Two goal lead swept away in Avalanche comeback
Nine seconds. That’s all it took…nine lousy seconds.
Paul Stastny wins the face off to begin the overtime period…one…Kyle Cumiskey gathers the puck on the left side of the circle…two…three…moves in over the blueline…four…five…sees that Zach Bogosian has no desire to challenge him as he cuts through towards the center…six…seven…Toby Enstrom makes a half-hearted swipe at Cumiskey as he move through towards the center…eight…he shoots…nine…he scores.
Niclas Bergfors receives congratulations from his new teammates after notching his second goal for the Thrashers (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
And with that, the Colorado Avalanche successfully erased a 3-1 Thrashers lead in the third period and snatched the all-important second point away from Atlanta in OT.
A disappointed John Anderson said of the winning goal, “[Johan Hedberg] would have had to make a great save but there’s no way he should be walking in…nobody tested him”.
Indeed.
Wasted in this night’s effort was a great showing by the newly formed Bergfors – Antropov – Little line…each coming away from the game with a goal and an assist. The three combined for 10 shots on goal…Antropov with a team-high 6.
Antropov now has 14 goals and a total of 47 points, which…with the departure of Ilya Kovalchuk…makes him the leading scorer on the current Thrashers roster. His +16 leads the team as well.
For Little, it was his second goal in as many games and his fourth in the last five dating back to the 4-3 loss in Nashville two weekends ago. Little now has 10 for the season to go with 15 assists.
And then there’s Bergfors…which I believe is Swedish for “makes one forget about lost superstar”. He opened the scoring on the night in the first period and then was credited with a secondary assist on Antropov’s goal, which at the time put Atlanta up 3-1 in the third. In the three games played in a Thrashers jersey, Bergie has 2 goals, an assist and is a +2 with 0 penalty minutes.
Hmmm…how’s that Kovalchuk character fairing in Jersey?…right on cue Trixie enters with stats sheet and coffee….Ah, Thanks, Trixie. Let’s see…that would be ZERO goals, 2 helpers a –2 with 6 PIM in four games played.
Johnny Oduya also picked up his first point as a member of the Thrashers organ-I-zation Wednesday night. He played the puck to Marty Reasoner who fed Little on the left side for his goal during the second.
Johan Hedberg makes save against former Thrasher Darren Haydar while Ron Hainsey defends (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
The penalty kill unit for the Thrashers also performed well…yet again. In Colorado, they denied all four of the Avs power play attempts. This is after killing off all seven against Florida Saturday night. In the past seven games, Atlanta has allowed but one goal while down a man…going 28 for 29 in penalty kill situations, (96.6%).
Johan Hedberg stopped 31 of the 35 shots he faced.
The point earned tonight gives Atlanta 59 for the season and moves them into a tie for 10th place in the Eastern Conference with the New York Rangers…who lost to the Predators 2-1 earlier in the evening. The Thrashers have played two fewer games, however, than have the Rangers.
But not being able to hang on to a two-goal lead on the road and losing out on the second point now leaves them five points behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Philadelphia Flyers who hold the seventh and eighth spots in the east. Philly beat the Devils 3-2…for the second straight game erasing a 2-0 lead by New Jersey to win.
Boston in ninth with 61 and Florida trails the Thrashers by just one point.
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160 comments Add your comment
Red Light
February 11th, 2010
12:34 pm
Going back to Stendec’s comment: “Thrashers must log four points in next two outings or forget about playoffs.”
It might be worse than that!
Let me go out on a huge limb and say that the third place team from the Southeast will not make the playoffs because it has never happened in the 10-year history of the division, and in four of those seasons only the division champion qualified.
After getting swept by Florida in mid-January, the Lightning are 8-2-1 going into tonight’s game at home against Boston. Niittymaki is 8-1-1 in that stretch with a save percentage of .945 in 10 games.
Before anyone starts worrying about the playoffs, Atlanta had better start worrying about finishing second in the division and TB is four points ahead right now. The Thrashers have just seven division games left on the schedule (3 against Car, 2 against Wsh and one each against TB and Fla). TB has nine division games left (3 each against Wsh and Fla., 2 against Car and 1 against Atl).
