Thrashers win eliminates Leafs – Sets up big finish
The penalty kill has been the most consistent aspect of this Atlanta Thrashers team of late. In fact, they are currently riding a streak of eight consecutive games in which they have not surrendered a power play goal. The last time they failed, in fact, was back on the 16th of the month when Jason Pominville made Evgeny Artyukhin pay for his slashing penalty during the first period of Atlanta’s 4-3 win against the Sabres.
They killed of the subsequent two Sabre man advantages that night…then all four against Ottawa…all three against the Flyers at home as well as all three in Philly…both during the shutout loss to Boston…the one and only last week against the Leafs…all four against the Canes in Carolina up there…all three when the Canes came here Monday night…and then both Tuesday night up in Toronto.
That’s an even two dozen straight successful penalty kills.
And none was more important than the last one, which came with exactly two minutes remaining in the third period and the Thrashers up by one. Jimmy Slater was whistled for the tripping infraction…prompting the latest John Anderson F-bomb dropping while the cameras were closed in. It was as big a PK situation as they’ve face all season. Fail and risk losing in OT and fall another point behind in the standings. Kill it, and keep hope alive.
And kill it they did, and they secured points number 79 and 80 on the season to keep pace with the Boston Bruins who where in the process of beating New Jersey in overtime. It is only the third time in the Thrashers’ ten seasons of play that they have reached the 80-point mark.
Not to be overlooked here is the work between the pipes by Ondrej Pavelec…stopping 27 of 29 shots faced for his 14th win on the year. In his last four starts, Opie is 2-0-2 with a .949 SV%.
The kid has looked real good of late…solid work in goal, good positioning and not a lot of ugly rebounds.
Maxim Afinogenov notch goal number 23 to open the scoring at the 6:18 mark of the second period…tying his career high set in the 2006-07 season. 46 seconds later it was Evgeny Artyukhin hooking up with Marty Reasoner on a two-on-one break to make the score 2-0. It was R2’s fourth goal since coming over from Anaheim earlier in the month.
But it was Nic Antropov proving the game-winner in the third just 57 seconds after Toronto tied the score. Nic tipped in a Ron Hainsey shot for his 24th of the year…he is now just two shy of his career mark of 26 set two seasons ago while with the Maple Leafs.
As it turns out, that goal…scored by the former Maple Leaf…provided the loss that officially eliminated Toronto from the playoffs. It also brought a chorus of boos from Leafs fans.
“It’s OK. They can do whatever they want”, Antropov said of the jeers from the stands. “We got two points, and that’s all that matters”.
Regarding the fact that his goal led to the Leafs’ official elimination from post-season play, Nic quipped, “That’s good to hear”.
And so…it comes to this. The Thrashers with 80 points now trail Boston, Philly and Montreal by 2 points. The three hold the last three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference. However, the Thrashers have five remaining on the schedule while the trio of teams they are chasing have six left.
The Rangers, also with a game in hand, have 78 points after their 4-3 win on Lonnnnn-Gisland.
And the five remaining are those we looked at last summer when the schedule came out and thought to ourselves, “Dang…I sure hope it doesn’t come down to those games to make the playoffs”.
But indeed, that is the situation Thrasherville finds itself in.
As I opined following the 4-1 loss to Carolina, I believe that loss sent the playoff chances up in smoke…because even with the win in Toronto, I still think they have to win a minimum of four games of those five to have a chance. That’s a very tall order indeed, especially for this Jekyll and Hyde team.
But regardless, here we are after 77 games played…after a 0-6-3 nine-game Holiday losing streak…after a 0-5-1 six-game March meltdown…after a 8-7-1 overall month of March…after all of that, here we are with a chance to make these five games in April mean something.
And we don’t have to even wait until Thursday for a game that means a lot to the Thrashers. Tomorrow night Montreal hosts Carolina…so, tomorrow night we become Caniacs. Then, as we watch the thrashers and Caps on April fools day…we keep an eye on the Islanders vs. Flyers game…go Isles! Friday night the Habs and Philly play…so someone gets a pair of points there, we just hope a third point isn’t doled out because of overtime.
