Pavelec returns while Mason continues crash course in being Thrashers goalie
The fourth weekend of the Thrashers 2010-11 campaign is upon us, and with it comes the fourth straight Friday/Saturday back to backer. Tonight will see the 3-6-1 Buffalo Sabres returning to Thrasherville for the second time in a week and a half. Tomorrow night will be in St. Louis where the 5-1-2 Blues will be waiting. They blanked the Nashville Predators Thursday nigh behind Jaroslav Halak’s 24-save effort.
Halak is now 5-1-1 with an impressive 1.55 GAA and .939 SV%. He also has a pair of shutouts as well. The Blues’ netminder has benefited from playing behind a defense that has allowed a league-low 25.5 shots on goal per game.
As we in Thrasherville are painfully aware of, not all goalies are so fortunate.
With all that in mind, as the weekend’s action unfolds, one place on the ice I’m going to be paying a little more attention to than usual is the blue area just in front of the Thrashers’ goal. I’ll be doing so for two different reasons on both nights.
The area in front of Chris Mason's goal has been a very busy place this fall. The Thrashers netminder has faced an NHL-high 311 shots so far (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
First off, Chris Mason will be making his ninth start in ten games this evening. But in reality it will be his tenth consecutive game seeing how he played in all but the first couple of minutes of the season opener. He was, however, relieved after one period of play last Friday after Tampa Bay had built a 3-0 lead.
I’ve been hearing and reading concerns that Mason’s high GAA so far this season is the result of being overworked. As stated above, he has started eight of the nine games plus 57-plus minutes of the one he didn’t begin the game in. But it’s not just total ice time at play here.
The veteran netminder has had a crash course these past three weeks on just what being a Thrashers goalie can mean. Mason has had to face an NHL-high 311 shots during the first month of the season. Anaheim’s Jonas Hiller is second on that list with 294 total shots against…and he’s played in 10 games so far.
Third on the list, someone who is very familiar with this extreme SA/G dilemma…Kari Lehtonen, who has seen 283 shots so far during 531:49 TOI. His record is now 5-4-0 with a 2.93 GAA and .908 SV%.
To put the workload of Atlanta’s keeper in some perspective, facing 311 shots in 501:06 TOI is being forced to stop a puck every 96 or 97 seconds. And, if you break his ice time down into 60-minute increments, Mason has been facing 37.3 SA/G.
That’s way too many, (DUH5).
If I may take liberties with a line from the late, great Madeline Kahn in her role as Lili von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles…”Let’s face it boys, this goalkeeper is tired! Give him a break…don’t you know he’s poop?”
In contrast to Mason’s miseries, Halak has faced 179 shots during 424:36 TOI. That means he’s been called upon to kick out the puck once every two 2:25 or so, which equates to having just under 25 shots taken on him every 60 minutes worth of play.
Wednesday night in New York, though, the Thrashers did provide their goalie with a bit of relief, allowing only 28 SOG and Mason was able to turn aside 24 of them in the 6-4 win. This is made even more impressive when you considered that Atlanta was outshot 7-1 in the first several minutes of the opening period. They outshot them 26-21 from that point on.
Limiting the Rangers to but one power play chance certainly helped matters.
Then there will be Saturday night’s return of Ondrej Pavelec, who coach Craig Ramsay has said will be ‘tween the pipes tomorrow night. If so, it’ll be the first time since the young Czech fainting shortly after the puck dropped on opening night.
While very happy that Pavs is well enough to resume play, once back on the ice my focus will once again turn to his performance during games. Opie entered the season with some doubts circling around him regarding his NHL “readiness”, as his career 20-28-7, 3.32 GAA and .902 SV% would attest. But he finished off training camp/preseason on a positive note, stopping 28 of 30 he shots faced in Carolina in his last exhibition start and 29 of 31 before that in Nashville.
However, last Wednesday Opie played in Chicago during a conditioning start with the Wolves. He allowed 3 goals on 22 shots during the 4-1 loss to the Oklahoma City Barons. Not exactly the “springboard” one would want to re-enter NHL play on.
But I temper that with what the whole meaning to the start was for, “conditioning”… to see if he’s physically ready to play again.
Regardless, having him cleared to play again is obviously great news. The sooner he gets back on the ice during an NHL game, the sooner this whole bizarre fainting episode can be placed behind him and things can return to some sense of “normalcy”…for Opie and the team.
If nothing else, having Pavelec back will allow Ramsay to provide Mason with a bit of rest from time to time, as was the plan prior to opening night’s odd occurrence.
