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
Jason
January 8th, 2011
8:28 pm
Don’t worry, my Canadian friends. At least you have the Continental Cup coming up next week. I’m sure that your curling heroes will come up big for you….
Wayne stuck in AL
January 8th, 2011
8:45 pm
CAN-NECK: A term describing any Canadian internet troll who likes to bring up worn Southern stereotypes while defending a loser franchise and demands all teams from the SunBelt relocate to his godforsaken frozen wasteland.
Rawhide
January 8th, 2011
8:52 pm
Per Ben Wright tweet: “Machacek is not in the lineup for the Wolves tonight, nor is Stapleton. Good chance they’ll both be playing for the #Thrashers tomorrow.”
So, maybe we can get a look-see at Spencer Machacek at the NHL level tomorrow. Nice.
Red Light
January 8th, 2011
11:40 pm
Will be nice to see some young blood in the line-up tomorrow. Bad thing is, that since the Thrashers don’t play again until Friday, Machacek likely be sent right back to Chicago.
Red Light
January 8th, 2011
11:45 pm
Jack Johnson, who first played five games with the Kings in the 2006-07 season, signed a seven-year extension with a salary cap hit of $4.3 million. Rich Hammond of lakingsinsider.com reported Johnson, just 24, will make $3.5 million in each of the first three years of the new deal starting next season, and then $5 million per year in each of the final four seasons.
So, if I give you $30.1 million to sign Buff to a seven-year deal, would you do it?
Cornbread
January 8th, 2011
11:46 pm
The Canadian Trolls are just venting after their national team got embarrassed and disgraced their whole country by giving up 5 unanswered goals and blowing a 3 goal lead in the third Wednesday night. Pitiful.
Atlanta will be playing hockey in a sold out Phillips Arena come Spring. Toronto has no chance.
Proud to be a Thrasher
January 9th, 2011
12:20 am
I’m actually quite proud of our young team despite the debacle in Blueland last nite. Looking at the score you would think they were flat awful all game, but that was hardly the case. They played with a lot of jump and seemed to be attacking relentlessly for the majority of the first 30 mins. But when things went bad, the got out of hand quick. Pavelec never should have gone back in. And the refs set the tone for this “outburst” by Eager by not calling A LOT of chippy and dirty plays by the Loaves.
Twice Thrashers players were hit from behind right next to a ref and both times boarding was not called. Toby was hooked/tripped twice within three seconds but the 2nd minor wasn’t called. The double minor on Eager was beyond ridiculous as he never cross-checked Phaneuf and the collision of the two was an awkward one yet hardly what would constitute roughing. If anything Eager may have gotten away with a quick slash prior to the hit.
But whatever, the Thrashers didn’t cash in their numerous chances and the Leafs were better than them in pouncing on rebounds in front of Pavelec. The blueliners had a very poor nite collectively. Things would get out of hand and before you could blink, it was 5 to 1. The Eager cheap shot was dirty but a 5 min major!?? Its not like he hit him across the head with his stick! And the “justice” getting doled out by Colin Campbell’s Wheel of Justice reality show just goes to show the NHL has no control over their game and the enforcement of its rules in proper fashion.
But in spite of all that, the boys didn’t quit in the third. They didn’t just coast and go thru the motions for 20 mins. They competed hard, put 20 shots on net and even scored twice in gritty fashion. Even Big Buff came back after Crabb’s careless stick bloodied his nose without seeking excessive, over the top retribution. They maintained their composure after Eager lost his mind and refused to stoop to the Buds’ level of dirty and bush league tactics.
I’m sure they’ll get revenge the next time they play in the form of a good ol’ fashioned behind the woodshed ass whoopin to the tune of 6 to 2 or 5 to 1. Bring it classless Laffs fans, we’ll be here. Just like Big
Buff, we’re not bowing out and taking the quick shower just because one lousy game got out of hand.
Proud to be a Thrasher
January 9th, 2011
12:34 am
Trixie, please release me!
LAC
January 9th, 2011
2:23 am
These Canada fruitloops make the most STUPID comments. I feel Montreal should move to Kansas City, The HELL with all the so called mystic, the LOAS need to go to Houston, Ottawa to Seattle, Vancouver needs to hit the road to Memphis, Flames to Cleveland and Edmonton to Salt Lake City.
REAL SIMPLE. The you Canada hacks can form the Canada Hockey League and have teams in all Canada cities and never be bothered by the BIG LEAGUES ever again !
Hear a LOT of junior games are played before half empty or MORE buildings every game in Canada.