But back to the Thrashers…they need some help and they’re gonna have to beat some good teams to get in, so it’s still looks tough. But hey…like the old saying goes, “That’s why they play the games”.
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90 comments Add your comment
Red Light
March 31st, 2010
12:32 pm
And, this team is void of a captain-type. They are either too young, not talented enough or too European to lead by example on a nightly basis. So, do you trade or sign a player who can be that type of leader? Yes!
Badger Bob
March 31st, 2010
12:35 pm
Good thought on urgency for captaincy, WBF. Antro for C, with Marty being the second choice. Naming a captain last year helped put a charge in us. How about doing that before the five games that could salvage our season?
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
12:46 pm
Red Light-While I may agree, I think the coach and players need to come to some final determination.
Badger-we can never say enough about Marty, another good season. What a pass yesterday to arty on the 2nd goal. He just goes about his work.
Let’s turn our attention to Mary Ann Hossa. Hossa left the Wings this summer, chasing his vision of the Stanley Cup to Chicago. While Marian is actually playing pretty well, Chicago is a dog out of the Olympic break. Maybe it’s the loss of Campbell or finding out Joel Quennville is not a top tier coach, but the Hawks are pretty average right now. In turn, Hossa’s most recent former team, the Red Wings have their injured players back. Most importantly, the Wings have their hockey mojo back.
It would be great to see Detroit advance, beat Chicago or San Jose (Heatley) and get to the finals.
rob
March 31st, 2010
12:50 pm
Well yet another reason to believe huh? Good win last night, team battled back nicely and got the win. Pavs has improved a little, but I still think he is putting himself out of postion too much as he goes sliding across, and then out of, the crease. He’s got a few wins again which is good, but I hope that someone is working with him A LOT. Artyukin has to be a bright spot so far, and watching him I don’t think it is a fluke. The penalty last night at the end was HORRIBLE after they let so much go both ways around the midpoint of the 3rd. Call it all along or don’t freakin call it at all!!! Morons. I can only wonder at what JA told the ref during their “handshake” afterwards. I would certainly hope it would have led Savannah to have a few more drinks compliments of JA!!!
LET’S GO THRASHERS!!!!
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
12:50 pm
Badger Bob – I’d be delighted to look back at my spreadsheet to see how the numbers shake out, but I might need some help compiling the numbers for San Jose, Chicago and Washington.
In the first 24 games, when we had our high-water mark record of 14 – 7 – 3, we were held to 2 or fewer goals in regulation only 6 times. Strangely, only thrice were we losers with a record of 3 – 2 – 1 and two shutouts of Det (2 – 0) and Philly (1 – 0). Alas, in October & Nov, stellar goaltending often bailed us out when the offense wasn’t clicking. Problem is we were giving up an avg of 35.25 shots per game!
In December, Pavelec grew weary and started to balk between the pipes with an eye-poppingly bad save % of 85.9 and a GAA of 5.29!! The offense started to screach to a halt as well as the team was “shut-down” (2 or fewer goals) 8 out of the next 15 games (in December) starting when they hit the West Coast. In those 8 games, their record was 2 – 6 – 0 with 2 amazing performances by Moose to steal a couple. Over the other 7 games, they scored 27 goals (3.85) but their record wasn’t much better at 2 – 4 – 1. Jekyll & Hyde were manifesting their split personality during the month of December.
So far, they were held to 2 or fewer 14 times and their record was a very pedestrian 5 – 8 – 1. The bigger problem was the number of times we lost scoring 3 or more goals in December…5 times. Strangely, the avg number of shots against went down to 32.33, but so did our record to 18 – 17 – 4 after 39 games.
