers without overtime/shootout. Power play still powerless. Penalty killing unit turned things up a notch! Uncaring slacker Ilya Kovalchuk finally put one in the net. Even a blind squirrel stumbles across an acorn every once in a while! Take those millions of bucks ticketed for the Siberian shet and give them to Mr Moose Hedberg. The staunch netminder is the heart and soul (and true captain) of this club! ++STENDEC++ Kari who?
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
I think we should all chip in and buy WBF a Slater jersey.
HookyBob
January 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
Let me add,…I hope Ilya and Grossman pay attention to the Ice Man’s brain-trust.
dandylions
January 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
tomorrows headline – ride the Headless horseman – GO MOOSE!!!
Here's the dilly-yo
January 28th, 2010
10:07 pm
Complete aside, but does anyone else find Dan Kamal like, almost completely unlistenable? His post-goal stingers are so forced, and, well, lame.
“Wake up and smell the hummus?” Really? Hummus?
Radio = off after that. Sorry.
Brendan
January 28th, 2010
10:12 pm
Well, it’s a huge win. A four-point swing with a team side-by-side with us. But guess what, folks? Every win, from now on, will be HUGE. And every game, from NOW ON, will be “the biggest game of the season.” Tonight, Atlanta defied the odds. Down 3-1, after two, they rallied for three (3) goals in the 3rd period to win the game, in regulation time. That’s, well, astonishing.
Moose battled all the way. “Second half” Slater potted two goals. And the Kaptain ended his 3-game pointless skid. For a while, though, it looked like Philly THUG Daniel Carcillo had scored the GWG, when he made it, 3-1.
Okay, we’re in 6th spot. Let’s project a bit. Six games from now … we’ll be tied for 9th or 10th in the conference, where a win gets us back into playoff position or pushes us back to tied for 12th or 13th. That’s just going to be the reality for a while.
Atlanta can TALK about the playoffs … because the teams all around them … are just as tepid. But I’ll defer to the Jeff Schultz quote, “There are eight teams within 3-points of each other, for three playoff positions. Feeling ‘lucky?’”
The opportunity for this team to be sitting comfortably in 4th or 5th position PASSED when they went 1-7-4 over 12-game stretch. These are the consequences for that failure. This team was was once 14-7-3. That’s seven (7) games over .500. They blew it. And now, they’re forced to scratch and CLAWWWW for every points.
Folks, great and exciting as this win was … WE STOLE THIS GAME. We “stole” games earlier this year, too. As Darren Eliot said, “The Thrashers have been strong in the 3rd period all year.” But as Bob says, “Sooner or later, that catches up with you. And you get exposed.” Think of it this way, if you’re in a boxing match, do you want to (1) win most of the rounds or (2) be forced to go for the knockout in the 15th round? This team opts for the knockout punch, swinging for the fences, when trailing by two runs, with nobody out, and men on 1st and 2nd, and the “Hail Mary!” pass, as time expires. Great when these things work. Really great. But when they fail, you realize that winning each round is a better approach. Bunting, to push the men into to scoring position at 2nd and 3rd, with one out, is a smart move. And taking the “high percentage stuff” underneath is a very effective way to move the ball down field with 2:00 left to play. Atlanta doesn’t excuse the fundamentals very well. We’re not good at backchecking. We’re not terribly proficient on the PP. And we don’t win puck battles nearly enough. We lack grit.
It’s great to steal a win, but it’s a lot better to play well and with consistency.
Brendan
January 28th, 2010
10:17 pm
Ranallo warning??
R. Stroz
January 28th, 2010
10:20 pm
Here are my nominations for the next blog article title:
1) Headless Hedberg Hexes the Flyers
2) Thrashers Ride the Headless Mooseman
3) Headless Mooseman Clips Flyers Wings
4) Headless Hedberg Helps Slater Kane the Flyers
and the winner is…..you choose