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
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
February 12th, 2010
9:09 am
Don does not know what he’s doing, so it is difficult to legitimize anything he sez
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
9:20 am
On the comments-
Everybody wants a winner, especially when we have existed for so long without one. Several teams joined the league about the same time we did. They have all experienced greater success than the Thrashers. We have become the example of the franchise to NOT emulate. It’s a lot more complex then saying Atlanta won’t support a team based on a superstar.
Frankly, Kovy is a star but I do NOT think he’s a superstar. But couple him with Heatley, Hossa, Savard and whatever you should have received with the Kari pick back then and you would have the kind of team that any city would support. You can’t keep backpedaling and expect people to continue to come to the rink. The fact the team has any support indicates to me how good of a hockey town Atlanta is.
The players don’t want out of Atlanta because of the lack of fans. That’s not the reason they are leaving.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
9:38 am
When will thses GM’s learn that none of these 32+ y/o vets are worth the risk of 4 and 5 year deals worth millions and millions of dollars. There are too many vets like Thomas eating up gobs of cap space and threatening the short-term viability of their teams. Can’t wait to see who’s foolish enough to give Kovy what he wants. It might strangle a franchise to death.
WBF – indeed Bogo never should have gotten the ‘A’ at 19. I wonder if Toews is struggling more than last year due to the pressure of that ‘C’ on his chest?
GaVaHokie
February 12th, 2010
9:39 am
Atlanta loves their Super Stars, but we also love our “Sid Bream” stories too.
This team needs to make it back to the playoffs and make some noise… we need stories that aren’t car wrecks and high profile trades… maybe Rich Peverley makes a last minute goal in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final, and he becomes the “Sid Bream” of Atlanta Hockey.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
9:47 am
GaVa
Great call, Pevs is our Sid
Schroeder
February 12th, 2010
9:48 am
People,Chris Chelios is NOT the property of the Thrashers,he is the property of the Chicago Wolves.The only reason he is there is to be close to his family and continue to play the game he loves and has probably turned down offers to go back to the NHL.He cannot be “brought-up”to Atl without a contract and I doubt that he would consider coming into the “octocluster” fold anyway. So get over it and deal w/the fact that Bogo is 19 and will have brain farts.It is about a learning curve that he will get over.I remember a certain D-man that went through a similar fall off when he went to Philly and doing well now,(Coburn)lighten up people ,it’s hockey.
R. Stroz
February 12th, 2010
9:51 am
GaVaHokie – At this point, I’ll settle for Francisco Cabrera.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
10:15 am
According to Custance, the Thrashers were sniffing around Matt Cullen, but then Donnie pulled out after trade talks heated up. Garrioch says Cullen trade is a done deal but nothing announced yet.
Shouldn’t we be sniffing around Ponikarovsky or somebody with a little more goal-scoring prowess than Matt Cullen?
Rawhide
February 12th, 2010
10:26 am
GaVaHokie, WBF & RStroz – then…was Kari Lehtonen our “Bob Horner”?
Much promise…great talent…injured too often.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
10:32 am
Schroeder-your contention that we have to just live with Bogo’s mistakes is not acceptable, especially when they can be avoided with proper development. If given the scenario, Chelios would probably welcome the challenge especially since Bogo is a fellow Yank. I am sure something could be worked out between Chicago and Atlanta, that’s why we have a working relationship. If Chelios is not available, there are other veteran (or retired) D-men that would welcome the challenge of helping Bogosian. Just letting him work through his issues is not in the best interests of the team or the player.
We have been getting over things for too long, when professional solutions and alternatives exist.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
10:36 am
Rawhide – some might say Kari was our Terry Forster!!
Get The Puck Out
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
Agreed WBF.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
10:39 am
I’m with World on this (Chelios). Why he wouldn’t want to play 20 more games in the NHL for just over a month (and perhaps a couple weeks longer!) is beyond me. I know he wants to be close to family and all, but it’s only a month and change. Keith Tkachuk did it, why not Cheli?
