Thrashers Outplay Predators-Lose Game and Perhaps Playoffs
by The Falconer on Mar 10, 2010 7:33 AM EST
in Opinion
38 comments
If the hockey gods were just, the Atlanta Thrashers would have won last night. With their backs against the wall the team put forth one of their best efforts of the entire season. In my previous post, I questioned whether this team could adjust--and last night I watched them adjust:
- They released their shots MUCH more quickly.
- The recognized that the opposing goalie was allowing rebounds on nearly every shot and they threw pucks at the net.
- They were patient and made D-to-D passes in their own zone until they could set up a proper breakout.
- They managed to get through the neutral zone consistently against a good defensive team.
- Their goalie played well and gave them a chance to win.
- They battled hard for pucks along the wall and for rebounds in front of the net.
- They were unselfish with the puck and moved it to the open man.
If life was fair they would have exited that game with 2 points, but life is not always fair. Many times during this season the Thrashers only played hard in the 3rd period and came away with points. Last night they played hard for three periods and ended up with nothing to show for it. If the team played with that level of intensity all the time they would not be a desperate position.
Instead, the Predators scored a power play goal off of a nice play and they got a gift goal courtesy of a mistake by Mark Popovic. After the game he said it bounced on him. It might have, but he simply has to bear down and limit the damage in that situation. He could have at least kicked or pushed the puck out of danger. At worst, Popovic could have probably saved a goal by hooking or tripping the attacking Predator player. Taking a penalty would have decreased the Predators chances of getting a goal from 30-40% (penalty shot success rate) to 22% (power play percentage).
Would Schubert have made the same mistake? Would Kulda have handled it better? There is no way to know the answer to that question. It would be grossly unfair to say the Thrashers blew their playoff chances because of a single bad play. The Thrashers were in this precarious position because of their free fall back in December and their weak effort in the two games prior. If you're going to point fingers there are plenty of scapegoats to go around.
The thing that frustrates me the most is that the team played so hard and came up so empty. Last night was easily one of the five most entertaining games of the season. My heart was in my throat the whole night. They stormed all around the net and just couldn't catch a break. At one point Antropov carried the puck behind the net and Ellis came totally out of the net. All Nik needed to do was loft the puck off the body of the Thrasher standing in the crease and it would have deflected into the yawning net--that would have tied the game up.
This was the closest thing to playoff intensity we've seen at Philips Arena in a long time. But this is March and there are no moral victories anymore. It is crunch time and you either win those crucial points or you don't. There are no gold stars for good effort. Here's what I believe: if the Thrashers played as hard as they did last night, they would make the playoffs. But I have no reason to think they can put forward that effort level on a consistent basis after watching them stumble against Tampa and Carolina this week.
So what would it take? I think 89 points will probably be enough to get into the post-season. The Thrashers April schedule is brutal I don't expect them to do much better than 2-2-1 next month. That means the Thrashers need to go 9-3 in the remaining games in March. That's a .750 Winning Percentage the rest of the month. They need to win 3 games for every 1 they lose in regulation. To do that would require a very high effort level every night the rest of the way, and honestly I just can't see this roster sustaining that for the next 12 games.
The only other path to the post-season requires that they just get lucky. They need Boston to fall apart with Marc Savard sidelined with a concussion. They need Montreal to succumb to the intense pressure that comes with playing in that particular market. They need the Rangers to stumble. But such a scenario is highly improbable--three teams all struggling with the playoffs on the line? I'm not holding my breath for that to happen.
But this particular string has not yet been played out completely. There is still a small chance for success. I'll be there on Twitter living and dying with every big play on Thursday night. I must admit that it was been almost intoxicating being in the playoff hunt again. Playing meaningful games in March has reminded me just how exhilarating and exasperating it can be to watch hockey on the edge of your seat with your hands clenched from sheer tension. I don't need any finger nail clippers these days. I don't want this ride to stop...but it will if this team fails to win both of the next two games. It is do or die time.
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I’m an Antropov fan, but I admit to just being completely dumbfounded on the play you mentioned where he just kept the puck. I’ve seen plenty of less skilled opposition players make that play.