In January, fortunes gradually started to change, but only slightly. We started with 2 OTL in games against NYI & BUF in which we scored 8 total goals. But the record for the month was only 6 – 5 – 4 as they yo-yoed back and forth between offensive juggernaut and offensive head-case. In the 6 wins, we scored 22 goals and scored over 2 four of those 6 times. Moose stole a couple from NYR the night of the ice storm and again against AHM in late January. In the 5 reg losses, we managed just 8 goals and lost 4 of 5 because we were held to 2 or fewer goals. Well, not really because we allowed 18 reg goals in those 4 games.
So that’s 8 more games of 2 goals or fewer and a paltry record of 2 – 4 – 2 for a cumulative record of 7 – 12 – 3 in 22 games of scoring 2 or fewer. Our overall record at the end of January was 24 – 22 – 8 so we were 17 – 10 – 5 in games in which we managed 3 or more goals….hmmmm.
February: 2 – 0 – 2 when 3 or more; 0 – 2 – 0 in 2 or less. That makes us 7 – 14 – 3 in games of 2 or fewer goals scored. 19 – 10 – 7 in the other 36 games. A definite trait has been embedded in our team DNA.
March: a perfect 8 – 0 – 0 when scoring 3 or more; a lousy 0 – 7 – 2 when scoring only 2 or fewer…HELLO SCHIZOPHRENIA!!!
So on the year, that makes us 7 – 21 – 5 when scoring 2 or fewer goals and a whopping 27 – 10 – 7 when we score at least 3 goals. I don’t know how that compares to other high-scoring teams in the league but I’m gonna say that it doesn’t compare favorably. We are certainly living and dying by the ‘3′ in the game of hockey. If we don’t get there, and you can thank the lousy PP, then we lose. We have 48 PPG out of 77 games and I’d be willing to bet that most of the games we didn’t score on the PP, we were stuck at 1 or 2 goals in tight games.
There’s your identity…erratic goaltending, inconsistent offense and a miserably incompetent power play for the last 2/3 of the year.
TableHockey
March 31st, 2010
12:51 pm
Falconer over at Bird Watchers Anonymous just posted an interesting table of what it will take for ATL to get to the post-season. I’m thinking we go 2-2-1 or maybe, just maybe 2-1-2 which would require one of the teams we are chasing to go a miserable 1-6-0.
http://www.birdwatchersanonymous.com/2010/3/31/1398654/playoff-standing-not-as-close-as
Red Light
March 31st, 2010
12:52 pm
Thrashers all-time record vs teams in the upcoming situation (home/away).
8-15-3-3 at Washington
4-13-0-2 at Pittsburgh
5-12-2 New Jersey
6-11-0-2 Pittsburgh
Red Light
March 31st, 2010
12:55 pm
Great stuff Smoothie. Thanks!
R. Stroz
March 31st, 2010
1:52 pm
All I can picture is Waddell sitting in each office each summer doing his version of Maggie the Monkey
Are you sure he’s not spanking the monkey and asking where his red stapler is?
Badger Bob
March 31st, 2010
1:57 pm
Wow, Smoothie – nice!
A quick comparison with San Jose: They are 43-4-3 in games where they score 3+; 4-15-7 in games where they score 2 or fewer. So their offence sputters 34% of the time, just a little less frequently than ours (42%), and both team have an identical 0.288 winning percentage in those games. The big difference – they have a stellar 0.890 winning percentage in 3+ goal games, compared to our 0.678. I think I just talked myself in to signing Nabokov!
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
2:04 pm
Smoothie-you are going to give Brendan a run for his money when it comes to details and facts.
R. Stroz
March 31st, 2010
2:11 pm
Way back in the Atlanta Flames days, the Flames had a player that really didn’t fit into the mold the physical Flames teams, however, he performed well with one exceptional 50 goal season.
In many ways, Max reminds me of that player, Guy Chouinard. So as long as there is some beef to surround a player like Max, I think he will prosper.
I’m for continuing to give Max a chance.
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
2:19 pm
No problem guys…my pleasure. Excel spreadsheets are wonderful!!