It would be worth the $150 – 250 K it would probably take. He’s not going to get any offers from a bona fide Cup contender because, unlike us, they generally have a true Top 4 and Top 6. No offense to Popovic, Valabik or Schubie intended!
Rawhide
February 12th, 2010
10:51 am
Rawhide – some might say Kari was our Terry Forster!!
Smoothie – LOL!!
Remember when David letterman referred to Forster as “a big tub of goo”"?
Schroeder
February 12th, 2010
10:56 am
WBF-Point taken but,professional solutions and alternatives aside, you are still dealing with a 19 year old mentality and maturaty level and anyone who has raised a child knows, there will be times in his professional life that he will grow from his mistakes and other times it will be as thoughall the training and tutoring were better served on a fern.I would love for Zach to play every minute on the ice like a seasoned veteran that can see a situation and react before it becomes a serious scoring op for the other team.That my friend comes only with time and you keep sending him out there and hope that with his natural talent and abilities that these mistakes will become fewer and fewer. I hope also that it is not some silly nagging injury that he is trying to play through,if so sit him!!
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
11:03 am
Check out the fire sale memo that panther fans woke up to this AM; http://panthers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=517345
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
11:32 am
Apparently they even cancelled their morning practice and have asked a number of players to waive their NTC.
GaVaHokie
February 12th, 2010
11:37 am
Wish our remaining schedule had heavier appearances of FLA… but it’s pretty sweet that our first game back after the break will be a retooled Panthers team. Hopefully, a good confidence builder.
We’ve got 3 games left against Carolina and they’re in the midst of a dump as well.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
11:37 am
Rawhide – indeed I do remember that Forster fiasco! ‘Twas a time I actually watched (and looked forward to watching) David Letterman.
Anyone interested in Ray Whitney to re-vitalize our PP? Problem is we would probably have to give up a yound D-man prospect (Ivan Vish?) and our 1st rounder. If Carolina is going to help a division rival, they would probaly prefer our middle-range (16 – 24) first rounder.
If Matty Cullen is getting a 2nd rounder, then Whitney might cost a first rounder. But perhaps they are high enough on Vish to settle for the prospect. I would love to have Whitney, but the price may be too steep IMO. Lord knows we won’t make the playoffs without our PP coming alive.
GaVaHokie
February 12th, 2010
11:48 am
Smoothie… Whitney has a no trade clause, Carolina almost had an agreement with the Kings, but Whitney told Los Angeles he’d only waive his NTC if they’d extend him for 3 more years… he’s 37 years old.
The price is a 1st round pick and a prospect, and then you have Whitney seeking a long term extension… not sure I like it.
That’s why Ottawa settled on Matt Cullen, I’m guessing, and I’m hoping this translates into a good offer for Afinogenov.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
11:56 am
Yeah, that NTC will probably keep him Carolina til the end of the season. If we were the 5 or 6 seed currently, perhaps we could entice him by offering him a 1 year deal. Don’t know why he thinks he’ll get more than a 1 yr deal from ANYBODY. These players were spoiled post-lockout. Times they are a changin’!
I would love to flip Finny for a 2nd rounder and a prospect. But alas, I don’t think we’ll get more than a pick for him. Cullen is a center and brings a bit more to the table than the slumping Afinogenov who has almost half of his points in one month (November).
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
11:58 am
Schroeder-I think we’re both saying the same things with a little twist. Let’s hope Zach is in Atlanta when the full maturity process is completed.
Bill-let’s hope Kari doesn’t turn into the next Hasek!
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
12:11 pm
Rawhide-
Kari = Nick Esasky?
Big Nick signed a big deal with the Braves and never played an inning.
Boris is looking like Ron Gant
Looks like the Panthers are evolving into sellers again this year. Similar history to ATL, except they did make the Stanley Cup Finals one year.
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
12:12 pm
Cheechoo on waivers. Going to be an interesting few hours. Wonder if DW and Dudley have any moves in mind before the 3pm deadline.