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235 comments Add your comment
hip czech
October 29th, 2010
3:57 pm
What are streaming options for watching Thrashers games? Anyone have a good link?
This really blows not being able to see games because of the Fox/Dish squabble.
Old Buffalo stories (my college roommate was from Hamburg)…lots of Bills games, especially the Monday Night variety (plenty of boda bags and Molson Bradors when we could make a run). We had the sign that had the nice ABC logo with the letters saying ‘Always Better Coverage’ on one side and when the cameraman told us to come down the aisle and we saw the redlight go on we flipped the sign down to show ‘Anyone But Cosell’.
I actually liked the Aud, saw some great concerts there, alas, only one Sabres game back in 1987 or so. For some reason I never latched onto Buffalo teams though.
World Be Free
October 29th, 2010
4:01 pm
DWTOO-most of us are cordial, but we have our share of a-holes too.
JF-Big Russ is a great book and we do need somer hits tonight. Sabres are not physcial and that drives Sabres’ fans nuts. They need to get Ted Nolan back behind the bench.
cliff
October 29th, 2010
4:09 pm
http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/best-cities-to-move-to-in-america.html
Not that I would move there anytime soon…..
Red Light
October 29th, 2010
4:19 pm
Talk about soft?
Ted Nolan: 73-72-19 in two seasons
Barnaby, May and Ray combined for 917 PIMs in 1995-96 and 641 PIMs in 1996-97
Lindy Ruff: 486-367-78-63 in 12+ seasons
By contrast, the entire Sabres team had 1,105 PIMs two seasons ago and just 902 PIMs last season
Red Light
October 29th, 2010
4:33 pm
I have absolutely no feel for tonight’s game. I know the Sabres have Shaone Morrisonn and Adnrej Sekera back, but Pominville was sent back to Buffalo because he failed his neuro-pysch test and will be re-examined by doctors there.
I think this will be a close battle because the Sabres are well rested and have been here for two days. Could be free hockey at the end of regulation!
Buffalo Joe
October 29th, 2010
4:43 pm
Tommy Boy : will you be watching the game with all your “pals” over at BullDogs Tavern ? That’s what I sense when I read your posts.
iamtheratio
October 29th, 2010
4:58 pm
You guys think the game tonight will be sold out? I’m thinking about going, but I haven’t gotten tickets yet and I’ll get there probably around 6:45/7:00…
Tom Lysiak
October 29th, 2010
5:09 pm
Joey – Not sure what or where the “BullDogs Tavern” is, but obviously you do. Say hi to your buds there.
I’ll be watching it live. Enjoy the game and the view from last place sucker.
litz
October 29th, 2010
5:19 pm
sold out?
hehehehe ….
(sorry) (not)
Your Mammy
October 29th, 2010
6:03 pm
I must say this about Mason…I think he has the BEST Thrashers goalie mask to date…its perfect….much better than those weird comic cartoons that Lehtonen always had on on his.
glovesave29
October 29th, 2010
7:56 pm
Fox / Dish dispute is resolved. Watching game on TV again…but considering radio as the team looks pretty bad right now. Looks like a crowd of 8,000.
Mason’s mask is boring.
Matt
October 29th, 2010
8:17 pm
I see that we have continued our pathetic defense and inability to get OUT OF OUR OWN END!!! Sad that I can actually watch this game and have turned it off already. Pitiful.
Michael
October 29th, 2010
8:18 pm
Thrashers look terrible ofcourse..
Stendec, where you at?
kbatch
October 29th, 2010
8:37 pm
Well that period was a steamy pile of Islanders logo…
glovesave29
October 29th, 2010
9:16 pm
Heckuva 2nd!
Curly
October 29th, 2010
9:17 pm
For those of you that turned the TV or turned the channel, you might want to tune in. Thrashers have tied it in the second period. Both Antro and Burmi get their first goals of the season; Burmi’s first NHL goal. Burmi was so excited it looked like he won the lottery!
Russian
October 29th, 2010
9:24 pm
Russian Rules. Antro and Burmy – SCORED.
Let’s Go Thrashers. Kill Bulls.
Michael
October 29th, 2010
10:06 pm
absolute joke…stendec brother where u at?