I admire your optimism in hoping for 5 points in April. That’s certainly possible, but my prediction is 2. I think we’d both agree that the Thrashers need to be securely in the top 8 by the time April rolls around or they probably aren’t going to go to the playoffs. If they can get 5 or more points in April against 3 of the best 4 teams in the East, all of whom will be motivated to win those games, they’ll have accomplished quite a feat.
I must be on drugs
I’m sorry I saw a different game (I am in the upperbowl so that could distort things). 6 shots in the first and 9 in the second – Enstrom taken down by a player without a stick – Antropov – Colby not shooting on the rush – if this was playoff intensity no wonder we were 0-4 the one time we made them. No emotion – break a stick – beatup somebody.
When the goal was reveresed Anderson should have thrown gear on the ice – it doesn’t matter if the call was right or not – someone has to show some sort of outward proof the team wants to play. After Sunday it was we have to lick our wounds – what are we licking now.
Go Trash! Beat columbus
Not just you
I think they came out flat as well. They picked it up a bit in spurts, but mostly, they just don’t give a crap.
NAS was missing their best Dman and the Thrahsers couldn’t do anything to take advantage of that. It’s a Torontonian collapse.
Cheap by the former captain
the former captain takes a cheap shot – http://www.nj.com/devils/index.ssf/2010/03/back-to-back_losses_spark_rene.html
Grow up! Seriously, grow up!
Here’s a quote from the article:
“Ilya Kovalchuk never remembers a team meeting being called after two straight losses during his 7 1/2 seasons with the Atlanta Thrashers.”
Kovy has very few comments in the article. Basically he says that the Thrashers never had any sense of urgency when he was there. The truth hurts. But the truth is not a cheap shot.
It was and still is a cheap shot
Doesn’t the Captain call meetings as well – wasn’t he the captain? Prior to that if he was a leader – shouldn’t he have tried to call meetings.
by thrasherspuck on Mar 10, 2010 10:03 AM EST up reply actions
Yeah, ok, whatever. Keep grasping at those straws.
by CuckooForKovalchuk on Mar 10, 2010 10:08 AM EST up reply actions
Why didn't Kovalchuk call a meeting?
I seem to recall him being captain for a solid year. The team certainly could have used some focus in December when they fell apart.
All things Thrashers + stats: www.birdwatchersanonymous.com
by The Falconer on Mar 10, 2010 10:09 AM EST up reply actions
A Culture of Losing
Why didn’t ANYONE call a meeting? I seem to recall there being other captains and coaches.
by CuckooForKovalchuk on Mar 10, 2010 10:12 AM EST up reply actions
Atlanta Spirit Group: Where Failure is an Option
This isn’t the first time they’ve fallen apart. This isn’t the first time they’ve played like crap. This isn’t the first time they’ll miss the playoffs. This isn’t the first time no one has been held accountable. Kovalchuk is not to blame. The real culprits are the owners who year after year have shown little interest in creating a winning hockey team and a culture that demands excellence from anyone – including the captains, the coaches and management.
This organization has only one history: losing. It doesn’t matter who is on the ice when apathy permeates the whole organization from the top down, mediocre is considered success and failure is tolerated.
by CuckooForKovalchuk on Mar 10, 2010 10:32 AM EST up reply actions
Hardly a cheap shot
Simply saying there was never urgency to call a team meeting after a two game losing streak?
by TheBrickwall on Mar 10, 2010 9:16 AM EST up reply actions
How is that a shot?
He’s right. This team is and always has been apathetic.
They went almost 2 MONTHS without winning a game in regulation. How many meetings were called by anyone? Not the coach. Not the captain. Nobody cares and nobody is held accountable. They all just collect paychecks.
This team has a loser mentality. They expect and accept losing. Obviously NJ doesn’t.
Other than the trade deadline during the playoff year...
has anybody shown a sense of urgency? The Thrashers have always shown a “well those are the breaks” type of attitude. Someone, someone please show a pulse.
This. Exactly This.