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
February 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
TableHockey-interesting link
Do you ever thing ASG would be so honest or do you think they would do the same thing while continuing to blow sunshine up our skirts?
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
12:15 pm
Add Jamie Lundmark to that waiver list.
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
12:18 pm
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan – I seriously doubt they would. Interesting that FLA made that decision while they are only 6 points out of 8 spot. I assume they’ll hold on to Horton.
DWTOO
February 12th, 2010
12:21 pm
Since I’m too lazy to look it up wasn’t Cheechoo part of the Heatley Deal? Wow, talk about getting a small return.
WBF- had to laugh about yesterday’s post about being 19 and chasing kegs. Only thing that’s changed is I have more money and it takes longer to recover.
Pittsburgh Pirate Fan
February 12th, 2010
12:24 pm
Table-at least the FLA fans know what’s coming
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
12:28 pm
DWTOO-at least Ottawa got rid of their problem child, part of the reason why they played so well this season. Two great games last nite, Ottawa over Caps and SJ-Red Wings. Ottawa looks good right now.
Genessee Beer used to have a beer truck, which held about 40 kegs of beer. The truck had 8-10 taps on the side; you could just walk up and fill your glass no waiting. Now that’s a kegger! Alfred State College will never be the same again.
TableHockey
February 12th, 2010
12:31 pm
WBF – Genessee – gads that stuff was rough. We used to “sample” my grandpa’s stash when he was resting his eyes.
DWTOO
February 12th, 2010
12:42 pm
Cullen to Montreal for Alex Picard and second rounder. Would you guys claim Cheechoo? Think I’d take the chance. And waive Whitey and trade Slava (if he’d agree).
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
12:51 pm
Table-Plenty of hangovers slamming Genny “Pounders”. Genny 12 Horse Ale was pretty good stuff. Genny Cream always led to the Genny Cream screamers the following day. No explanation needed.
DWTOO
February 12th, 2010
12:59 pm
Genny Cream Ale – The “official” beer of Watkins Glen. At least the two times I was there.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
1:05 pm
Total actually may be more interesting that the REAL trading deadline.
I have beer in my frig, glad that it is not Genny Cream. Maybe that’s why the Glen closed for sometime.
Brendan
February 12th, 2010
1:07 pm
Witaker, I think the wins do tend to put more fannies in seats than do Superstar players. That said, I think the Thrashers, or ANY team, need at least one bonafide star player.
Brendan
February 12th, 2010
1:16 pm
Table Hockey, thanks for the link. I noticed, in the Panthers statement to its fans, that it contained the word, “accountable.” Nice to know that it exists in their dictionary. For it surely doesn’t in the Atlanta Spirit, LLC’s.
I’m not even sure the Spirit would go so far as to disagree with this statement. “Donnie Waddell’s done a GREAT job building the Thrashers. The franchise is in excellent hands.”
ben
February 12th, 2010
1:25 pm
::Jim Mora voice:: Playoffs! Playoffs?
Okay, this team is entering it’s second ten-year plan. Translation, there isn’t one anhd hasn’t been since the Snyder crash.
I’m done. No more chanting Fi-yer Donnie. The economy is too bad to wish unemployment on anyone, especially one who’s a tad touched in the head. And I was among the first in that crowd. But I read something in a study that 1 in 5 wage-earning Americans may now be out of a job. In that climate, it just strikes me as a bit too grizzly to cheer on a man’s unemployment, no matter who he is or how much money he’s making. And let’s all take a moment to remember something. All joking aside, this is the last hockey job Don will ever have. Trading Kovy, one of the best players on Earth, was one of his smarter moves. I loooove to watch Kovy, and plan on doing so for the rest of his career. But over these last eight years I’ve grown convinced he won’t play defense. Is he worth 20% of the cap? Of the things I have to suss out in a day while I continue my Master’s Degree, I’m eternally grateful that that is not a thing I have to figure out.