Curly
October 29th, 2010
10:09 pm
Thrashers had it won in regulation, and Mason decides to go play the puck behind the net with 10 seconds left. He can’t get set back in the crease and the Sabres score with seven seconds left. Mason has to stay in the net when the opposition has an extra skater on the ice (especially with 10 seconds left in the game).
stendek
October 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
Screw Marshmallow Mason! Damn Sori Letemin understudy. Team got baldheaded bestard off hook after two giveaway goals then a$$hole vacants net for tying goal with less than 10 seconds to play. What a damn loser! Trade his untalented a$$. Or cut him! Thrashers choke on home ice. Again! Totally worthless and heartless. OT win. Whoop de doo! Marshmallow man gets reprieve! Hate USA Olympic bust Crying Ryan anyway. Pity point never should have been surrendered! STENDEK
Curly
October 29th, 2010
10:16 pm
What a great goal by Buff to win it in OT! End to end highlight reel goal!
stendek
October 29th, 2010
10:17 pm
Right here Michael! Aggravated as ever bro. Almost defeat from jaws of victory buddy. STENDEK
Curly
October 29th, 2010
10:19 pm
What do you posters think about the new Ole-Ole Spanish soccer song played after goals this year?
Personally, I can’t stand it. This is Hockey not Soccer. (Even though I think it is played at Montreal Canadian games).
stendek
October 29th, 2010
10:20 pm
Marshmallow Mason CANNOT surrender that third goal! Not if Thrashers are going to emerge as contendfers from laughingstocks. Two points. Way got two points hurts. Hated those New York shets got point! Damn. STENDEK
Thrashy Thrashy
October 29th, 2010
10:23 pm
I didn’t have these guys pegged to be 5-4-1 through the first ten games, so despite the way in which they’ve done it, I’m pleasantly surprised.
Curly
October 29th, 2010
10:24 pm
The Origin of Olé: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_does_the_song_ole_ole_ole_ole_come_from
Curly
October 29th, 2010
10:29 pm
I hope Brian Little’s face is OK after it was cut when he was checked into the base of the boards early in the first period. He did not return to the game.
Thrashers27
October 29th, 2010
10:46 pm
Curly has given me reason behind my annoyance, Stendek is drunk (go figure) and the Thrashers played a good game. The last second goal by Buffalo was dissapointing, but WOW! that was one hell of a goal by Buff!
Listening to coach now. Hearing about how Sopel railed the team in the first intermission. I’m glad to hear he’s contributing in that manner.
If we see a continuation of tonight’s performance in St. Louis, I’ll be ready to believe in this team again.
HookyBob
October 29th, 2010
10:49 pm
Brendan,…you know I think Dustin is giving Ladd a good run, albeit a late run, for “player of the month.” Hopefully, both will play well tomorrow night and one of them will have an superior game to settle it. Two ex-Blackhawks battling it out. Good job on those additions Mr Dudley. IDWT.
So Dustin lines up on D,..but I’m starting to think that is to fool folks,..maybe he’s really playing forward. Perhaps R&D (that would be Ramsay & Dudley) felt Buf had some “Mike Green like” offense from the back line and had the fortitude to do a little “research & development” to test their theory. At 100 Kilos,….coming hard, Buf gets lots of room to work.
Go Blue,..lets get Pavs a win tomorrow night.
Midfield
October 29th, 2010
11:09 pm
Curly, a hockey goal should be accompanied something like an old Hair of the Dog theme by Nazareth. You know, ‘now you’re messing with the SOB’…
Curly
October 29th, 2010
11:14 pm
“So Dustin lines up on D,..but I’m starting to think that is to fool folks,..maybe he’s really playing forward”
That’s a good one HB. I don’t think Buff knows himself. But he should keep it up!
Curly
October 29th, 2010
11:16 pm
Sounds good to me Midfield. I’m also happy with the “traditional” Whoo- hoo” song.
Poor Ol' Family Man
October 29th, 2010
11:26 pm
Mason, Mason, Mason…..What are you doing with 15 sec left in the game, a 1 pt lead and the other team with an empty net? Sorry, but that was no “veteran” move. That was just stupid! Should’ve never gone to OT and you can’t blame THAT on poor defense in front of the net. It was a giveaway by the goalie all the way…
And deep-six the ole, ole, ole song. It’s the CANADIEN’S song for crying out loud! Why do we have to copy some other team? If we aren’t creative enough to come up with our own scoring song, then at least just stick with Song 2 (even though it was the Flyer’s song for so long and the Hurricanes use it too!)
I just hope they don’t start playing Chelsea Dagger after every goal!!!
R. Stroz
October 29th, 2010
11:39 pm
Buffalo Sucks!