TB is 8-6-1 against the SE and Atl is 6-9-2 so far. TB has 12 home games remaining while ATL has 14.
We all know Niittymaki has won 15 in a row against the Thrashers and is red-hot right now. A lot of things can change in one month, but one thing probably won’t — the 3rd place in this division won’t make the playoffs.
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
12:42 pm
Finally, hopes for a speedy recover to one of my favorite hockey people – Mike Robitaille.
Roby, a defenseman during the 70’s isn’t big in stature, but he was one of the best hip checkers of his generation along will Hilliard Graves of the Flames. He is a complete straight shooter as a commentator, one of the best for the past 30 years.
He once described Rick Dudley as one of the most feared players to play against. Our Rick Dudley
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
12:51 pm
Red Light-that is good news, but I will believe it when the Flyers are “concrete-free”, when they waive Carcillo
Kevin
February 11th, 2010
12:55 pm
This team is toast. The only thing that will be getting Thrasher fans excited is the great ping pong ball machine for the draft lottery,….AGAIN. Just aother piece that we will have for a few years and lose in a one sided trade because they wont resign.
Smitty
February 11th, 2010
1:14 pm
WBF
Saw Roby when he was with Vancouver blast Perreault with a devastating hip check at the blue line. I believe Perreault missed a month or two after that hit. He also knocked Bobby Ruseau of the Rangers out with a blue line hip check. Did not like it when the Sabres let him go.
Hope the news about Kulda is true. Late bloomer. BTW, who coaches our defensemen? A 19 year old kid needs a little direction. We seem to be getting younger. Time for our coaching staff to meet the challenge of life after Kovy.
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
1:26 pm
Smitty-Good memories. I once had a picture of Roby flipping over an unnamed California Golden Seal with a hip check. I don’t think Roby ever forgave the Sabres for trading him until they gave him a job, one that he has kept for 30 years.
He and Punch Imlach were never buddies, but Roby once recalled when Punch drove 12 hours through a snowstorm to attend his father’s funeral. Punch was old school, he never worried about being your friend.
Smoothie
February 11th, 2010
1:36 pm
Good to see our GM wise up and bring in Kulda not only as insurance but as a wake up call for Bogosian. Problem is he shouldve been asked to fly to Denver to meet a team down to 6 healthy d-men. The Wolves don’t normally play til the weekend and the end of this trip brings him right home to Chicago. He’d be ready by Friday to jump in if need be but now he may not even get to practice in time.
BTW, Popovic played very well again last nite. In fact, JA was foolish in breaking up his pairings for OT. Why not start with Kubina and Enstrom? I guess Kubes was fatigued from the late game PK?
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
1:46 pm
Smoothie-Pops played real good last night.
Bergfors has 2 more goals than Kovalhog.
Kovy, the Allen Iverson of hockey.
Rawhide
February 11th, 2010
2:02 pm
J(Z) – Confirmed…Kulda has been called up.
Smoothie
February 11th, 2010
2:05 pm
WBF – I was very impressed with Pops; he played with poise, feistiness and made smart plays with the puck.
Does anyone follow CHI closely enough to know who are the key PK’ers? I feel like Reasoner is getting wasted playing with Thor and Boults. At least he is good at advancing the puck (what does White ever do?) And can even set up a score (see Little’s goal) on occasion.
I’d like to get Army back with Pevs since they actually have some chemistry. So why not let Marty center Kane and Slater? Kane should get a chance to drive the middle as a RW in my opinion.
Michael B. Shapiro
February 11th, 2010
2:51 pm
’swat happens when you stop skating with 8:18 on the clock. Sigh. We let a point and a win get away. Peverly and Max might have chemistry, but I think the constant swapping of Charmin and Kozzy on that line is hurting them. Not sure who to put there, but maybe Thorby? Nice to see the top line really getting together.
kracker
February 11th, 2010
3:09 pm
Assuming Bogo isn’t 1) playing injured or 2) suffering from rookie fatigue, should he play in Chicago during the O break for some instruction from Chelios?
Brendan
February 11th, 2010
3:14 pm
R.Stroz, I want Little locked up, eating away at some of his UFA eligibility years.