I just LAUGH seeing you Canada hacks making up all the excuses you can about Atlanta moving, Will Not Happen. 17,000 there last evening, not too bad. Lots and Lots of empty seats in Detroit and Dallas, more than Atlanta. So so snort that stuff all you Canada Idiot fans do and go blow smoke about another team moving, IT is NOT going to happen here, One bad game does not mean moving, Just proves YET AGAIN, how completely STUPID Canada hockey fans really are. Oh yes, I played at Iceland with Willi Plett and others in the 70’s, so go stick it !
Remember, Tampa beat twice 8-1, once 6-0. Washington Twice 5-0 and 7-0… Watch Loafs get hammered out west and then I think we should start talking Move to USA.
eugene
January 9th, 2011
3:13 am
Eager being out there resulted in five power play goals against us. Five of ‘em. Subtract those, and the potential final score of the game is 4-3 Toronto.
It’s not only easy to say it’s all Eager’s fault, there’s actually a bit of truth to it.
When the Thrashers were up 1-0, they had some early chances but they squandered them. Toronto then turned it up and started to dish out physical hits. Atlanta was intimidated, and you could tell Toronto was having their way with them. When Eager took that stupid double minor penalty, Atlanta was down 1 goal and they killed the second penalty. After that, they were flat for the entire game. Toronto went ahead and scored 3 more goals and with only a few minutes left in the second period, Atlanta was down 5-1. The game was pretty much over then, by the time Eager got his game misconduct, Atlanta was already out of the game. They couldn’t wait to leave the stadium. Every single Thrasher sucked that night.
Alan R.
January 9th, 2011
6:36 am
After that, they were flat for the entire game
Derp? They came out hard in the second, only to get deflated by more goals against. They came out extremely hard in the third, and laid up 20 shots on Reimer.
Sure, it didn’t matter in the third, and they could have tried harder in the second, but that’s not the point. The point is we lost, and we’ll get over it.
Spud Webb
January 9th, 2011
9:04 am
So, if I give you $30.1 million to sign Buff to a seven-year deal, would you do it?……….HELL YES.
Eager is a train wreck, but Colby is NEVER innocent. I’m ok with ben not playing with us anymore & I’m also ok with ben popping that turtle, actually I’m really ok with that part.
Phenuf, wtf was he doing out there? Noticed he was all to eager (ahhahaah, pun) to go after ben, but when buff got over there he backed up YET AGAIN? Atlanta North (toronto) won, it’s over, move on. By 3:30 today I expected us to be posting about a GIANT conference victory and two points. I also expect ben to be released when the 4 games are up.
Goalies, I think Mason was out drinking with me thursday night, which could explain something, not sure what was going on.
Spud Webb
January 9th, 2011
9:05 am
PS, went to the hawks game last night. UGH, not sure why I thought that was even close to a good idea. The girl and I left at halftime, it’s like going to a funeral. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG…almost fell asleep at one point.
Dwayne
January 9th, 2011
9:07 am
Thrashers were winning 1-0 right? Leaves suck right? Why did bolts drop the gloves? he should take eagers suspension, or at least reimburse him his lost wages. Just in case it was 1-1 at the time of the bolts fight, he should not have fought.
Kovy's Agent
January 9th, 2011
9:13 am
Rawhide, you said this version of the Thrashers is different from teams past. While I truly want to believe that, it just doesn’t hold up to close inspection. Aside from their good play in November this is a mediocre bunch that will struggle to stay in playoff contention. We’ve seen that story all too many times in these parts. With that 9-spot Friday night they now lead the league in GA (also very typical in these parts), are usually out shot, sometimes by horrific margin and still have a tough time possessing the puck or defending the blue line. Opie had a terrific month in November that led to stealing a few games, and the type of goaltending we’ve rarely seen in these parts, but he can’t hold-up under the shot barrage he faces nightly and expect to maintain that level of play. No, this is the same ole, same ole, and we’ll be scratching and clawing for the 8th spot come early April.
BlueSpark
January 9th, 2011
9:20 am
Please everyone, DON’T FEED THE TROLLS. Just ignore them. Seriously. People like that just post and keep hitting refresh to see who took the bait.
They’ve been trying to ruin the internet since back before the Web even existed.
rob
January 9th, 2011
10:25 am
Seems the team has been targeted yet again. Armstrong did nothing to help hockey while he was here, and now that he is gone he continues to harm it. Eager, if there is ever a next time, drop the gloves and show the entire league just what a puss Colby is……oh wait they already do. Eager just seems like a magnet for the box, sucks that the refs couldn’t get any of it right and let two teams settle it on the ice instead of taking it over with their ineptness. I am sure Eager has just played himself out of a Thrashers uniform. The league reviewing this and giving him 4 games is horrible…..intent to injur?!?! Let’s see how the team responds today!
