When you look at wins and losses there’s nothing encouraging about an 0-5-2, nor isthere anything good about starting the streak in fifth place and dropping down to 10th before it ends.
That being said, not all games all losses should be treated equally and not every defeat is reason for panic or drastic changes. In the past three games the Thrashers have performed well twice, coming close to beating two very good teams in New Jersey and Buffalo. Close doesn’t count in the standings (aside from the point picked up last night) but the way a game is played does matter.
During this losing streak there have been a number of isseus plaguing the Thrashers and some of them were addressed in Buffalo last night:
- They scored on a power play, which they hadn’t done in the previous four games.
- The penalty kill was perfect (3-3)- something that had only been done once in the previous seven games.
- The Thrashers outshot their opponent (35-23) and limited scoring chances.
- They got goals from Bryan Little and Evander Kane who had been quiet lately.
- They got assists from Zach Bogosian, who has been struggling, and fellow defensemen Anssi Salmela and Toby Enstrom. As Darren Eliot pointed out in the recap, his year’s team is more successful when the defense is involved in scoring, so that’s a big step.
- Todd White, who had been scratched the previous game (as had Salmela) got an assist.
All of that, plus Rich Peverley, Nik Antropov and Ilya Kovalchuk got on the scoresheet, and Kovy’s point was the 600th of his career.
Blowing the lead was frustrating, but don’t discount all fo the good things the Thrashers did for the first two periods and parts of the third. Hopefully it all carries over tonight on Long Island when they face the Islanders. Ondrej Pavelec Johan Hedberg will be in goal and Eric Boulton and Boris Valabik will sit out for a second night in a row.
The liveblog will launch around 6:45. The game starts at 7 pm on SportSouth.
Tough to lose like that last night. 50 minutes of good play and a ten-minute nap equals a loss. Hopefully they can finally get a 60-minute game in.
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The panic isn’t because of one defeat, it’s because of the trend that goes along with our season. Are we not in another typical losing streak ? You even say the losses add up, yes there were encouraging signs last night. It’s almost like saying the Thrashers are a professional team, because they are. As fans we are always told to cheer because by golly, they tried. They should try. They make millions of dollars to try. Why should we clap because the Thrashers are in a losing streak..but managed to look like a professional team last night in defeat because they tried. No thanks, I call it like I see it, and I’ve seen it before. Trying isn’t good enough.
Why sugar coat it, unless you are an employee of the team. Cheer leading is great and has its place, but any fan should be cognizant that the style we play doesn’t equal playoffs. We are soft. Always have been. The lack of toughness the Thrasher teams bring to the table every night is evident and it’s NEVER addressed or fixed, I suppose Anderson addressed it last year, but again nothing is ever done about it. I jumped for joy when Josh Gratton survived the preseason cuts, he is a hard working guts and glory player who givews it all every shift, very similar to Boults..but he got the gas with the waiver claim of Shubert. I like the claim, but again overall..we added big guys who are soft and did not address an issue that terminally plagues our squad. I like Antropov, but he doesn’t exactly play like a huge guy. He should man handle people, but he doesn’t. This is a problem throughout our lineup. Where is the grit ? The Sabres game was obviously much better than the atrocious loss to the Bruins, but we still squandered a lead, we still do not have any grit that lasts throughout most of the game, and I honestly don’t understand the healthy scratches at all, considering Salmela didn’t exactly have a good game minus his assist in a losing effort. When your team lacks grit, scratching Boulton and Valabik doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, especially in favor of Salmela…but then again, like I said..it’s typical of the decisions that are made regarding our roster. I guess we have to keep the tradition alive of “trying” while coming up very short, as always, and when it gets rough tuck tail and hide until we are told not to panic because the Thrashers really tried but lost..again. It’s unacceptable, this is a mickey mouse franchise, and I’m not a cheerleader. Been playing/watching the game longer than you’ve been alive, I know what I see on the ice and I know the trend we have set in our existence since the expansion tag was lifted. Same ol’, same ol’.
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Fourteen games without a regulation win stinks anyway you package it.
Points for trying. You’ve got to blog and blog for the boss, aka Atlanta Thrashers. And you make some good points about individual efforts.
But there’s no way that falling from 5th to 2 slots out of a playoff spot at 10th in the East is anything but just what it looks like…BAD.
Especially since Ilya is STILL not re-signed. And we’re through the summer and now the Fall and past Christmas and heading towards the Olympic break and then…well, its the trade deadline and too late.
Darren also said 2 losses ago, something about “having to lose a well-played game before you could start winning.” He, too, works for the team. And even a win vs the Isles won’t make it all better for the Thrash.
Because I do not buy that Anderson’s lack of making team defense a priority is anything but BAD for the Thrashers’ playoff dreams and keeping Kovalchuk. What Anderson’s been espousing for well over a season and a half is not bearing fruit of getting better, but worse. Its clear as day…and conference standings and stats.
Acknowledge it, fire him and let’s get “on to the next one” before this season, and our franchise star, are done in Atlanta.
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Great comments on the blogs the last couple of days–it makes things a litle less painful when we share our suffering.
