When your team is struggling to win games would you rather face a strong team that your team will get fired up to pay against or another struggling team that they might be in danger of overlooking?
If you’re a Thrashers fan you can have it both ways. Atlanta got rocked by the red-hot Capitals on Saturday night, so playing an elite team wasn’t the answer. Tonight they host the struggling senators who have lost four straight and have averaged just a goal per game in that stretch while giving up exactly four per game. The Thrashers have scored nine goals in their last four games and given up 18 while going 1-2-1. The Senators are a banged up hockey club missing three of its top offensive threats (Spezza, Alfredsson and Michalek) but John Anderson told the media he’s more concerned about his team than who they’re facing and he thinks the Senators likely feel the same way.
In an effort to shake things up Anderson has given the lines a thorough overhaul with the intention being to put more grit on each line. Here is what you can expect to see tonight but please keep in mind that there’s no way of knowing which line is the first, second, third or fourth until they play the game and we can see how much time they get. I think the expectation is that the coaches will roll four lines as much as possible.
Nik Antropov will be a game-time decision but I think the expectation is that he isn’t playing. If he does decide he’s ready to go the lines will be adjusted accordingly. John Anderson told the media that hf wants his team to be harder to play against around their own net and with that in mind Boris Valabik is back in the lineup and Anssi Salmela will sit out. Ondrej Pavelec, who made 50 saves in his last start against Ottawa, will be back in goal tonight.
Of the new lines the one that’s the most intriguing to me is the line of Kane, Slater and Little. It’s a fast, young, hard-working line and they all have the ability to put the puck in the net, even if Little and Kane have been quiet in the goal department lately. I don’t think anyone would have expected Jim Slater to be the hot hand on that line, but with three goals in the last week he is and Little and Kane are hoping it rubs off on them. I talked to all three players this morning and they’re excited about their chance to play together.
“They’re both very skilled and they like to compete,” said Jim Slater about his new linemates this morning. “It’s just about hard work- getting the puck in, getting it to the net, and doing our job defensively. They’re very reliable in our own zone and we’re reliable in the offensive zone keeping a man high. We all work hard, we compete, and we all take it hard to the net. If we can put a couple in tonight and keep them off the board that would be a great game for us.”
Evander Kane pointed out that both Little and Slater have a nose for getting no the puck quickly and digging it out, which is how he likes to play the game as well, while Little added that the trio brings a lot of speed and intensity to the lineup.
Check back later for video from the morning skate, including a brief interview with Kari Lehtonen who participated in the practice. He looked very comfortable, albeit rusty. It’s been a while since he’s faced shots from NHL players so it’s going to take some time for him to get back into game form.
**UPDATES**
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sounds good. thanks for the update.
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If Kane Slater Little is a good idea, Kane Peverley Little is a better idea.
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You’re not alone in suggesting that as a line and if Antropov plays tonight that might be where Peverley ends up.
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wow those line combinations are really jumbled. i like it though, turn them inside out and see which ones start clicking. i also like that boris is back in the lineup. ive been a fan of his play this season. him and schubert together are intimidating.
id prefer not to go up against a struggling team though. pittsburgh took care of us last week through a skid. but with ottawas top ling missing it might not matter how desperate they are for a win. thanks ben and go thrashers!
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Pingback: Tuesday Morning Skate Update « KARILA, The Epic of Kari Lehtonen
Wait, so the Sens have only scored one goal per game the past few games? So basically what you are saying is that they will score 3-4 quick goals in the first period against this team…..
It’s a sad sad day in Thrasherland……….
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Im stoked for this interview!
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Slater has more than earned a spot on the second line for a few games but I bet the lines go right back to the same way they have been almost all season. Unless the team scores 8 plus goals Don won’t put up with new lines for more than a game or two.
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I love the mix up of the lines. I have to agree with Kane, Little, and Slater. That could be a really good line. Slater has definitly earned that spot with his play as of late. I like dropping White and Kozlov because this just isn’t their year and if they wont to play more they should earn it. Glad to see Valabik back too. I can’t wait to see how this works out. I really think this shuffling could get some guys going. Once again, I love Kane, Little, and Slater.
GO THRASHERS!!!!!
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Just got back from the rink….. Entertaining game, good fisticuffs, well played, Pavs made some terrific saves. Kozzie looked good on that line…. made some beautiful feeds. Bobo played very well w/ some 17 min?
Bolts with the game opener on the Pp, and Thor played extremely well!
Kudos to all for a cohesive, team effort!
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Great job by Boults and company. Amazing when we play physical and actually cause havoc in front of goalies, we manage to get a victory. See.. that’s hockey, not floating around and expecting to win without even making contact with your opponent. I’m glad JA added grit to each line, I like it..but I still don’t think it’s anywhere near enough “grit”. We’ve had this problem for a long time now, obviously. This team will not continue to play that style, it isn’t built like that unfortunately. I wish we were tougher, go to Russia and get Gatton back!
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36, I could not agree more. Do we need the fleet footed scoring types? Absolutely, but again to agree with your point, we need to be absolutely nasty in our defensive zone starting at the blueline. The area in front of our goaltender must also be a painful place to be if you are the opposing team. That is hockey pure and simple.
We have size and a ton of skill, I love this team when both are taken advantage of fully, it equates to wins.
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Hey Ben… here’s something interesting for you to Post.
http://espn.go.com/nhl/notebook/_/page/buccigross_100112/ilya-kovalchuk-trade-talk-29-proposals-atlanta
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I’m going to be honest- I thought that piece was terribly flawed. If Kovy was interested in signing for the amount Buccigross suggested (a cap hit of $7.8 million) that deal would have been signed on July 2.
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Oh, absolutely… the article is garbage… but still something to read, none the less.
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