ThrasherFan
February 11th, 2010
3:19 pm
I’m sorry, but that third goal was a joke by the Avs. The player played the puck with an obvious high stick and the refs don’t call it. What was our clown in the booth saying?
“Well, because he played it with a high stick and then it hit hedberg, it’s now a free play.”
WTF is that?! I swear the Thrash get so many calls that go against them it’s not even funny.
J(Z)
February 11th, 2010
3:28 pm
ThrasherFan – they called it correctly. If a puck is played by a high stick it isn’t automatically blown dead unless a player from that team is next to touch the puck. Since Moose touched it, it nullified the high stick.
As for the goal that got overturned…I don’t know that you can say there was conclusive evidence to overturn that one though!!!!
Smoothie
February 11th, 2010
3:29 pm
Interesting thought: could they “loan” Bogo to the Wolves and would he have to clear waivers?
ThrasherFan
February 11th, 2010
3:42 pm
J(Z)
I am sure you are right on the rules, but how stupid of a rule is it? If it’s played with a high stick and goes into the net, it’s a goal. If the puck is played with a high stick and is saved by the goaltender, it’s a live puck… Why not just not save it at all? F’ing stupid if you ask me.
On the goal, I don’t know if I ever saw the white between the line and the puck. It was damn close, but since it was ruled as a goal on the ice it should have stood.
ThrasherFan
February 11th, 2010
3:43 pm
What I meant was if it’s played with a high stick and goes into the goal it is disallowed…
FlamesFan
February 11th, 2010
3:57 pm
Yes, the ref called it properly; the rule is bad and needs to be changed. For this very reason, pucks played with a high-stick in the offensive zone should be blown down immedialty. Or, give the refereees the fleixibility to let a play continue if the non-offending team has the “advantage”. Soccer referees age given the “advantage” flexibility.
I also agree that it looked too close to overrule the goal called on the ice. This is not the first time that the Toronto crew has bit the Thrashers by changing the definition from “Conclusive evidence” to “it looks like it probably was….”
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
4:11 pm
Smoothie-I think Bogo could go to CHI without passing waivers. We would have to be creative as far as the reasons for the move, it looks like a demotion. Demoting the kid might work against his already shakey confidence.
Benching a player is one thing, but sending them to the minors is another. Francouer never seemed to recover and I’d hate to see that happen to Bogo. I am already worried about what may be in store for Kane next season. There’s a reason why players (like Bergfors) stay in the minors or juniors until they are 20+.
LAC
February 11th, 2010
4:15 pm
Well thanks zack for more lackluster play and allowing the WINNING goal to be scored, YOU should have gone to NJ instead, you are not a good player, if not traded or waived, you need to SIT YOUR BUTT until AFTER The Olympics, you are not very good and are NOT helping the team…
Good-Bye zach !
#80’s first goal was just over the line, but their mans stick obscured the complete view, other wise
4-1 a BIG difference…
Hockey Biltong
February 11th, 2010
4:37 pm
Thay looked gassed in the third period. Mile high syndrome, perhaps???
rob
February 11th, 2010
4:44 pm
How do you really feel about it LAC? Anyone think the team the way it is has a snowballs chance in hades of advancing past the first round of the playoffs? Now let’s change 1 variable. If we had a strong goalie do you think we would be more prone to? I hope they can find a way to get some consistancy and play with the heart they showed against Fla. How about letting White go on waivers and bringing up one of the Wolves now, with a hard drive needed just to get to the playoffs? Invaluable learning chance for one of our prospects maybe? And I really hope they can somehow get together and make the playoffs, even if they get ripped there it will show the new guys what you really have to bring to the table at this level to be successful.
Lee
February 11th, 2010
5:09 pm
And Kozlov is sitting out? What about Bogo? What’s up with him?
thrashers1980
February 11th, 2010
5:54 pm
has anyone noticed this, but the devils are giving up almost 2-3 goals a game with kovy in their lineup. I think he has to thoroughly learn their system to score some goals and play defense. He’s in the big boy division now. The atlantic divison has fierce teams like the penguins, flyers, rangers, and islanders. Its not like when he was with the thrashers he could score a hat trick against crappy teams in our division (caps are an exception). By the way the thrashers just talk about getting points and not working hard for it. good effort but bad execution is what would sum up as a 4-3 loss to the Avs.
