An embarrassing night in Thrasherville
I understand the weathermen in Atlanta are predicting some snow to come through these parts later this weekend. But even before the residents of north Georgia swarmed the local Publix and Kroger stores to strip the bread and milk shelves bare, the Toronto Maple Leafs came to town and built a snowman in Philips Arena. A snowman, that’s 8 on the scoreboard… in the first two periods alone!
That’s right, by the time the teams retired to their respective locker rooms for the second intermission, the Leafs had dropped an eight-spot on the Thrashers on their way to a 9-3 thrashing of our hometown ice birds.
After Friday night’s craptacular effort, it’s hard to remember that it was a one-goal game halfway though the second period. Yes…it was 2-1 Leafs at the midpoint of the game, but that’s when everything seemed to go to Hell in a hand basket.
In a seven minute and forty-three minute span, Toronto dropped six goals in on Thrashers netminders…two on starting goalie Ondrej Pavelec, three on backup Chris Mason, and then another on Opie who was put back in between the pipes by coach Craig Ramsay with just 46 seconds left in the period.
For a while there late in the middle period, it was almost as if Opie and Mason wee taking regular shifts with the rest of the skaters.
Now at this time, I’m going to play my “It was only one game” card. Sure it was a stink bomb and deserves its rightful place alongside of other debacles of Thrashers past, and maybe a proper amount of wailing and gnashing of teeth is appropriate by fans on the blogosphere…if nothing else to help in the healing process. But this is a different team then those of the past, and I won’t let it deter me from looking forward to what this team can accomplish this season.
Just about everyone on the team deserves some share of the blame for this odiferous effort. They’ll learn from it hopefully and apply the lessons to future endeavors. The zero collected in the standings after a 9-3 loss is just the same as dropping a 3-2 decision and the important thing here is to not allow it to spill over into tomorrow’s game in Carolina.
However…
What cannot be overlooked or swept under the rug here is the fact that five of the Leafs scores came while Atlanta was attempting to kill off the on-ice transgressions of one player…Ben Eager. I don’t know if that’s some kind of NHL record or not, but I can’t recall another time in which one player’s time in the sin-bin led to that many goals.
In the first period he had doubled his penalty pleasure by adding a cross checking penalty after a roughing minor. Then in the third after he ambushed Colby Armstrong in the corner, striking him with the stick in his hand, the Leafs were given a five-minute man advantage in which they could score at will.
After failing to do so last weekend, the Thrashers Eric Boulton and Toronto's Coulton Orr exchanged belated New Years greetings Friday night (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Turns out, they had a lot of will.
Obviously, Eager’s actions put his teammates in a rough position all night. He played right into Armstrong’s game when he sucker punched him from behind. As we observed for a couple years here, Colby has no issue with taking the occasional…shall we say… “inexpensive” shot on opposing players. Some might call him “scrappy” or an “agitator”… a player that adds a certain degree of “sandpaper” to the game. Others still may chose to use the term “cheap-shot artist”. However, he’s not really one to man up, drop the gloves and go toe to toe with an opponent he may have taken issue with during the game.
Regardless, I’m sure Mr. Eager will be sitting a few games out for his actions and surrendering a significant portion of his pay to the league office. And that’s as it should be.
Certainly coach Craig Ramsay was none-to-pleased with what went down on the play either saying, “We want our players to play hard. We want them to play physical with body checks and fight for the puck. We can’t condone that”.
A few weeks back, someone close to the organization clued me in that Ben Eager has not made a lot of friends in the Thrashers locker room. After his actions Friday night I don’t think he’s won over many more. As the good coach said, you want hard-nosed, gritty players…players that are even willing to drop the mitts in defense of a teammate who may have been treated unkindly by an opponent. But you don’t need someone who will put you in the kind of spot Eager did by losing governance of his sense and reasoning.
That’s not exactly the “smart” brand of hockey Ramsay has sought to teach this team.
Given his play this season, the amount of penalties he takes, his reported discourse in the locker room, what seems to be a near-permanent place in Craig Ramsay’s doghouse…and then last night … I wouldn’t mind if Friday night was the last time we see Ben Eager in a Thrashers jersey. When he is cleared to play again after serving whatever suspension he surely should receive, it wouldn’t bother me a bit if he becomes a fixture in the press box, the Thrashers dealt him away for a fifth or sixth round draft choice…or just waved him with intent to release from contract.
Is Ben Eager THE sole reason the Thrashers plopped a steaming, heaping pile of FAIL on the ice Friday night? Nope…plenty of blame to go around there, that’s for sure. But he’s not been a lot of help and last night his actions were an embarrassment.