Badger Bob
October 29th, 2010
11:45 pm
Chill out, guys – if Mason doesn’t do that, then Buff doesn’t get his dramatic highlight reel goal to win it! Love screaming in Slug fans faces after they’d been screaming in mine just minutes earlier.
And hats off to my tax exemption, who helped us win the “Name That Tune” contest in the third!
Tom
October 29th, 2010
11:52 pm
Some more good news Fox and Dish have settled. Maybe we can start getting some out of market games!
http://blogs.ajc.com/radio-tv-talk/2010/10/29/dish-fox-resolve-month-long-dispute-over-fox-sports-fx-natgeo/
R. Stroz
October 30th, 2010
12:08 am
Did I mention……BUFFALO SUCKS!
Brendan
October 30th, 2010
12:34 am
Tom, that is good news on Fox/Dish! Finally!! With Nov. 1 just around the corner, it couldn’t come soon enough.
HookyBob, tonight’s OT winner by Byfuglien is just reason # 12 to make him a forward! That post-game show … had me screaming. “This coaching staff saw something in Byfuglien … that made them think he could be a bigger star in this league playing defense, than offense.” Really? Look harder. The guy’s “star power” … is at forward.
Hope Bryan Little is okay. What a beautiful goal he scored the other night. Great to see Antropov getting back into the swing of things. And how about that 1st-ever NHL goal by Burmistrov! I’m proud to say … I was there … and saw it in the flesh!
R.Stroz, normally, I’d be furious about surrendering the “pity” point to Buffalo, or any team, but tonight … Big Buff’s goal was so magical … that I don’t care about tossing a “freebie” Buffalo’s way. I’m just happy, that after spotting the Sabres a 2-0 lead, that the end result was a win. Here’s another game, Red Light, where the opponent scored three (3) goals, and it didn’t result in a Thrasher loss. We’ll have to keep tracking this stat, as I believe it will be a total anomaly for the season.
It was nice to catch up with many regulars tonight, and meeting some for the very 1st time.
Red Light
October 30th, 2010
12:40 am
Badger Bob: No more Sec. 102? Joe Friday, Spud Webb and I were would have loved to have seen you tonight! Congrats on the win. Always good to see Mr. Rawhide, World Be Free, R. Stroz and the lovely Mrs. R. Stroz (a saint to be sure!). Brendan: A real pleasure meeting you but lose the tie big fella!
Miserable 1st 2 minutes. Unreal performance in the 2nd (soft goal by Miller on Burmistrov’s 1st ever) and a fine third until Oduya decides to play Keystone Kop with under 25 seconds. What an absolute beauty by Big Buff for the game winner.
For the record, I saw Kane pass the puck nearly five times tonight. That’s a new single-game record for him!
Enjoyed it JF!
Red Light
October 30th, 2010
12:42 am
Little has a laceration. Shouldn’t keep him out long. Mr. Ruff and Ryan Miller weren’t happy campers after the game. Long flight to Dallas I’ll bet!
Brendan
October 30th, 2010
12:52 am
I know this blog loves to HARPOON Sabres fans … but I must say … that it was a delight to meet Therese and her husband tonight, newly arrived in our fair City, from Western New York. And thank you, again, for “thirst quenching” cold one! You represented your city very well tonight. Also, greetings to the father and son in our row from London, Ontario, who are making a tour of NHL venues in the South. They were in Nashville before visiting the “Bulb” tonight. They said it was a great venue, but they were surprised by the low attendance, and were astonished that $10 seats are available for an NHL game. London Knights cheap seats start at $17 (Canadian).
Programming note: The replay of tonight’s Sabres-Thrashers game is on Fox SportSouth from 2AM to 4AM. For Comcast subscribers, that’s channel #48 for many of you.
Scores around the league … I see the Devils won, 2-1, over Anaheim. I don’t dare look to see if “he” had one of them. It was the Battle of Pennsylvania tonight, and Pittsburgh took it, 3-2, over the Flyers. If you’re watching Fox SportSouth right now, you’re seeing Carolina vs. the NY Rangers. **Spoiler Alert** The ‘Canes win it, 4-3. Edmonton rang up 7 goals over the Stanley Cup Champion Blackhawks, in a 7-4 victory. Note the time and date of that one. Montreal won, AGAIN, over the Islanders. I must say, though, that the Islanders actually look better than they did last year. But, ya know, how many years can anyone really get away with saying, “But the Islanders are now ‘moving in the right direction?’ The last time the Islanders won a playoff series … it was 1993. And that was something of a “fluky” year, where the Penguins were the heavy favorites to win the Cup. The Isles knocked them off, and finally bowed out in the CF to the eventual Cup winner, Montreal, that year.