LET’S GO THRASHERS!!!!
World Be Free
January 9th, 2011
10:53 am
Glad that game is done with. Maybe there will be something good come out of Friday’s mess.
The worst part about Friday was having to sit next to my buddy from Tronna and his stupid blue jersey. At leats he didn’t wear his blue Tie Domi jersey!
Pls don’t respond to the idiots from Tronna who post on this blog. The only way they can understand you is if you post in crayon. If they were such great hockey fans they would show up for more than 2 games/season. Tronna hockey dedication is way overblown; at the end of the day they are still in 13th place paying Colby Cheese $3M/season.
Spud Webb
January 9th, 2011
10:58 am
Dwayne, yes the leafs do suck, that kind of goes without saying….so what you’re telling me is that the reason our (thrashers) D sucked, goaltending sucked and played sucked is because Eric Boulton fought? Wow, I had no idea one fight could lead to 9 goals. Man you’re right, next time orr says lets go, bolts should say NO WAY MAN, I’ll be the reason we give up 9. ahhahahahhahahhahhahahahahahahah
Horad
January 9th, 2011
11:38 am
I am a Leaf fan, always was, always will be. Am I a little crazy? Maybe. Anyway it saddens me to see other supposed Leaf fans having the temerity to take shots and laugh at the Thrashers efforts in the 9-3 pounding, Please forgive them Thrasher fans. We haven’t had much to cheer about this season.
As for you Thrashers fans whining that the refs favour Toronto because they supposedly get trained in Toronto….well that is laughable. Everyone Toronto knows the refs hate Toronto. Calls almost always favour the other team. This game was an aberration. Let’s face it it. When was the last time any team anywhere in the world felt the refs were on their side. The only thing fans hate more than other teams are the refs. We never remember when the calls went our way, we only remember the ones that went against us.
As for those saying Armstrong butt-ended Eager….ttthhhppphht…..the League must have missed that after reviewing the play. If he had, even if the refs missed it, they would have called him on it.
As for those saying he dove, faked it, turtled….well explain the eye patch and the fact that he never returned to the game?
razorneck13
January 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Kovy’s Agent, I gotta kindly disagree with you. It’s not same old same old, it’s simply unfinished business, IMHO. I’ve said it many many times before, I’ll say it again…we’re missing some depth. We have one of the LOWEST payrolls in this league and we’re a bit fragile as a result, yet surprisingly look at the total results thus far. I never thought it was gonna be this good back in the preseason.
Lot’s of people take that as a jab at the team, I assure you it’s not. Imagine if we had a couple more moderately priced proven forwards. For example, imagine if we retained Max and picked up someone else with comparable output at forward. How bad would it get when Antro or Kane get banged up? How much better would we be when they’re all healthy? I’d say we’d be a Helluva lot better than we are when we have to rely on young kids that are learning and adapting or the likes of Stapleton coming up to try and fill the gaps.
I think we’re geared different this year and for the better, again just not complete. But that’s nothing 2-3 million more a season added to the overhead can’t fix and we’d still be a pretty frugal franchise with that.
Flames
January 9th, 2011
11:42 am
Congratulations to Cormier on his first NHL goal.
He is going to be a good one. We are going to be fine
I think there will be a shake up coming soon.
razorneck13
January 9th, 2011
11:51 am
Flames, thanks for reminding me. Where’s my manners?
Kudos, Cormier!
Smitty
January 9th, 2011
12:01 pm
There will always be missed calls. However one repercussion of missed calls is that the players will start policing themselves and that is when things get out of control. Colby took a couple of runs at Thrashers. That is the way he plays. I do not have a problem with that. But if you play that way expect some retaliation. Did Eager go overboard? Yes. Did Colby get what he deserved? In my opinion yes. When you play that style of game, (and I hope our north of the border friends will agree) you better be prepared to face the music.
I watched some of the Canucks game last night. Holmstrom was his usual pain in the butt self. Kevin Bieksa asked him to drop the gloves and he did not. At least Bieksa kept his composure and did not drop him. But had Bieksa dropped him, I do not believe there would have too many tears shed for him on HNIC.
Thrashers27
January 9th, 2011
12:10 pm
Rawhide,
That pic of the baby is perfect! I’ve been looking at it for two days now and every time it makes me chuckle. Couldn’t be more appropriate.
Hope the boys got a nice wakeup call this AM.
Go Thrashers!!!
GWJ
January 9th, 2011
12:16 pm
I hope I NEVER see Eager in Thrasher uniform again…..pathetic!!
Smitty
January 9th, 2011
12:18 pm
Tears shed for Holmstrom.