And that’s worse than simply losing a hockey game…even if it was of the 9-3 variety.
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146 comments Add your comment
Alan R.
January 8th, 2011
2:03 pm
Tension, black sheep? Nay. No tension in Thrasherville.
My shoulders, however, is another thing. Geez.
Drop the Gloves, or Drop the Soap.
January 8th, 2011
2:39 pm
Wasn’t Patrice Cormier supposed to be our concern about cheap-shot actions and the like instead of a Stanley Cup Champion like Eager?
The Maple Leafs did to us what the fellow Gwinnett County Jail inmates did to poor Thrasher when they had him shoved beak-down into his pillow.
Oy…
Marcus Valdes
January 8th, 2011
2:52 pm
No one has commented that perhaps Eager is trying to get himself kicked out of Atlanta. Wonder why he is so unhappy here? Also, any word on what kind of injury Big Buff had last night. He was playing with cotton balls stuck up his nose when he came out of the locker room….
razorneck13
January 8th, 2011
2:59 pm
Dear Trolling Leafs Fans,
Trolling reasons aside you and your beloved organization suck for the following reasons…
A.) As one person admitted, your franchise has a storied history…FROM WHEN THE LEAGUE WAS ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OR SMALLER. I don’t care about how awesome you were OVER 40 YEARS AGO!!!
B.) Your franchise is called Maple Leafs.
,
C.) You handed us our asses last night, congrats. Your franchise is still named after a wussy part of a tree that falls in our yards when it gets too cold.
D.) Tie Domi. You guys had Tie Domi…and LOVED HIM. That fact alone negates any of the Leafs badassery from back in antiquity and replaces it with everlasting douchebaggery. That just doesn’t wash off either.
Jordan
January 8th, 2011
3:18 pm
Leaf fans. Check the standings. Thats all us Thrasher fans have to say. Keep trash talking, come April when we are in the playoffs and you are yet again not, we will be the ones laughing about this 9-3 loss. Did we finish ahead of you last year?? Oh ya we did!! And this year?? Yup. Mark my word the Leafs will not finish ahead of the Thrashers for the next 5 years. Not ONCE!!
Hoof Farted
January 8th, 2011
3:24 pm
Wow. A lot of tough talk from a lot of lightweight Leafs fans. Big talk from a fanbase of a team who hasn’t won the Cup since ‘67.
Oh yeah, and how many of those Cups were won when there was only 6 teams in the league? Not really a tall order when you’ve got a 1 in 6 chance of winning it going into the season.
As for playoffs, how many times have you gone there since the lockout? I’ll help you with that one Leafs trolls, it’s 1 less time then the Thrashers have.
Yeah, your team kick our team’s butt. Enjoy it. It’ll probably be the highlight of your season.
Hoof Farted
January 8th, 2011
3:27 pm
Hey SOB, your mindless rants might hold more water if you hand the stones to come around here and chatted after Thrashers wins. That’s why you’re nowhere to be found for most of this season.
You are worthless and weak.
R. Stroz
January 8th, 2011
3:28 pm
And if I hear 1967 talk anymore I’ll lose my mind.
What do you mean lose, you already lost it…now take off your Depends and use it to wipe your nose, crybaby. Another mamby pampy jackwagon with no self confidence.
ZAvalanche
January 8th, 2011
3:31 pm
LOL, love the banter! As I said before, good game Leafs, but we will be playing in May and you will be golfing. I am noticing a trend here, Thrashy fans are respectful of the fact you stomped up and all you can do is talk sh!t. The leafs are a storied franchise, show some class and respect them.
Rawhide
January 8th, 2011
3:37 pm
As I’m sure many of you all have seen, C-Viv reports Eager has been suspended for four games and will lose just shy of $21K in salary.
I will have to agree with some of what he had to say about the inconsistencies of these suspensions and fines, but in the end it is what it is.
ZAvalanche
January 8th, 2011
3:39 pm
Eager has made his bed and he now has to lay in it. $21k is nothing to him but I think that after this last game he needs to take a serious look in the mirror and decide if he wants to stay with the Thrashers. Pun intended, he is skating on thin ice.
ZAvalanche
January 8th, 2011
3:41 pm
Also, condolences to the families in Tuscon affected by the shooting, I wish them well. My thoughts go out to you.
Rawhide
January 8th, 2011
3:48 pm
ZAvs – Amen. Simply tragic what has happened is AZ today.
Regarding whether or not Eager did or didn’t have the stick in his hand…looking at a couple of other replay angles, it does appear as though he may have dropped it…or at least lossened his grip on it prior to landing his punch. Really, I think it’s academic as he sucker punched Armstrong.