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
6:22 pm
I still say Bogosian is too young. You can’t put him in the situations we are exposing him too. Young defenseman are like rookie cornerbacks in football. You have to put a defensive defenseman with him. He so screwed up this year and his offensive numbers are suffering.
Look at what TB is doing with Hedman. They are bringing him along so he can learn the game, went out and got a countryman/expierienced D in Ohlund to work with him. Denis Potvin had his brother. Nic Lidstro was worked into the Red Wings lineup over a period, he wasn’t made to be a # 1 as a teenager. I think back to Jim Schoenfeld. Punch talked Tim Horton into coming back for one more year to work with his young defenseman.
We are not the first club to have to deal with this.
Smoothie
February 11th, 2010
6:28 pm
World – you’re scaring me now. Probably because you are so right! I still don’t know why he was given the ‘A’ so early as it does nothing but heap on the extra weight of pressure. The kid needs a break and hopefully a few benchings or playing alongside his old buddy Arturs will help him pull out of his sophomore slump funk…just hope that’s all it is.
John
February 11th, 2010
6:46 pm
Colorado is a good club, remember. They’re 3rd or something like that. If you had said yesterday morning that we’re going to come out of there with 1 point, I’d have taken it. Although it did sting to see it go away, we’ve stolen a game or two ourselves.
Waddell said on XM the other day he’s not looking to move Armstrong and would love to resign Kubina, FWIW.
Tony C.
February 11th, 2010
8:15 pm
midfield “It’s like watching a discussion about whether to give Tylenol or Aspirin to a brain tumor patient.”
CLASSIC!!! right up therer with “This is not a hockey!”
I promise you more than one person at the coffeeshop got freaked out when I busted out laughing so hard.
BTW: Anytime they want to give the reigns of team building/player development/who’s on the squad/wtf-ever you call it – 100% to Dudley is fine with me-let DW do his thing; getting the most you can for $0.15 (seriously, folks you’ve got to give him that-just look at the Peverly deal: I think it’s a steal if you put Richie’s #s up against other MUCH higher-paid players).
Koach
February 11th, 2010
8:53 pm
I guess the real hockey guys are on rawhide’s blog, not CV’s….Bogo can gain from watching a couple three games from up high. His confidence is shot right now and no matter what anyone tells him, he needs to back away and process the game from a different prospective. The kid is going to be great, give him time and give him a couple of healthy scratches.
ukyo
February 11th, 2010
9:22 pm
That loss was terrible to watch. I don’t know who to hold responsible for it. Was it all Bogosian’s fault for not taking his man in OT? Should Toby have cut in and left his man uncovered to make up for Bogo’s lack of play? The Avs third goal was just a fluke. Getting back a little further, Oduya didn’t pressure his man enough on the second goal. Had he been a little more aggressive that second goal would never have happened. Looking back at the first goal, Hedberg just slid right out of the play. I don’t know what he saw developing, but either the puck took a sudden bounce to change the direction of the play or it was a huge misread, either way, it was in the net.
Now… who is responsible overall for the loss? Anderson. I like him, and I think he has a system that can and will work, the only problem is it appeared he told the team to protect the lead instead of trying the system. We are not a “protect the lead” type of team. We are a “high risk / high score” team that hopes to win on sheer goal volume alone. Had the team just stayed the course and ran the goals up in the third (like the Capitals would have, and did to us), this game would have been a blow out. They didn’t, instead they got on their heels thinking they could just ride out the clock and hold the Avs off the score board. Didn’t work out the way they had planned, I’d wager. Anderson also should never have put Bogo on the ice for the start of the OT. That was just the wrong call to make. I think Bogo is going to be great one day, but he’s having a down year, and we have lost several games due to his play. But again, the call came from Anderson to send him over the boards. I’m sure the call came from Anderson to protect the lead. I think this loss is squarely on his shoulders.
I don’t want to rain on the play off potential parade, but we have a tall task in front of us if we are going to make it. We can only lose 7 games in regulation until the end of the season if we are going to break the magic 94 point mark. Of course, with the way the season is shaping up, it may only take 92 points to break in. If that’s the case we can drop 8. Still, given we have 24 games to go, we have to win on a 2.7 to 1 ratio if we are going to make the post season.