As if Kovy is the only person who could ever have possibly taken a leadership position with this team. Like Pogue said, no one is held accountable, and that starts with ASG. Losing is accepted.
by CuckooForKovalchuk on Mar 10, 2010 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
Disallowed Goal
Does anyone understand/agree with the disallowed goal call? I was sitting directly behind Ellis and (even after watching the replay) I have absolutely no clue how that was disallowed. If the puck is in the crease, the player has as much right to it as the goaltender. Maybe I am in the same boat as Anderson and just dont understand the rule…
The goaltender has a right to play the puck. Contact with the player (thorburn? prevented that. It’s the players responsibility to not interfere with the goalie.
Perplexed
If it was goaltender interference then why was there no penalty? If the play was blown dead, i.e. the goaltender had the puck, why was the face-off brought outside the zone. It seems to me that the referee didn’t know what to call and made something up.
Falconer
Sorry for your pain, I really am. I wish they could be the team you want them to be. I wish we had a team worthy of the passion displayed in your posts and on this site. Settling for “consistent” is just painful, and we’re not even getting that now.
Fire ASG.
by CuckooForKovalchuk on Mar 10, 2010 9:19 AM EST reply actions
Wow...I must be losing something by not having the high (or is it hi-def)
Falc, buddy, ole pal …. seriously one of the 5 most entertaining games of the season? The game that I watched on TV lacked flow, energy, playmaking (yes that was a shot at you Army….“Thrashers with a developing 3-1……that just turned into a 3-4 with no shot on goal”) or emotion. From a “hockey” fan’s perspective that was as about as exciting and emotionally engaging as watching two teams play a 10:40pm game at the Cooler. Just two random teams just shuffling a puck along for two hours. That’s not just a shot at the Thrash, that was a shot at a piss-poor product the NHL trots out there on far too many nights.
I think everyone is letting the outcome color their perception of the game. I was sitting at the top of 100s and thought the intensity was great even if the finish was lacking.
All things Thrashers + stats: www.birdwatchersanonymous.com
by The Falconer on Mar 10, 2010 10:11 AM EST up reply actions
Totally agree Matt
I still like the make-up of our team and hope we can figure out how to bring an urgency every night…….Bergfors, Kane, Little, McArthur, Kulda, Enstrom, Bogosian and more coming through the Dudley pipeline……..
Ellis & Staying out of the Box
I watched Dan Ellis win that game for Nashville…….. He will be a FA this summer and should go on our list of goaltenders to consider……. I’m convinced Pavs is not the answer
On another note, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot by taking significantly more penalties than our opponent……. I do have to say I was flabbergasted by the no call, when Toby was pulled down on the boards by the Predator who had lost his stick
Until we have a group of owners that care about winning and being competitive, I don’t see much point in going over what’s wrong. they don’t care. Why should we?
I do have a stat question. How many minutes did Pops play after that giveaway?
Owners counter argument
Phoenix Coyotes are going to the playoffs with the 2nd lowest payroll in the NHL and they are owned by the other 29 teams. Can we really put it all on ownership? The management, coaching and players all deserve some blame IMO. There is nothing stopping the players from taking charge of their own locker room.
All things Thrashers + stats: www.birdwatchersanonymous.com
by The Falconer on Mar 10, 2010 11:48 AM EST up reply actions
You’ve obviously never worked for someone who was ambivalent about you or the job you do. When you boss doesn’t care if your work is excellent, average, or sub par it tends to affect your performance over time. I should think a smart guy like you would know that. I guess I need to spend more time with you at the game.
Would you guys be interested in something like a contest to win seats with me and Falconer? We could probably work out a few games per year where we give away a pair of tickets with us to somebody who writes the best guest post or something…
What do you think, Falconer? Up to sitting with yours truly and some of the riff-raff?
Or is that just a stupid idea?
C'mon Bongo
You really can’t tell me that your performance on an hourly or daily basis is influenced by the attitude of the Board Room can you? Hmmmm.
Try working for an organization that is run by a private equity firm that’s only interest is slashing 45% of operating expense of the company so they can flip it. Really makes you want to get out of bed everyday when you know that the company you work has no effing interest in serving its customers or employees.
by TheBrickwall on Mar 10, 2010 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks timmy. How many real NHL teams would have let him back on the ice after costing us that goal?
If the Thrashers played as hard as they did last night!?