IMHO, if Eager felt Colby needed to be taken care of, he should have dropped the gloves and manned-up face to face with him. There is a code of conduct that must be respected on the ice.
Armstrong would have probably turtled, as per usual…but at least Eager would have done the right thing.
Jason
January 8th, 2011
3:51 pm
I do think it’s interesting how Armstrong dropped like a sack of potatoes when he was hit by Eager, yet he somehow managed the guts to come back out for a shift at the end of the major in the third before making his departure for the safety of the bench the rest of the night.
Hoof Farted
January 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
“how do we taste?” I’d you taste somewhat bitter and nasty. And if classlessness had a taste, that’s be you.
LAC
January 8th, 2011
4:00 pm
colby “cheese” armstrong was hurt last night by that punch as much as my fingers are typing this comment !
What a Complete little worthless WIMP. Watch Maple Loafs get hammered out west for sure…
ZAvalanche
January 8th, 2011
4:19 pm
Roger that Rawhide, regardless of political affiliation, if that was even the motivation, there are better ways to resolve issues than by using guns. I know several people on either “side of the aisle” and none of them would condone that action.
You are right on the “code of conduct” that resides in the NHL. It is one of the few sports left that has that type of ingrained mentality, if you will. If you want to roll somebody, man up, drop the gloves and dish it out. Very reminiscent of Todd Bertuzi’s actions several years ago.
BMF
January 8th, 2011
4:22 pm
YYZ – 2pts
ATL – 0 pts
This is a regulation loss, nothing more. A bad game yes, but just one loss.
Armstrong is a punk. Put him and Eager out there, and yeah, stuff will go down.
Would not be surprised of Mason is out of a job, and Eager never suits up for the Thrashers again. We’re not paying Mason a ton of money but he’s worthless as trade bait, so not sure what we can do other than just cut him or stash him in the minors but we have to have a better internal option for 2nd keeper than him. He’s been awful. Eager’s not good enough on the ice to counter his shenanigans. Wish he was because I like his attitude and intensity out there, but he has an affinity for the penalty box and this Thrash team isn’t good enough to keep bailing him out when he hits the box. Bogosian is clueless. Have you ever seen a Dman out of position basically every second he’s on the ice? Plenty of blame to go around for last night’s game but I guess I’ll just go back to my first statement: it’s just one regulation loss. On to Carolina.
Cornbread
January 8th, 2011
4:24 pm
Yep it sucked. I forced myself to sit through the whole thing. Even watched the replays of the goals. The Thrashers have had some less than stellar games this season but this was their first truly bad game. Glad it happened now and not two weeks ago when things could have gotten out of hand with their schedule. Sometimes good teams need this. It wakes them up – or destroys them. I don’t see them falling apart. Tampa and Washington have not and they have had far more truly bad games this year. After all, they are not NJ or Toronto.
The crazy thing is that the Thrashers actually looked like world beaters in the first 15 minutes – even in the first half of the second. They looked the same during the first in Toronto. They played like they were Detroit and then it all came crashing down. It was baffling. I’ll chalk that up to a young team that got caught up in a very physical game and allowed their frustration and emotion to take over – and not just Eager. A couple of proven Veteran forwards that still have something left in the tank could go a long way for this team.
Seriously, I loved what I saw from them in the first 15 minutes of the game. They played the best they have all year in the attacking zone by keeping the puck in long and in the neutral zone by backing out later, keeping the gaps tight, and causing turnovers. This is the next step Ramsay has been talking about. It looks like they’ve been working on it all week. Then came the penalties and they reverted back to bad habits or just as likely, everything Toronto shot went in. I hope the coaches focus on what they did great during this game because it was truly great hockey. Too bad it will be overshadowed by the score.
I was glad to see Eager make a beautiful cross ice feed to set-up Enstrom’s goal. (Cormier deserves props because he caused the turnover on the half wall that led to the goal as well as his own. A complete 180 from the game prior. The kid may learn quick.) I was hoping Eager and Bergfors were about to change for the better. Then he completely lost it. He has been my biggest disappointment on this team all year. The silver lining of that game was when the true character guys emerged in the third. Cormier and Ladd, along with several others, did not quit. That both of them scored when it was long over is proof of their strong leadership character that has been so highly touted.
Don’t worry Thrasher Fans. This is not the Thrashers of old that would go on a 6 game slide after such a debacle. There’s too much skill and character on this team now – on the bench and behind it – for that to occur. Expect a big game against the Canes. Put up the warning flags Carolina!