Losing is always bad, especially for those of us who have hockey in our blood, and have been with this team since day 1.
I’ve said this many times, I don’t expect us to win a Cup anytime soon.
In today’s salary cap era, building a Cup winner is a difficult, time consuming process.
HOWEVER, as a loyal fan and a paying customer, who has invested almost $30k in season tickets, not to mention the parking and the food/beverages, I DEMAND a return on this investment.
For ten years, with the exception of 4 losses to the Rangers, we have been chasing our tails.
Good players come and go, goalies get burned out, lines are shuffled, excuses are offered, and salvation is always just around the corner.
4 playoff games in ten years??????
It’s not like making the playoffs in the NHL is the same as curing cancer.
HALF the teams get in!
I’d like to suggest that we start the New Year with a dose of reality.
We have the worst GM in the Eastern Conference. For my money, he’s the third worst in the NHL, but let’s stick with our own conference.
You want to challenge that?
Don’t waste your breath because the facts speak for themselves.
Here are the current GMs along with when they started, and their success/failure
Atlanta Thrashers Don Waddell 1998 PLAYOFFS ONE TIME–0-4 RECORD
Boston Bruins Peter Chiarelli May 26, 2006 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
Buffalo Sabres Darcy Regier 1997 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
Carolina Hurricanes Jim Rutherford 1994 CUP WINNER
Florida Panthers Randy Sexton Oct 2, 2009 NEWBIE
Montreal Canadiens Bob Gainey 2003 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
New Jersey Devils Lou Lamoriello 1987 MULTIPLE CUPS
New York Islanders Garth Snow July 18, 2006 NEWBIE
New York Rangers Glen Sather 2000 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
Ottawa Senators Bryan Murray 2007 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS-(did not make it last year)
Philadelphia Flyers Paul Holmgren 2006 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
Pittsburgh Penguins Ray Shero May 25, 2006 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
Tampa Bay Lightning Brian Lawton 2008 NEWBIE
Toronto Maple Leafs Brian Burke November 27, 2008 NEWBIE
Washington Capitals George McPhee 1997 MULTIPLE PLAYOFF WINS
You’ll notice a trend here . . . the guys who have been around a while have put together a succsesful product.
The teams that have not done so well have made changes.
Not exactly rocket science. You build a winner, or you are shown the door.
So somebody please explain to me why this lack of success is allowed to continue, month after month, year after year?
Why is losing tolerated in Atlanta and no where else in the Eastern Conference?
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I do hope that there isn’t another “excuse” blog tomorrow. How are we losing thus far in Long Island after one period? It kinda looks like a typical turd. If it looks like it, smells like it, then that’s what it probably is. Salmela again makes a costly boo boo. The excuse from Eliot was that he hasn’t played much. Do they program all Thrasher employees or what ? I guess Boris was playing and doing well, warranting his healthy scratch. I still do not see the logic in punishing one of the guys who has been playing well, the combo of Boris and Shubert was working.. so JA opts to sit Boris. It makes zero sense. I guess we aren’t losing the right way tonight though, we are pretty much losing badly, no way to sugar coat this one or make excuses.
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“Yay a point” “Go team go”. I have a feeling we will be told about a moral victory tonight, somehow overshadowing the poor play and..L O S S . Again, 60 minutes seems too much to ask for regarding this team and it’s beyond disappointing to grasp onto small things in each game. Eliot has become a broken record, he believes after every goal..it’s the magical goal to turn around a franchise. I agree with “No”.
No.
Why are we continually fed propaganda. This team is mediocre. Oh wait, Kozlov is amazing in the shootout and invisible for the entire game previously. JA’s famous system – All offense and zero attention to defense, no grit whatsoever. That does not win NHL hockey games.. even against teams as shotty as we are.
I have to give it Ron Hainsey though, he has managed to make every single D partner he has ever had somehow look as putrid as he plays. Schubert looked awful paired with him..just..like..every..player..who..has..ever..been..paired..with..him.
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Antropov lost 19 face-offs!!? Out of a whopping 22!! Why is he our top line center?? It’s obvious to me he could do most of the same stuff without playing C. Or let him play “center” after the face-off. Peverley is a great draw-man and can play any forward position. Go with:
Kovy – Pevs – Antro (with Peverley taking on the responsibilities of the winger)
Kozzy (ugggh) – White – Max (take your chances that White’s better play of late will keep this line from being a disaster)
Kane – Reasy – Army
Greek Gods
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Just reading over the comments from the last two days. I really agree with CUZ on many of his points. I guess my only answer to your question is really more of a theory about DW and the seemingly high tolerance level of failure.
First I believe you have to start with the premise that the owners have absolutely no clue how to run, or understand for that matter, anything that is remotely related to hockey. (I wrote a long winded blog about this a few days ago) In fact in my opinion they are blithering idiots. DW has really got to be in a frustrating position because I know he wants to succeed, but can only do what he is told, and doing what he is told is probably why he keeps his job. Think about it; if the owners were TRULY committed to winning you would come to a logical conclusion, as we all have over the last few years, that changes in the top management would have to be made. Since they have not my conclusion is the owners keep this franchise from being a success due to their own ignorance of the game and their inept approach to business.