I’ve got more to come to support my theory that our PP woes has killed our post-season hopes. I figure it has cost us at least 6 games and that would be the difference between 80 and 90 points. I guess we’re more like San Jose than I thought and it certainly would’ve helped to have Nabakov instead of Pavelec in December! Hell, I think Adam Berkhoel or Mike Dunham might have done better than Pavs that month!
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
2:30 pm
Stroz-stick Curt Bennett with him?
Smoothie-saw McIntyre give up a behind the net goal the other day in the AHL game on NHL Network. He’ll be our #1 next year for sure, backed up by Damien Rhodes or Cassivi.
R. Stroz
March 31st, 2010
3:22 pm
WBF – Curt Bennett was one of my favorite Flames. Did you know he used to fight with his gloves on because he’d use the gloves to cut the other player’s face?
Bennett was a proud martial arts expert.
OLDE TIME HOCKEY!
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
3:35 pm
yeah I knew he “knew” what he was doing!
As a Sabres fan in the 70’s, I hated playing the Flames, but I loved their style and character. From Danny Bouchard on out, they were a fun team to watch.
Except for Noel Price, who moved with the speed of growing wood. Gilbert Perrault used to race around Price like he was standing still.
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
3:39 pm
In the first 24 games, the team scored 21 PPG vs 15 PPG allowed. A +6 advantage and a record of 14 – 7 – 3 overall. In one-goal games — including games with EN clinchers — they were a very respectable 9 – 5 – 3. While they PP goal differential helped them win 6 of those 9, and lose 3 of those 5, it was more a matter of slow starts that killed them in late October and cost them a chance to be 16 – 4 – 4 instead of what they were, which wasn’t bad. So, in those 17 1-goal games, a PPG was the difference in the game 9 times, and 6 of the 9 worked in their favor.
In the next 24 games, they scored only 13 PPG vs a whopping 21 PPG allowed. A -8 disadvantage certainly contributed to a lousy overall record of 7 – 13 – 4. In one-goal games, they were 6 – 6 – 4, but the PP differential was the difference-maker in only 5 of the 16 contests. However, in those games in which they failed to score a PPG, their record was only 3 – 5 – 0. So they squandered opportunites to tie a game or force OT in at least 5 games.
In the most recent 29 games, they have only scored 16 PPG vs a total of 20 PPG for a -4 differential. They are 13 – 11 – 5 over that stretch of games and 7 – 4 – 5 in the one-goal games played during the same period. In those 16 one-goal games, the PP differential was the difference in winning or forcing OT 7 times. 4 of the 7 times the PP diff helped them secure wins while 3 of the 7 cost them at least a point. Unfortunately, 2 of those 3 were crucial games after the Olympic break in which they dropped 2 – 1 decisions to NSH and CBJ.
Overall, the Thrashers’ record in one-goal games is a respectable 22 – 15 – 12 for a points earned percentage of .571, which would be good for 94 points over 82 games. So while they managed to overcome some of their PP scoring woes, it still has cost them points in roughly 10 – 12 games throughout the season. Even if they had earned wins in 4 of those with a PPG and a couple more OT loser points, they would be sitting at 90 points rather than the 80 they have now.
When you add it all up, it looks like the inconsistency of the PP as well as the PK units inefficiency during shorter stretches of time may have cost the Thrashers at least 4 – 6 wins / or OT loser points at the very least. But then again, there are probably another 8 or 10 teams who could probably say the same thing right now.
Obviously, two protracted losing streaks cost this team a playoff berth. We can only hope that it is the sort of inconsistency bread from youthful inexperience and not fitful incompetence. The fact that they’ve scored over 3 goals as many times as they have says otherwise, but we are obviously still a few pieces away from being a bona fide playoff contender. Perhaps we’ll get those pieces this summer and we can have this discussion as it relates to our seeding of 5th or 6th versus 2nd or 3rd.
Alan R.
March 31st, 2010
3:55 pm
OLDE TIME HOCKEY!
Like Eddie Shore!