EA
January 8th, 2011
4:26 pm
SOB, perhaps you are mistaking passion for tension. You are so riduculously predictable. A tough loss or a couple game losing stretch and there you are. Wow, that is so sheepish!
Let them Eat Cake
January 8th, 2011
5:05 pm
way to go Laffs. One goal for each year in a row that you haven’t made the playoffs, eh?
Good thing there wasn’t enough time to score 44 goals…..one for each year without the Cup.
Cornbread
January 8th, 2011
5:09 pm
As for the refs, having been both an on and off ice official in the past, I don’t usually like to place any blame their way regarding a loss. But, they blew several calls last night that at the very least affected the score.
TML’s first goal could have been blown dead with an interferance call when Bogosian collided with the Leafs’ player. They were on the attack and took a defender out of the play. Coincidental? I’ve seen a lot less called. The Defender is always given the blue line and it is the responsibility of the attacking players to avoid them. On TML’s last there was too many men on the ice. The scorer jumped on early and recieved the puck while two additional players were still on the ice even while he crossed into the attacking zone. You can clearly see it on the replay. The play should have been blown dead but at that point I guess they just wanted to get the game over with.
There was plenty of other crap missed or called wrong in between. It’s the non calls by Refs and Linesman that drive players crazy and cause games to get out of hand. Was it the new European Ref working last night’s game? Now on top of all that a fine and 4 game suspension…
Nate
January 8th, 2011
5:15 pm
If someone could locate that Thrashers team that reeled off six wins in a row earlier in the year, could you tell them I’d like to see them reappear now. Thanks
Rawhide
January 8th, 2011
5:15 pm
C-Viv has been tweeting this afternoon that Tim Stapelton has been recalled from the Wolves. And since Fredrik Modin did not even make the trip to Carolina, another call up is expected.
Russian
January 8th, 2011
5:29 pm
What’s happend with Modin? I did not see any problem with him yesturday.
Atlantahockey?really?!?
January 8th, 2011
6:09 pm
I love the 6 thrasher fans on the planet trashing the leafs. You are the most embarrassing franchise ever, even Nashville makes the playlets every once in a while. For as bad ad we’ve been for 5 years, at least someone cares.
scottbravesfan
January 8th, 2011
6:15 pm
last night’s game was hard to watch. Also would anyone else like to see the Thrashers get a third jersey like the ones that the Panthers wear? Those would look great with a Thrashers logo on them
Anyway we need a W tomorrow in Raleigh.
Leafs do suck
January 8th, 2011
6:15 pm
What are the “playlets”?????
Atlantahockeyisajoke
January 8th, 2011
6:16 pm
Enjoy your team while it lasts guys. That 1 playoff series and all your Kovalchuck jerseys will do you well when your team is back where it belongs, in Canada.
Listening to you hicks describe missed calls is hysterical. Be honest now, how many of you have get played hockey before…. On ice!
scottbravesfan
January 8th, 2011
6:17 pm
atlantahockey?really??,
If you are going to rip someone at least make sure there are no spelling errors in your post. And of course people care about hockey in Toronto and Canada it’s all you have going for it. It’s why the SEC is so big in the south. Hockey is the one thing that Canada does well and is known for. Same reason that college football is so big in the south it’s the one thing that the south can puff it’s chest out and say that they are the best.
Thrashmybutt
January 8th, 2011
6:18 pm
Solid game last night. Revolving goalies is fun. Glad to see a huuuuge crowd of 743 in attendance. I guess your cousins were busy?
Leafs do suck
January 8th, 2011
6:19 pm
Yes they were busy, with yo Mama…..
scottbravesfan
January 8th, 2011
6:20 pm
I know this is hard to believe but they have this things called “skating rinks”. In these “rinks” they can make ice! I know it’s unbelievable! But they can actually make ice and then people can skate on it! Modern science at it’s best. Also what other sport does Canada even remotely play at a high level? The United States is one of the top hockey countries in the world and only a small percent of the population even plays it. Yet we are still awesome at it. What other sports does Canada play at a high level? Curling?
Braves07
January 8th, 2011
6:20 pm
As far as I care they canhave the Thrashers, they make the playoffs as often as the braves miss them! No one here cares about hockey, why is this team even here?
Atlantahockeyisajoke
January 8th, 2011
6:24 pm
Well we won the most golds at the Winter Olympics (I know, it’s cold here right?!?!?) and we beat the US in the world baseball classic in Seattle. But none of thy really matters. You are right, enjoy your dog fighting and well enjoy our hockey, I’m sure the thrashers will make like the Atlanta flames and move soon enough!