As a business man myself who holds title comparable to DW, I too have a higher authority to answer to. The difference is those above me operate from a perspective of understanding business in the first place, particularly the business that we specialze in. So I cannot lay all of the blame on DW.
In the meantime this team, YES THIS TEAM, is quite capable of making the playoffs and could go deep. However some things MUST change:
1. Moose is the starting Goaltender. Moose that OT goal last night was BS, and not your fault, but you have got to step it up another notch my friend. We give up 50 shots and you stand on your head, we give 25 and we are giving up soft ones and losing 6-5 or 5-3.
2. The Run-n-Gun offense is great and can really put teams on their heals, BUT!!!! We have to transition back to the defensive side in a much smoother and with a sense of urgency that is non-existent right now. Our size on the blue line needs to make its presence known. If we are going to take a penalty take it on the blue line in a nasty way.
3. CLEAR THE CREASE…Make it a rough and painful place for those looking for the garbage goals to live.
4. Blown assignments and out-of position plays MUST IMPROVE. Again a by-product of the run-n-gun. I keep hearing people say this is a ” fun ” way to play hockey…well, what’s so fun about it so far, especially when it is not a consistent way TO WIN THUS FAR?
5. Play 60. I am not an athelete so I cannot pretend to even say that you guys are not playing your hearts out, but sitting in the stands for the last seven years, ummm yeah…I can certainly see a difference this year over any other. There is just not a consistent and concerted effort from everyone at the same time.
6. This in my opinion is the most important one. PROTECT ANY LEAD!!!! How many times has this team won in a real convincing fashion this season? I count 4. Why are we not burying some teams when we have a chance. T
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Ok to continue since I accidentally posted without finishing my point:
To finish on # 6: Our lead against New Jersey and Buffalo recently should have been wins. Absolutely no doubt that we should transition into more of a protective mode and clog up the neutral zone. Make the other team play from a position of frustration and capitailze on the mistakes they are bound to make.
Ok enough; I still believe guys, I really do, this team is way too talented NOT to make the playoffs. In fact we should have 48-52 points by now. You have some ground to make up, let’s get to it.
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One other suggestion and maybe those in this blog will participate as well. GROW THE MUSTACHE AGAIN. I mean JA had a throw back 70′s mustache going and the team was doing ok.
I have a beard, but from this point, and for the rest of the season, I am just keeping the ” handlebar ” mustache. Let’s see if it works.
How many others will participate and will it work?
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It got a little crazy on the live blog last night, and I have to admit that I didn’t sleep well after another emotional roller-coaster of a game.
What bothers me the most is that I LOVE NHL hockey.
I have since I saw my first game on TV as a kid and I will LOVE it until I take my last breath.
And no matter how bad the Thrashers are, I’m STILL going to LOVE NHL hockey.
I may get upset and vent (or worse), but I’m still going to show up with my season tickets because even when we suck, the game itself is still a thing of beauty.
So in a perverse way, the ownership and management have guys like me, and my fellow blog venters, in a no-win position.
That probably fuels my angst–I KNOW that have no recourse because I will show up even if only to appreciate the skill of the opposing team.
It’s like Sam Kinnison, the late great comedian used to say in his act . . .”you have to love women. What are you gonna do, give sheep the vote?”
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I still watch as well, I sat through that magical 19 win first season and I’ll suffer through this one. But it gets stale when puppets try and pull the wool over our eyes. No offense to Ben Wright, but c’mon man. I miss Custance as our ajc blogger, he was honest, he didn’t sugar coat it. This blog is nothing but excuses, the same type of excuses our glorious Godhead GM makes. I can already picture DW giving us a similar ‘don’t panic’ speech as Kovy walks. Our young guys will step up, the same young guys that look weary. Wait, we have the statue of Kozlov, he was great..a long time ago. If it doesn’t go to a shootout Kozzie is worthless.
Thank goodness Dudley had some input on this team, I credit him for the early success (Kubina). Our roster sucks, it isn’t built for the long haul of a season and things are obviously headed in the WRONG direction, no matter what bloggers tell us. I wanna tear my hair out when Hainsey somehow receives praise..like it was a huge surprise he did not make the Olympic roster. He sucks. I am not delusional, I know what I saw last night. The same gutless team we normally throw out there. An awful first period, our big rugged guys standing there as Andy Sutton slashes Max’s foot, nearly breaking it, later on Sutton takes a run at Max..our team..does absolutely nothing. Salmela would not make any roster but ours, likewise for Slater..even though he tries hard and we are supposed to bust out the pom poms because we have a roster spot for a guy who would not make any other team due to GM’s who can actually evaluate talent. Our whispering soft coach has one line that gives maximum effort every game, the 4th line..so he obviously breaks it up, because that makes a whole lot of sense. What do I know, “me just a fan”. Talk louder Anderson, no one can hear you.
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My question is with the Falcons finally ending the 43 year streak of not having back-to-back winning seasons, is it possible for the Thrashers to top that?
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Smoothie
They should throw Thorburn at center, That’s his original position.
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