Somaatl95
March 31st, 2010
4:33 pm
http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-hawks/hawks-hope-lakers-don-420326.html
Wow, the Hawks Coach worries about “Fairweather Fans” in Philips.
Welcome to the club, bub. He wants to see how bad it can get at Philips he should watch the upcoming Pens game when every “Fairweather” fan around will be practically orgasmic when Sid “Yes I call this a mustache” Crotchby touches the ice with his evil little skates.
I went to one of those a cpl of months ago. Never again. Not until we have a winning team when THRASHERS fans are either there because of our record being good or we are the defending cup champions. This town should boo Pittsburgh. Maybe if they changed from the Pens to the Pirates this town would boo and laugh…
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
4:56 pm
Weird stat of the day:
Thrashers are 12 – 2 – 3 when allowing 38 or more shots by their opponent. They are 5 – 1 – 1 when allowing more than 40 shots.
Rightshot
March 31st, 2010
6:05 pm
Had to share this with ya’ll
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Blackhawks-fans-snort-in-disgust-at-Toews-pig-no?urn=nhl,231193
I apologize if I did the link incorrectly.
Red Light
March 31st, 2010
6:46 pm
World Be Free:
Price was already 36-37 the year he first came to the Flames. You want to talk about perseverance? Take a look at his career!
http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=4382
Hanson Brothers
March 31st, 2010
9:07 pm
Smoothie: It is a weird stat, but one I have noticed all year long, just didn’t know the official numbers. Thanks for that. Do you know what the record is when we out shoot the opponents. Bet it is a losing record.
Rawhide
March 31st, 2010
9:29 pm
It’s a final in Montreal…Canes 2 Habs 1. So once again the Thrashers get some much-needed help. Now they have to go take care of business themselves.
lola
March 31st, 2010
9:34 pm
Rightshot: Hello! Thanks for making me a star! And yes, your link worked fine.
StateBird
March 31st, 2010
10:18 pm
While I was disappointed in our effort Monday against Carolina I found room to admire the Canes young talent and style of play. Both of those were on display again tonight in Montreal.
Unlike the Thrashers the Canes do not allow opponents time and space (especially on the PP) and they continue to carry the play when ahead by a single goal late in a game. But I really like they way they avoid rimming the puck in the defensive end at every opportunity they way the Thrashers do. I consciencely counted the times they rimmed the puck in the 3rd period against an aggressive Habs team — 0. Everything was either passed out or pushed ahead on the strong side. Hainsey (and JA) could take some lessons.
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
10:20 pm
Yeah I know Price was an oldie, like by buddie Leland “Keekie” Mortsen” and “Boom Boom Caron. Those guys were gypsies.
Now we are chasing Montreal, who plays the Buffalo Saturday night.
That means Rawhide gets to cheer for the Sabres AGAIN!
Bill, let’s hear a big “Let’s go Buffalo!”
Brendan
March 31st, 2010
10:46 pm
WBF, are you proud of your Sabres climbing up to 2nd place, with that win over Florida, coupled with the 2-0 blanking of the Penguins by the Bolts? What a finish this will be.
I just peeked at the Red Wings schedule. Thud. They get to feast on the Columbus Blue Jackets three (3) more times! Plus, they get imploding Philly. That’s eight points, right there. And they also play Nashville and Chicago. I think that means that it’ll be the Coyotes and the Red Wings as the #4 vs. #5 matchup. Dang it. I want Phoenix-Nashville!!
World Be Free
March 31st, 2010
10:55 pm
Brendan, gotta give Detroit credit. I have to admit I am not a Wings fan, but they are peaking at the right time. They remind alot of pittsburgh last year.
Sabres are playing well too, Nathan Gerbe and Tyler Ennis will be pushing for regular jobs next year.
That’s what good organizations do-have kids pushing in the minors to take over for the UFAs that cycle out of the organization. And you have to make spots for these kids, especially when they have nothing left to prove in the minors. Getting Raffi Torres back helps too.
R. Stroz
March 31st, 2010
11:07 pm
That means Rawhide gets to cheer for the Sabres AGAIN!