Flagstaff
January 8th, 2011
6:30 pm
I bet all the Leafs fans here really came from 4chan or some other troll breeding ground… real Toronto fans have no room to be talking, the way their team is on most nights.
Toronto-thedefinitionofmediocritysince1967
January 8th, 2011
6:32 pm
Now go watch some Grey Bowl – hoser…
Toronto-thedefinitionofmediocritysince1967
January 8th, 2011
6:34 pm
Toronto – Where average GM’s careers go to die.
Toronto-thedefinitionofmediocritysince1967
January 8th, 2011
6:34 pm
Toronto – forever wishing it was Montreal.
Leafs do suck
January 8th, 2011
6:36 pm
We’ll trade you Eager for any of those first rounders you have left this decade, unless Boston wants them.
Flagstaff
January 8th, 2011
6:39 pm
…And what happened to all that stuff about Canadians being ‘polite’?
Leafs do suck
January 8th, 2011
6:42 pm
We’ve had two different franchises here since you goofs won a cup.
Hockey Biltong
January 8th, 2011
6:45 pm
Hey Strozy, how did you like my music???
Does “Satchmo” or “Gabriel” come to mind???
Hockey Biltong
January 8th, 2011
6:47 pm
Bill,
good to see you last night! I hope WBF behaved himself????
HungryCoyote
January 8th, 2011
7:03 pm
Dear Waffle Trollz,
I welcome your misplaced anger. It perfectly reflects the reason why your team is A FREAKING JOKE! It’s actually not the team that sucks (and they do), it’s your brainwashed fanbase who thinks that just because your’re Canadian and from Toronto you somehow “own the sport of hockey” – which is highly laughable at best. Read a book, learn some history, and flunk a test.
And Canadians you have officially lost your bragging rights to “owning hockey” because YOU GOT OWNED BY RUSSIA! After a 3-0 lead! Yes, your own children who since birth you have trained to become hockey cyborgs turtled to a bunch of drunken/toothless sons of wheat farmers.
The end.
LittleThrash
January 8th, 2011
7:05 pm
I’m not sure why all of the TML fans are so hostile. We thrashers fans, however few you think we are, are commenting about our feelings of last nights game. You killed us. Congratulations. Hockey is getting better in Atlanta, and even you can’t deny that. Ignore last nights game and look at the stats. We have a hell of a goalie (on most nights) and some great talent. We have a lot going for our team now, and a loss like this isn’t going to keep our heads down. I am just as happy with our team today as I was before last nights game. You all seem to be in a permanent bad mood because you have to stoop down to Thrashers blogs to talk about how great your team is. We all know that this year is not going well, and I guess you have had a few mediocre seasons to learn how to trash talk, just like we have. Not only are your comments ignorant, but they are wrong too. There was a huge crowd in Philips last night, you just couldn’t hear it because we weren’t playing well. Hope you had a great visit in Atlanta and good luck with the rest of your season. We have two more meeting, let’s see where we stand after them.
razorneck13
January 8th, 2011
7:11 pm
I see some lost mothertruckers in here talkin’ trash about hockey in Atlanta, novel…never seen such a thing.
Looky here Troll(s) this maybe hard for you to understand this, but try and keep up. I know you are threatened by that which you do not know. I know hockey makes you get all “Hulk Smash”, cuz it’s so fast and generally bitchin’, but that’s what I’d expect from you poop flinging simians when you encounter things that are rad…so I understand and it’s gonna be ok. No one’s gonna deny you your rights to be knuckledragging mouthbreathers, I promise.
Just go back to what you normally do when you’re at a loss for words by entertaining yourselves endlessly with the aroma of your own flatulence and nose goblin analysis. Leave the big people talk to others in hockey forums and enjoy the rest of your window licking existence in a general state of tarded bliss where apparently other sports and perhaps professional wrestling reign supreme.
razorneck13
January 8th, 2011
7:28 pm
Dear Canadian Trolling Schmuck,
Stereotypes, stereotypes. So, we’re hicks and don’t know hockey…tehe. What do you think Atlanta is, Southern? At this point, not exactly. But I guess you wouldn’t know that. I know you’re up there with limited access to anything other than igloos, hockey, and maple syrup right? No? Exactly, take your stigma and shove it.
Sincerely,
An Anonymous former GAHA ICE Hockey Player
HungryCoyote
January 8th, 2011
7:36 pm
Anyone hear Kamal’s calls last night?
Matt
January 8th, 2011
8:26 pm
“Sheeple Boy” is this blogs version of Armstrong. Hides in his shell whenever someone calls him out. Loser.