Cornbread
January 9th, 2011
12:42 pm
Remember folks this is the best Atlanta Thrashers team ever. They will respond and it starts in less than 1 hour! And Kovy’s Agent, you thankfully removed the reason why this Atlanta Thrashers team will not collapse like it did when your guy was here.
Smoothie
January 9th, 2011
12:44 pm
Horad – we appreciate your genuine presence here compared to some of the Tronna trolls who have graced this blog in the last couple of days. However, when it comes to officiating, you cannot tell me that a team which has only been shorthanded 123 times in 40 games isn’t getting some preferential treatment whether it is subconscious bias or not. Other than Boston — gee, who didn’t expect that?? — no team is penalized less. And to make matters worse, y’all have gotten 43 — FORTY THREE!! — more PP opportunities than the times you’ve been shorthanded. Tell me that is deserved considering some of the aggressive, chippy play your team likes to employ. I know the Leafs are a fast team and will draw a lot of calls, but only 123 penalties have been committed? The league median is about 40 more than that! Tough to preach to us about complaining about unfair treatment when your team apparently doesn’t have to worry about such.
World Be Free
January 9th, 2011
12:46 pm
Horad-I have been watching the Leafs (and Habs) for over 40 years and can tell from my experience they normally get the favor of the ref’s calls. Leafs and Habs’ fans complain that both teams don’t get ALL the ref’s calls! So let’s get too stupid here. We see the same for other teams like the Rangers and Broones, so the Buds are not alone.
I guess we can all look at the refs and say they “hate our team”, but in the end we win or lose based on talent on the ice. Tronna suffers from having too much pressure fro their fan base to win now. Why trade Rask for Roycroft? Because Roycroft was coming off a sensational rookie season and Rask needed further development. These trades are further magnified by the 43 years in waiting the Buds’ fans suffer through. Rangers’ fans can tell you all about i prior to 1994, or they would not have traded Tony Amonte, Doug Weight and later Marc Savard at the beginning of their promising careers.
Please leave the word “laughable” out of your next post so we can have some real hockey dialogue. I am sure you have something real positive to offer to a group of hockey fans (on this blog) that are just as knowledgeable as you are.
World Be Free
January 9th, 2011
1:01 pm
You have to wonder if the Thrashers are going to move both Modin and Eager by the trade deadline. They are finally going to gives some of the kids on the farm a chance to play. If these guys show any promse, it will allow the team to shop the short term (contractually) talent for some draft picks. Paying for seasons of bad drafting and ineffective player development. Look at the Red wings, they draft low but continue to stock their roster with kids that have been developed in their system.
rob
January 9th, 2011
1:04 pm
Anyone else see the wolves beat the team from Tor 9-3? Weird.
Rawhide,
Any chance we could get some Wolves links on the Thrashers page? Just a thought as it seems we will see some of them, it would be nice to see how things are going there…who is hot and who isn’t and such. I know, I know, why not go to their page but I am lazy most of the time and just go to this blog for my info.
Rawhide
January 9th, 2011
1:11 pm
Rob – Not a bad idea at all. I just added the Chicago Wolves and Gwinnett Gladiators links to the “Some Other Sites of Interest” column. Later I’ll probably create a new column for the Thrashers System and place them there.
Let me know if you think there are other such sites that need to be added.
Thrashers27 – Yeah…I just thought that picture wrapped up my mood and others around here perfectly. Glad ya liked it and it brought a smile to your face.
Matt
January 9th, 2011
1:45 pm
Terrible way to start, penalty in the FIRST minute and give up yet another PP goal. I am depressed.
Joe Friday
January 9th, 2011
1:53 pm
“There will always be missed calls. However one repercussion of missed calls is that the players will start policing themselves and that is when things get out of control.”
Bingo. This is precisely what happened Friday night. I’ve never seen that midget ref #11 and hope we to never see him again. then they give Eager 4 for that pop? Horsecrap. Campbell with his uneven justice (Lucic did the same exact thing to us and gets nothing). The NHL will always be a rinky dink league with bush league refs like #11 out there and Campbell with his ridiculous fines and suspensions all over the board, no consistency. Head shot rule has already gone to the wayside, even with their star Crosby getting suckered twice recently and no calls. A major, game and 4 game suspension for Eager? Ludicrous. Although I don’t expect to ever see Eager in a Thrashers’ sweater again.
Now we come out flying against the Canes, driving the net, their d is so flustered he trips over his own skates yet the ref calls a phantom penalty on Thorburn and bam, we’re down 1-0. Mickey Mouse league employing incompetent refs . .