I disagree that the game was exciting to watch or that there was much effort. The first period was boring as usual and that’s where they lost the game. It picked up in the second but it was too late. We have no finish. With the exception of Bergford, Little, Kubina and Pavs, no one seemed to care much. We saw more intensity from a few minutes Artyukin got as opposed to Armstrong or Afinagenov. I think the team pretty much gave up on the season.
Can someone more knowledgeable about the hockey biz help me out here? I’ve played, watched, even coached sports all my life, but I don’t get the game roster, healthy scratches, etc thing in this game. In most sports, those who perform well continue to play. Those who don’t ride the pine. So for those “professionals” who need a little extra motivation to show up, it somewhat provides the incentive.
I get the thing about Koslov going up against the coach and being benched indefintely…But shouldn’t he be GONE, as in being sent down to Chicago for someone who can/will play? Boulton seemed to be playing very well recently (and not just looking for some fight). So then he doesn’t play at all? Guys make boneheaded plays and still go out shift after shift. Toby – as Falconer and others have pointed out – rarely takes a shot, but I swear he was out on at least one of the PPs last night! These things make no sense to me and they appear to be COACHING issues…
Last night we lost specifically because of 2 plays. You can argue ownership issues, effort, luck of the puck, etc all day and night but 2 plays cost us that game – Army’s stupid arse penalty in the 1st and Popovic’s fumble. I also happen to think we were jobbed by the official on the Thorburn “no goal”…But the other 2 plays were directly responsible for the Pred’s 2 goals. Is there no “perform or ride the pine” philosophy in the NHL or is it just a Thrashers/Anderson thing?
Why aren’t underperforming players sent down more often, even weekly, and others that are hungrier called up? For example, Cheli is clearly ready to show up and perform. I predict we get a boost just from the new energy he’ll bring. And how does a guy like Boulton, who I believe took 3 shots in last Tuesday’s game, get back on ice? Does it take an injury for a “healthy scratch” to even get into the game? Are there rules controlling the number of roster changes and “send downs and call ups” a team can do or is Anderson just trying to keep the lines consistent, even if it’s consistently underperforming?
Granted, professionals fighting for a playoff berth shouldn’t need extra incentives to perform. But there doesn’t seem to be any “penalty” for just going out and skating in circles as opposed to leaving everything on the ice. It seems to be a recipe for inconsistency. Sorry for my ignorance, but I grew up in S GA and they didn’t even show hockey on tv down there in those days (not even WTBS!)…I’d just like to understand some of the logic behind the roster changes (or lack of).
by My3(Thrasher)Sons on Mar 10, 2010 6:25 PM EST reply actions
I am assuming there will be no post explaining how well the Thrashers played vs. the Blue Jackets tonight.
I did not see much difference in the effort for either game. Lazy, sloppy, uninspired hockey.
New episode for Mythbusters: Debunking the Kovalchuk Effect.
by TheBrickwall on Mar 11, 2010 11:06 PM EST up reply actions
Listen to the show on Saturday. We’ll try to figure it out by then…
by timmyf on Mar 11, 2010 11:18 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
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Southeast Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Washington
|
82 | 54 | 15 | 13 | 121 |
|
Atlanta
|
82 | 35 | 34 | 13 | 83 |
|
Carolina
|
82 | 35 | 37 | 10 | 80 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 80 |
|
Florida
|
82 | 32 | 37 | 13 | 77 |
(updated 4.12.2010 at 9:21 AM EDT)
Thrashers Schedule
Next 5 Games
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Washington
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Fri 10/08 | 7:30 PM EDT |
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@
Tampa Bay
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Sat 10/09 | 7:30 PM EDT |
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@
Los Angeles
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Tue 10/12 | 10:30 PM EDT |
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@
Anaheim
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Fri 10/15 | 10:00 PM EDT |
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@
San Jose
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Sat 10/16 | 10:30 PM EDT |
Last 5 Games
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Pittsburgh
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Sat 04/10 | W 1 - 0 |
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@
Washington
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Fri 04/09 | L 2 - 5 |
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New Jersey
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Tue 04/06 | L 0 - 3 |
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@
Pittsburgh
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Sat 04/03 | OT - L 3 - 4 |
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@
Washington
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Thu 04/01 | L 1 - 2 |
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