Archive for March, 2010

Ah yes…it’s St. Patties Day, me pals. Time to put on the greens and let the Irish in ye shine through like the mornin’ sun. Now, if I’m ta be honest ya, there isn’t as much as a drop of Irish blood pulsing through me veins… German/Austrian is the region my kin come from. But on the 17th of March it doesn’t make much difference, now does it?

No…today we are all as Irish as little a leprechaun. And I’m not talkin’ about that pip-squeak Martin St. Louis, either.

And ya know…every time we stumble across this time of year, I’m reminded of an old girlfriend of mine that I knew so many years ago when me pants were not so wide and me hair was just a wee bit fuller. She was a lovely gal with bright green eyes and locks of red hair that flowed in the breeze. She made the best Irish stew, did this beauty of a gal. She would get some meat and potatoes and some Guinness stout. She would serve up the stout…and toss away the stew.

Ryan Miller allowed 3 goals on 5 …

Continue reading Thrashers find four-leaf clover and pot a golden victory »

Like a doomed airplane spinning out of control due to its pilot and co-pilot becoming sick to the state of unconsciousness after eating tainted fish, the Atlanta Thrashers have fallen from the lofty altitude of playoff contention and are in grave danger of crash-landing into Lotterypickville.

Ah, Lotterypickville… It’s a rough place, the seediest dive on the wharf. Populated with every reject and cutthroat from Bombay to Calcutta. It’s worse than Detroit.

Most NHL franchises avoid this place at any cost. But not the Thrashers…they actually have a P.O. Box in the local post office.

Just a week and a half ago the Thrashers were riding a 4-0-2 wave after a 6-3 win over then Islanders on March 4, were resting in the 8th and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with 66 points and many were telling me that surely they were ready to make a run at the post-season.

Well, it appears they weren’t…and don’t call me Shirley!

Since that time Atlanta has gone 0-5-1, …

Continue reading Thrashers in grave danger of crash landing in Lotterypickville…again »

Thrasherville Times
- If it isn’t in the Thrasherville Times, it didn’t happen -
Sunday March 14, 2010

Before we spread this morning’s Thrasherville Times out all over the bed or breakfast table…or wherever else you take the Sunday morning paper… I’d like to take this opportunity to give a couple of shout outs to a pair of “Bobs” that frequent this little on-line forum.

Friday night I had the chance to meet BadgerBob as well as Bob…yes, the original “Bob” of this blog…while attending the game at Philips Arena. Oh, and I also had the distinct pleasure of also meeting the lovely and charming Mrs. Bob as well.

It was wonderful to have met ya all…and I certainly do hope to see you again soon.

And now, the March 14, 2010 edition of the Thrasherville Times…

Working On A Thrasherville Six-Pack

This afternoon the Thrashers will entertain the Phoenix Coyotes, who are 41-22-5 after winning in Carolina last night and currently hold the 4th position in the Western …

Continue reading Thrasherville Six-Pack & Seventh Man Suggestion in Today’s Thrasherville Times »

What a difference a week makes. Last Friday we in Thrasherville were riding a high…the team had just thumped the Islanders 6-3, they were sitting in eighth place in the east with 66 points and they had the playoffs within their grasp.

Keep the foot on the throttle, it was thought, and the playoffs are just around the corner.

Today…well, they are still stuck on Route 66 after dropping four consecutive games by the combined score of 14-4. As such, they now tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for 10th/11th place in the conference…sitting only two points away from 13th.

If they continue traveling on Route 66, they will more than likely run smack dab into downtown Lotteryville by the time we fight Monday morning traffic.

Now, regarding last night’s latest Thrashers disappointment…once again, John Anderson’s O-fense looked completely disorganized and discombobulated. It was as if they had just met each other Thursday morning and were still in the process of getting to know …

Continue reading Thrashers not getting their kicks on Route 66 »

With apologies to Ross Perot…that giant sucking sound you’re hearing is the noise being made by the Thrashers playoff chances flying out the window in rapid fashion. In the last three games, Atlanta has failed to secure nary a point and have been outscored 12-3 doing so. This after scrapping their way back into the playoff picture just prior to and after the Olympic break.

Tuesday night’s 2-1 loss to the Nashville Predator’s was the latest defeat in the Thrashers March from the Playoffs. And while the team’s play did not register near the level on the Suck-O-Meter as the last two games, it eared just as little in the standings and the weekend’s losses did.

Zilch.