Bill, let’s hear a big “Let’s go Buffalo!”
Irony sure can have a sense of humor.
R. Stroz
March 31st, 2010
11:09 pm
Smoothie – Thanks for asking yesterday.
My vocal cords and Don Rickles mentality are back at full tilt.
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
11:13 pm
Let’s go Buffalo!!
I think I would love it more if the Habs miss the playoffs more than I want the Thrashers to make it. Muck Fontreal!
Smoothie
March 31st, 2010
11:14 pm
Damm that was well written on my part, wasn’t it?
Brendan
March 31st, 2010
11:18 pm
Definitely, WBF. Even the most ardent Sabre-hater simply must recognize that the Buffalo Sabres are excellent at “player development.” But where they are lacking, in my opinion, not trying to start a war, is in the core area of “player retention.” Instead of always talking about Briere, Dumont, and Drury, I’ll offer up a new “Exhibit A and B.” I can’t help but notice that Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder are pending UFA’s. Well, just like with Drury and Briere, at least ONE (1) of them must be retained. Why haven’t contract negotiations been underway? Not just now, but all season long, and back to July 1, 2009.
Buffalo cannot simply let important pieces of their resurgence to the playoffs walk out the door. It’s taken two (2) years just to get back to the playoffs, for the Sabres. I can see them not wanting to get into a contract “war” … as that might affect the player’s play on the ice. But really, I think it’s irresponsible not to have these guys locked up by Christmas. And if you don’t want to keep them, they had to be moved at the trade deadline. As it stands now, they can both walk for nothing. Oh, maybe some team with cap issues might flip some bad contracts Buffalo’s way, if they want either Tallinder or Lydman.
I don’t think it’s Darcy Regier, either. Contract problems usually trace their way directly to Larry Quinn, an idiot that Tom Golisano entrusts with responsibility. Which makes Golisano an idiot, too. Right. No argument. Anyone who lets Larry Quinn makes decision deserves the failure that follows.
Rawhide
March 31st, 2010
11:31 pm
WBF & R. Stroz – Man…if I have to be a Sabres fan any more this season, I’m gonna need a lot more Pepto Bismol.
lola
April 1st, 2010
12:03 am
Rawhide: And pink isn’t your color
Dwayne
April 1st, 2010
5:52 am
I can cheer for Buffalo, easy with Ryan Miller in goal, to hell with(some of) their stink a$$ fans though. Does Atlanta lay an egg for easter tonight? Lets hope not. I will miss the last 4 games of the season, heading to Indianapolis for the NCAA final 4 Championship, will keep up with the Thrashers via internet, and of course you guys. Go Thrashers.
World Be Free
April 1st, 2010
8:08 am
Brendan, I think you have hit the nail on the head with the Sabres. They are pretty good at player recognition and development. Tyler Myers was “missed” by 11 other clubs and the Sabres traded up to get him. They have had their share of flops too.
But they missed the boat on Briere and Drury. Not that either is a superstar, but both fit into the Buffalo system. They were playmakers in Buffalo and you cannot find enough of playmakers. Without playmakers, Buffalo is just a good team with a great goalie. I see them going to round 2 of the playoffs at best.
And you are correct on Regier, I don’t think it is his doing. Most of the lack or retention goes on Golisano and Quinn, becuase they just don’t get it. The arena is full every night with paying customers, so why should they care?
Thrashers are forced to “cheer” for other teams like Buffalo because they haven’t taken care of business on their own. I said it the other day-our season will be defined by the 5 out of 6 points we failed to secure against Boston, Carolina and Toronto.
Stroz-go on youtube and search for some of the old Rickles clips,especially on the Dean Martin roasts. They are classics! He and Rodney are the best!
World Be Free
April 1st, 2010
8:09 am
Let’s practice our cheer-
“Let’s go Buff-a-lo (clap, clap, clap clap clap)”
Simple Mathematics
April 1st, 2010
9:07 am
Shoot the puck = Happy Ending