It’ll be odd to root for another team for another team for a while. But I have to go, the team you root for should never make you angry. For us anyway, this is just for fun. And when fun isn’t fun anymore, it’s time to go. But if people can change partners, then they can change hockey teams. The sad thing is I really do want to stay, but Les Thrash just isn’t doing it for me anymore. It’s like trying to be with a girl you’ve been with for ten years out of obligation. Obligation to what? It’s not like it’s a real person, but we’ll still be friends. I’ll still post. Rawhide, I’ve no idea what they’re paying you, but you’re worth it. In fact, they ought to double it. I do enjoy your dry wit. And the insight on this blog makes up for the media’s near lack of coverage in this town. Brendan, I’ve never seen you face to face, but your insights are (mostly) spot-on.
When a change eventually does happen, I might come back. The sad thing is, if I’m leavig who else will be left by then to actually help the Thrash pay their bills in this city?
Goober
February 12th, 2010
1:59 pm
Worst post of the year. It’s all about you, ben. Hope the bandwagon you jump on runs you over.
Smoothie
February 12th, 2010
2:19 pm
Per C-Viv and Kamal, Kulda gets his first start tonite and Kozzy gets the “box” again. Why???! And Moose with the start. Does anyone else get the feeling Moose is being showcased for a Cup contender (gent’s agreement) in the event we become sellers on March 3rd? I could see Moose coming back for 1 more year if given a chance to play for a Cup.
Tom
February 12th, 2010
2:20 pm
Kari was our Jon Koncak…
R. Stroz
February 12th, 2010
2:52 pm
Tom – Now that’s an insult. At least Kari has reflexes.
World Be Free
February 12th, 2010
3:00 pm
What about some guy who the Hawks paid for years after he left-Blair Rasumssen was his name I think?
Red Light
February 12th, 2010
3:24 pm
The Minnesota Wild have traded D Kim Johnsson and 2009 first round pick Nick Leddy to Chicago for D Cam Barker. Per TSN’s Dreger and McKenzie.
Dwayne
February 12th, 2010
3:25 pm
We are going to be hurting IF Kari stays healthy and becomes dominant, as we know he can. I guess it will be the same hurt I feel when I think of Hossa, Savard, Kovy, Heatley, Burnette, Coburn, Zhitnick, ooops, scratch that last name.
Jon Contract…haha, remember how Detriot hosed us by “acting” they wanted that big goofball, so Atl. signed him for what, 12 years–25 million dollar. I guess he averaged 3 pts and 2 rebounds for his career. What suckers we were. Did Don Wadell run that franchise back then?????
Red Light
February 12th, 2010
3:36 pm
While Chicago takes on Johnsson’s balance of $1.483 million this year, he’s a UFA this summer, and they cleared $3 million and $3.25 million for the next two seasons from Barker’s contract. Some other deal must be coming after the break, but maybe the Sharp trade talks are over.
Badger Bob
February 12th, 2010
4:08 pm
Red Light – thanks for the Chicago trade heads up. They still have cap space issues and probably need to move about $3M more (Sharp, Versteeg or Byfuglien?). I’m not sure they do that until after the playoffs out of team chemistry concerns. I definitely want the Thrashers in the running for them.
Goober – good post. ben, can you grab a couple of your whiny buddies on the way out? Sage, for one. “If I’m leaving who else will be left by then to actually help the Thrash pay their bills in this city”. So you were their last paying fan??
Dwayne, when the pain gets too much in thinking about Savard, remember Calgary’s pain in giving him away (and giving Martin St Louis away, too). In thinking about Heatley, remember Ottawa’s pain in having to move him under far worse circumstances than we had. We are not alone. You still feel bad? Ya, me too…
HookyBob
February 12th, 2010
7:06 pm
Watch for #44 tonight in Blue. Arturs Kulda gets to launch his NHL career. I hope it is a long a rewarding one, especially for our franchise. He was impressive in training camp and I’m glad he finally gets his chance. I’m hoping to be reminded of Zubov and Gonchar.
Go # 44.