Johan Hedberg got the start and stopped 30 of the 32 faced. He was beaten on a Ryan Suter power play goal…Colby Armstrong taking the skate of shame afterwards due to his interference infraction…and when Colin Wilson was left all alone with Hedberg thanks to Mark Popovic’s e-GREEEE-gious turnover inside …

Continue reading Ladies and gentlemen, the playoffs have left the building »

Sunday afternoon, as the Thrashers were in the process of dropping that giant steamer on the ice surface of Philips Arena, I had the pleasure of sitting on the end of the arena that Carolina defended twice. Normally I would call that the Thrashers’ “attack twice” side…but…sigh

Regardless, the position I took up allowed me to view the proceedings from behind the net Manny Legace was protecting for 2/3 of his 27-save shutout performance. As such, I couldn’t help but sarcastically utter to Smoothie and the Blueland Chronicle boys, “Gee, wouldn’t it be nice to have a goalie like him in a Thrashers uniform”.

Of course my tongue-in-cheek remark alludes back to last summer when Atlanta did indeed have the veteran Legace… who turn 37-years of age last month…in camp on a professional tryout. However, he was sent on his way in favor of Ondrej Pavelec, the Thrashers next “goalie of the future”, whom it was thought could handle the load while Kari Lehtonen was …

Continue reading How long will Thrashers wait on Pavelec? »

Ahhhh…what a BEEE-U-Tee-FUL pre-spring weekend we are enjoying in lovely Atlanta, eh? It’s the kind of weekend we get here in the south that makes you remember why it is we are so blessed to live in this region.

Yesterday, the tax-exemptions, the Dive Mrs. R and I dusted off the mower and lawn-tending equipment and got the yard work season off in fine fashion. What a gorgeous day for it…even got a little burn on the noggin to show for it.

And today…well, it looks to be equally as nice also.

I’m sure many of you will once again head to the great outdoors to soak in as much of this spring tease weather as you can before making your way to Philips Arena for this afternoon’s matchup with Carolina, but before you do…sit back, sip on the morning brew and enjoy this morning’s Sunday Thrasherville Times

Curses! Thrashers Niittymaki-ed Again

16-0-0, 1.74 GAA and a .940 SV%. Those were the numbers Antero Niittymaki put up against the Atlanta Thrashers during his career going into …

Continue reading Curses, chickens and the non-announcement featured in today’s Sunday Thrasherville Times »

That giant skid mark smeared all over the ice of Philips Arena was what remained of a New York Islanders team that are finding themselves falling father and farther out of the playoff picture. They came into Thursday night’s game losing seven of their last ten and the Thrashers, who have been heading in the opposite direction of late, took advantage of some early chances to push New York right out the back door…in the end, dropping them 6-3.

Playing major roles in flushing the Islander were newbies Evgeny Artyukhin, Clarke MacArthur, playing their first games as Thrashers, and Niclas Bergfors…a veteran on seven whole games now.

The Antropov-Little-Bergfors line was responsible for the first two goals. At 5:01 into the first period, Bergie notched the game’s first goal on a nice pass from the right side of the net by Little… Antropov earning the secondary assist.

That Bergie kid, all he does is score goals. He’s got four now in his seven games as a Thrasher.

Maxim …

Continue reading Newbies help Thrashers dispose of Islanders 6-3 »

OK…raise your hands if you thought the trade deadline would come and go Wednesday with Colby Armstrong, Pavel Kubina, Maxim Afinogenov, Christoph Schubert and Mark Popovic all remaining on the Atlanta Thrashers’ payroll?

looking around the blogosphere…uh-huh, not too many.

I didn’t add Kozlov in that list of players because, quite frankly, I didn’t hold any hope that anyone would make any real offer for him, even though he was willing to waive his no-trade clause.

As Don Waddell put it, “We never had a offer to bring him”.

Clarke MacArthur, seen here battling Sidney Crosby Tuesday night, has 13 golas and 13 assists in 60 games this season (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

However, like so many of you, I was somewhat surprised at yesterday’s lack of major moves by the Thrashers…but I have to admit, I’m absolutely OK with it. At the end of the day, it appears that the organization was not impressed enough by whatever offers they did receive for any of our players and …

Continue reading Thrashers employ ‘less is more’ thinking at trade deadline »

Well kids…its Wednesday March 3, 2010 and NHL Trade Deadline-A-Palooza 2010 is reaching its much-anticipated climax. Here in Thrasherville, we’ve already witnessed a few moves already by the organization…the trade that brought in Evgeny Artyukhin from the Ducks Monday night and the signing of Chris Chelios Tuesday. And while the Chelios move wasn’t necessarily a “trade”…it may be the precursor of something that will come down later today.

Does it mean somebody like Pavel Kubina or Ron Hainsey is being shipped out, and Chelios is heading this way to fill the roster spot? Or is it like what Don Waddell said…he’s simply there in case of an emergency situation. I guess time will tell.

As the day progresses, I will update this blog post with news related to any Thrashers trades and or any other news of interest. It’ll be down below under the heading “Trade Deadline Updates”.

Pavel Kubina battles Florida's Gregory Campbell along the boards Tuesday night. But …

Continue reading NHL Trade Deadline-A-Palooza 2010 »