Joe Friday
January 9th, 2011
1:55 pm
the blog is broken, posted yesterday from my phone, no error but it never showed up. Now from my laptop and again, nothing
Joe Friday
January 9th, 2011
3:09 pm
Officiating continues to be craptacular. Incompetent refs with a phantom call on Little giving the canes a 2nd gift goal in the game and it’s less than half over.
Now they screw up the call on the canes 4th goal and make a phantom call on Cane and we get a gift back.
Mickey mouse league employing crap refs and they wonder why the NHL gets no respect
Red Light
January 9th, 2011
4:33 pm
If there was ever a team that needed a few days off, it is this one. They are a shadow of the team from December. Injuries contributed sure, but the level of play has been sledding downhill for a few weeks now. Sleep well boys. See you Friday.
Cornbread
January 9th, 2011
4:44 pm
A good comeback game for the Thrashers after Friday’s debacle. They played a good game on the road against a good team. They did not play great like they did in the first 15 minutes of the TML game but who can fault them for that, especially after that bogus first penalty? Getting at least 1 point from this game was a must.
Getting these last two games behind the Thrashers is even more important. Now, they can get some rest, get healthy, and get some serious practice and preperation in for the big game against the Flyers on Friday.
Cornbread
January 9th, 2011
4:48 pm
Agree Joe Friday on today’s and Friday’s officiating. Very very bad and hopefully some of these refs and linesman are sent down to the A for more development. Don’t want to hear it from any Canes fans on the interference call and no goal. The calls on Thorburn and Little that led to 2 of your goals were complete crap.
Smoothie
January 9th, 2011
4:55 pm
Joe F & Cornbread — officiating was inconsistent to lousy at best, per the usual. The refs don’t enforce the obstruction and interference rules like they did coming out of the lockout and now you get called for a trip when its incidental contact near the front of the net with no advantage gained (Thorburn). Little’s “hook” was complete horse puckey as Sutter held his stick on the attempted stick-jack. The boys are getting penalized for the things that Rammer has taught them as smart, crafty, legal hockey plays. It’s certainly hurting us more than some teams due to our lack of scoring skill t/out our line-up. Sure, our scoring is balanced but our lack of scoring from wingers like Stewart, Thorburn and Antropov (not a good fit for the system or still hurt?) is really starting to make things a lot harder for this team to win. Even when the effort is there, they aren’t burying as many chances and they seem even more reliant than ever on point shots that never get deflected or redirected.
Sigh.
Cornbread
January 9th, 2011
5:26 pm
What was up with Darrin Elliot suggesting multiple times, even after Matt McConnell’s correct call, that Enstrom and Buff assisted on Little’s second goal? Come on Darrin watch the game. Even I could tell on the non-HD broadcast in my area that it was Oduya and Stewart. And what a beautiful play all around it was. There’s your skill Smoothie.
Cornbread
January 9th, 2011
5:38 pm
I thought the best line was Thorburn Little Stewart. They had jump all game. Thorburn was once again thrown into a new position on left wing. This team is really missing the Greek Gods line right now and the energy and down low cycle they bring every game. Boulton Antro Stapleton did a good job of cycling the puck for such an odd combo. Let’s hope the practice gets them all back to playing the Thrashers system.
Smoothie
January 9th, 2011
5:44 pm
Corny – I love Stewart’s effort, speed and hustle, but other than some good outlet passes and chip plays, he has hands of almost stone. You gotta admit he is hardly a top 6 forward, especially with a grinding Thorburn on the opposite wing. Can’t have two, would prefer Antro-Little-Stew/Thorbs or something like that. Little can protect Antro and perhaps Antro can get to the scoring area better with Little’s ability to handle and pass from corners / behind the net.
Rawhide
January 9th, 2011
6:31 pm
This is specifically for Red Light, but this is your official 10-minute Ranallo Warning. New blog to be posted in 10 minutes.
eugene
January 9th, 2011
11:59 pm
“Derp? They came out hard in the second, only to get deflated by more goals against. They came out extremely hard in the third, and laid up 20 shots on Reimer.
Sure, it didn’t matter in the third, and they could have tried harder in the second, but that’s not the point. The point is we lost, and we’ll get over it.”
They came out hard in the 2nd period? I didn’t get that impression at all. Toronto was the one coming out hard. I didn’t see the third period as I was already out of the building but when I left the parking structure Toronto had scored 3 goals in that timespan so I find it hard to believe the Thrashers were playing hard, but I’ll take your word for it. I think this game was good for Atlanta, they needed to be reminded that they’re not skilled enough that they can rely on talent alone in winning these games. Hopefully, the effort will be there when they play against Philly on Friday night.