Brendan
October 30th, 2010
12:58 am
Red Light, Lindy Ruff and Ryan Miller will get to feast on Kari Lehtonen, next! Next time out, I will spit-can the tie. Pleasure meeting you, and catching up with R.Stroz and Rawhide, JF, and WBF.
Smoothie
October 30th, 2010
1:21 am
Hey Stroz! Guess what?
BUFFALO SUCKS….AND BLOWS!!!!!!
Brendan
October 30th, 2010
1:30 am
Allright, who’s impersonating Smoothie??
Smoothie
October 30th, 2010
1:30 am
Brendan – hate that I missed a chance to meet you at the game…I think about half the blog was at Beers of the World when I met up with WBF. Good to see DWTOO and Mrs. DWTOO as well. We had a lively chat and met a lovely hockey-playing lass who was decked out in a sensational Halloween costume — needless to say, she’ll have a hard time getting the blood stains out of that nurse costume!
R/L — Miller was worked on Burmy’s goal…not soft at all. Johnny Burma mesmerized him with his stick work and the extra handle at the net opened him up like a five dollar you know what. A. THING. OF. MAJESTIC. BEAUTY. So happy for the kid.
WBF – great seeing you as always…we’ll need to take in a game together soon. And guess what, we kept K off the cigs for the entire game! I thought she’d need a bout 4 of ‘em after that first period debacle. Hell, I thought about starting my glue-sniffing habit again! LOL Good to meet the other nice chaps whose names shall remain, well, nameless…to protect the innocent.
Rawhide — time to plan another Rawhide’s Rowdies Nite at the Bulb so we can get 75 – 100 of our closest blog buddies assembled at the Bulb for some hearty bluster and chanting. Also, we need to start our own cheering section in Stroz’s section, like they do at the Braves with Sheff’s Chefs or McCann’s Cans. We could call it Sope’s Box or Stroz’ Cove.
Alan R.
October 30th, 2010
1:31 am
I still believe Mason should have been given this night off; regardless, he held down the fort as best as he possibly could in the first period, while the rest of the team tried (and failed) to wake up.
Some beautiful goals this evening by Burmistrov, Bergfors, and Byfuglien. I’m really impressed with the leadership Sopel displayed this evening, and how well the team came back and performed in the second and third period. Now, if only we could get the team to perform for a full 60, instead of 20, 35 or 50.
Smoothie
October 30th, 2010
1:32 am
Professor, that’s me, the one, the only Smoooooooothinator! Thought K was gonna throw her bows at some punk-a$$ chump Slug-a-nut fan in front of us after Buff undressed their whole team. Priceless.
Eileen
October 30th, 2010
8:26 am
Watching Burmie’s reaction after his first goal was priceless. I love that kid. What a fun night –after the first period–at Philips. We have areas that need improving, but we sure are fun to watch. That goal by Buff–WOW!
dwayne
October 30th, 2010
8:28 am
Burma’s goal was b-e-a-uuuutiful!!! Reminded me of the Kane goal last year when he undressed Marty B. Be safe tonight Thrasher fans. Watch out for the trick or treaters!!!
World Be Free
October 30th, 2010
9:06 am
Burmie is quickly becoming my favorite Thrasher. The kid has jump, great “game” for a young player. You can tell he is thrilled to be here. The goal showed his speed and his reaction was all about enthusiasm. He needs another 10-15 lbs.
Final thoughts on Buffalo-the Sabres have no on ice leadership and it showed when they dropped a 2-0 lead to a team that was sleepwalking.
When a team is down, you have to go for the throat and Buffalo did not take advantage of the situation. They had no counter to the Thrasher resurgence.
Very interesting-in the first period when Ramsay called a time out, Buff kinda skated in a circle steaming over how poor he and his teammates were playing. From that point forward, his leadership stood out. This team needs a captain, none of this committe stuff. The Thrashers have the talent to get to the next level but you gotta have the designated pushers on the ice when the team is not playing well.
Love the coaches adjustments after the first period-vintage Ramsay.
Great seeing everyone last night, met a few bloggers for the first time and alot of the regular crew. That’s a deal Smoothie, we will get to a game. Odd that our conversation after period one shed doom and gloom on a game that ended go gloriously. Buff’s goal was great!