Speaking of D-Men. I don’t know much about Cam Barker, but I think the Blackhawks made their D stronger with the trade for Minnesota’s Kim Johnsson. I like Swedish D-men and he is a good one. I wish we had more,..and we’ve got two Swedish Olympians!!!
BTW: Did anyone notice the Ilya Nikulen is on the Russina Olympic team. Man if only we could have gotten him to cross the pond.
Go Blue,..beat the Wild. Go #44.
Brendan
February 12th, 2010
8:00 pm
Ben, hang in there. The team won’t stink forever. Eventually, someone who cares about this team will come to own it and care for it. And make it accountable. But until then, it’s under caretaker ownership, just trying to be “mediocre at best.” Any organization that sets out to be the #15 or #16 team in the NHL … has no business being in the NHL.
That’s how I see, anyway.
Witaker, here’s the truth I believe about winning, and the ripple effect of winning. Let’s imagine two very different scenarios. Still with me? In Scenario #1, Atlanta makes the playoffs every year for a DECADE, but never advances past the 1st round. Ohh, sometimes they have a 7-game series, here and there. But they always lose. In Scenario #2, Atlanta makes the playoffs three times every decade. But each time they do, they advance to the Conference Finals. Or better. Maybe, they even reach a Cup Finals.
Witaker, guess which scenario I think works best? Congratulations, if you picked scenario #2. Why? Once the team shows real promise, with real success, the fans are energized, filled with hope. One trip to the Finals can cultivate a fan for five (5) years until he finally quits on the team, if the team is then run by an incompetent boob after that. Even that berth in the Conference Finals plants a very real seed of growth. And once you’ve got the fan base BE-LIE-VING, you’ve crossed the goal line to pay dirt.
Why does Scenario #1 fall short? That one’s easy. No BELIEF. That’s where we are now. How many fans think this team is competently run? Well, that’s why someone, somewhere once made money off of pet rocks. In Scenario #1, even making the playoffs is pointless. The fans aren’t energized about what is tantamount to “welcome to NEXT YEAR’s beat down, same as last year’s beat down.” In that scenario, fans start calling into sports talk radio shows to ask the big question, “When will the organization bring in the personnel to take this club to the next level, and beyond?” I mean, playoffs are nice. But meaningless without the BELIEF that there’s a championship waiting at the end of the season.
For some perspective, Chicago hasn’t won a Cup in 49 years. They haven’t been to the Finals since 1992. The Toronto Maple Leafs haven’t been to the Finals in 43 years. And they’re the epicenter of the hockey universe. Don’t believe me? Just ask ‘em. The Boston Bruins haven’t won the Cup since 1972. That’s 38 years, folks. The Vancouver Canucks have NEVER won a Stanley Cup in their franchise history, dating back to 1969-70. That’s 40 years. Same deal as Buffalo. And the Washington Capitals haven’t ever won a Cup, either, dating back to 1974. Though, that could be changing very shortly. The St. Louis Blues haven’t been to a Finals since 1970, the famous “flight of Orr,” moment. The Blues have NEVER won a Cup in their history. The New York Rangers went Cupless for 54 years, between 1941 to 1994. For their fans, it seemed more like the drought the Cubs are still experiencing in baseball.
The lesson? It’s a BIG DEAL to win a Stanley Cup. It’s a BIG DEAL to even get there. The Leafs haven’t had a sniff since 1967. So, if the Thrashers could actually reach the CF a few times every decade, they’d actually be doing quite well. But it all starts with ownership. Err, comitted ownership. And that means accountability for results. What we’ve got is, “We’re 100% behind Waddell. He isn’t going anywhere.” Well, so much for accountability over no playoff wins … in a decade’s worth of seasons. It’s no wonder our newly acquired players say things like, “It is what it is.”
Brendan
February 12th, 2010
10:19 pm
Y’all saw Ilya Kovalchuk score the game-winning goal for the Devils tonight, vs. Nashville, right? Devils fans threw hats, as if he notched a ‘trick.