We are playing with a renewed fire for the most part, I just really hope we burn bright enough to keep the 8th seed in sight. The light at the end of the tunnel to the post season faded a little last night. We need to get at least 4 points out of this roadie and then open up all through March. It’s going to be tough…
Hockey Biltong
February 11th, 2010
9:59 pm
Those guys were beat. I swear it was the altitude. They had absolutely nothing in the tank and looked relieved to get the one point.Midway thru the third, the line changes weren’t happening fast enough.
I think we’ll see a better performance at Minnee-soota!
Nikita (in PA)
February 11th, 2010
11:05 pm
We better, Hockey. Minnesota isn’t half the team that Colorado is.
World Be Free
February 11th, 2010
11:15 pm
Smoothie, the kid needs to be reeled in before it’s too late. Bogo has showed that he can be an excellent defenseman but he’s trying to do too much too early. He’s running around like a chicken with his head cut off.
Do you guys remember what you were like at 19? For me, at 19 I was running around Alfred, New York emptying beer kegs with alarming regularity. And that’s when I had no money. I can’t imagine what must be going through a kid’s head after a year in the NHL, all the $$$ before your 20th birthday. Everyone was marveling over the kid last year at this time. Now he’s come to Earth.
Like I said before, Bogo needs a Crash Davis to teach him the game on and off the ice. He’s not prepared to wear the “A” and lead older players in the NHL. We all want to shake Bogosian to his senses, when it’s Anderson and Co. that needs a good shaking.
R. Stroz
February 11th, 2010
11:39 pm
I wonder what this team is going to look like at 3:00 tomorrow.
I also wonder what the ground is going to look like at 3:00 tomorrow.
I expect a change in both.
LAC
February 12th, 2010
1:24 am
Rob, If we had a bit stronger defense, things would be different this season. zach has NOT been playing well on defense since the first month or so, he has gone into a shell and is NOT playing like he can or should. He has cost us several games and points this season and I really question the coaching staff as to WHY he is not sitting a few games, he needs to.
Our goaltending has been at times VERY VERY Good, and at time flat awful.
When we were up 3-1 last night, Colorado notched it up and they were a swarm on us, we got caught running around the defensive zone and missed assignments were abundant to say the least.
Like the way the new forward has played, he hustles and is doing a fine job as is Kane who busts his A$$ every game. Another scorer would be nice and let’s see what happens next…
Also, congrats to Charlotte,N.C. my hometown, for landing an AHL team for next season.
They will be the AHL team for Carolina which makes good development sense and business sense.
Can you even vision Good Development & Business sense with Atlanta ? No Way… But glad to see they will Kepp the Checkers name, truely time hoonered since 1957 when they first came there from Baltimore. Go Checkers !!!! I will attend more Checkers games next season than Thrashers for sure,
Just had it with the owners here and worthless waddell, just too much losing for too long and it
won’t stop any time soon !
Come down Mr.Bettman we need you NOW !!!!!!!!
Kaat
February 12th, 2010
2:09 am
I keep reading Kozlov spoke out about the Kovy situation — I’d like to read more. Anyone know where he’s quoted and/or what he said?
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
5:54 am
LAC-Charlotte going to be the Canes farm team?
Bogo played well early on but his game has been garbage since November 1.
Stroz-let’s hope today’s transactions are positive or you are going to have to have another talk with Don.
Zoomo
February 12th, 2010
7:35 am
Darren Dreger says Tim Thomas is on the block. I say Moose, Army, and draft picks to the Bruins.
Zoomo
February 12th, 2010
7:37 am
Sorry..Andy Strickland’s Blog, not Dreger.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
7:39 am
Rask is younger, cheaper and playing better for the Brunes than TT. He’d be a nice pickup.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
7:53 am
You know folks, with everything that’s happened to the Thrashers lately it could be worse. Check out my old team, the Buffalo Sabres. The “Sabes” have blown a 13 point lead in their division. They were in the no. 1 spot in the East a few times, now they are dropping like a rock possibly right out of the playoffs.
Same of Sabres, Lindy and Darcy still at the wheel as the Sabres drop 6 in a row with all their high priced goal scorers wetting the bed-again. Sabres fans have the rope, the tall horse, they are just looking for the tree.
So Atlanta right now looks pretty good to me.
Zoomo
February 12th, 2010
8:13 am
Yeah, but Rask isn’t going to be traded.
I think we need a solid vet to go with Pavelec for the next few years and Thomas would fit that bill.
GaVaHokie
February 12th, 2010
8:17 am
Zoomo… they asked Tim Thomas about it yesterday and he said he would not comment “on such a ridiculous rumor”… for what it’s worth.
GaVaHokie
February 12th, 2010
8:25 am
Trade Freeze is set at 3pm today… keep your eyes open.
It seems the price for Ray Whitney is a 1st round pick and a prospect… that’s pretty steep… hopefully we get more attention for Afinogenov with teams not willing to wager so much for Whitney.
Maybe to Pittsburgh for Luca Caputi?!
http://spectorshockey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=957:evening-nhl-rumor-update-february-11-2010&catid=5:trade-rumors&Itemid=4
Red Light
February 12th, 2010
8:27 am
Here’s a tough stat: The top eight teams in the Western Conference have a combined record of 71-26-6 against the Eastern Conference, a winning percentage of .732.
Carolina is 9-3 since winning here on Jan. 16 and made up 10 points in the standings on the Thrashers since. The Canes are now just six points behind the Thrashers. A few days prior was when Rutherford told the team many of them would be traded. And by the way, Legace and Justin Peters have won the past four games since Ward’s back ailment. Storm Warning!
Whitaker
February 12th, 2010
8:36 am
As Brendan stated about a week ago when we all were discussing where Ilya might end up, Don is not going to deal with Boston unless the trade is too go to be true. The Thrashers and Bruins have been right there with each other through-out the season.
Boston has gone on record saying that they are shopping Ryder and to a lesser extent Thomas (as well as Wideman, but we do not want him), but these players were there last week as well. I do not think Don is willing to take on the salary of Thomas 5 million for another 3 years. Because of Army’s light-hearted attitude Don wants to hang on to him, guess he feels Army will be playing the fiddle as the ship goes down.
From Boston’s side depending on what the draft pick is this is a great trade, cheaper back-up goalie and a role player with grit who is not afraid to go into the dirty areas. I just think Don will not play ball on this one.
Get The Puck Out
February 12th, 2010
8:54 am
This country was founded on democracy, so i say as fans of the Atlanta Thrashers WE the FANS should have a say in whether or not Teflon Don has a job as a GM for YOUR Thrashers. We should have a vote and we would see who stands or condemns the Don. Wonder how that vote would go? I agree that Kulda needs to play and Bogo.Let him watch from a different perspective, almost like watching tape from a previous game. If the defense doesn’t play better their won’t be playoffs, and yes Tim Thomas would be a great addition, but what are you gonna have to give up? Give Chellios a contract for the rest of this season and school Bogo and anyone else that needs to learn how to play defense. Looks like a few could learn something from his presence. I hope the NHL does keep an eye on the doings of this franchise and do what’s necessary to keep it moving foward. If you have a team that plays with grit, passion, and whatever it takes to win we, the fans will support this hockey team. The casual fan will need a winner to get ‘em in the house. Diehard fans will watch and support hockey reguardless because for their love for the game. I hope hockey makes it in Atlanta, but something’s gotta change.
Whitaker
February 12th, 2010
9:02 am
Random question, I do not agree with this statement made by Don a few days ago on NHL live “We have learned that a Super Star Player will not put people in the seats here in Atlanta[,people only care about a winning team].” Does anyone agree?
LAC
February 12th, 2010
9:09 am
WBF, Yes Charlotte will be Carolina’s AHL team starting next year.
They were talking about it last night on the Carolina – Buffalo game and there is info on it’at Carolina website at NHL.com and in The Charlotte Observer.
Maybe we could share, then our prospects could learn what system we play here and don’t have to watch video’s and try to get it. Isn’t this Thrashers operation Mickey Mouse from top to bottom and I mean waddell’s BOTTOM !