Seccondary Scoring (Kovy’s Missed Opportunity)

Recently, most of the scoring for the Thrashers has come from the top line of Todd White, Ilya Kovalchuk, and Marian Hossa. With that much talent on a line, you can expect for it to produce more than a fair share of scoring.

The line has done so well though that some people, including myself, have wanted to see another line step up to produce secondary scoring. What would happen if the Kovy-Hossa line had an off night?

Last night’s game answered that question. The game marked only the third time all season that the Thrashers have won without a goal from Ilya Kovalchuk. Check out the scorers from the game:

	G	A	Pts
Eric Boulton	1	0	1
Pascal Dupuis	1	0	1
Bobby Holik	0	1	1
Marian Hossa	1	0	1
Slava Kozlov	1	1	2
Steve McCarthy	0	1	1
Jimmy Slater	0	2	2
Chris Thorburn	0	1	1
Todd White	0	1	1

Anytime Jimmy Slater gets on the score sheet twice it is a good game. Add in a tally from Boulton and Dupuis, and the huge goal from Kozlov, it is all right if Kovy and Hossa aren’t carrying the load. Even Steve McCarthy added an assist (he didn’t manage to raise his -13 rating though…).

The secondary scoring is a great sign for the team, and the outlook on the season. It was a HUGE missed opportunity for Ilya Kovalchuk, though.

The game was broadcast nationally in Canada on TSN, their version of ESPN. The hockey-insane viewers in the Great White North were all tuned into Atlanta, and saw Pascal Dupuis and Eric Boulton score.

All season Thrashers fans and a small portion of the media have been hailing Kovy’s praises, crying foul that he is only 6^th in the all-star balloting, and fighting for respect for the league’s top goal scorer. We have argued that this is a Hart and Richard season for him, and that his immaturity from seasons past is finally gone.

How many folks tuned into the game, looking to see this new Kovy, only to see him go pointless? It really was a huge missed chance for him. If he could have managed to score a goal or two and an assist, his chances of starting in the ASG come January would have skyrocketed. As it stands now, it is going to be an uphill battle for Atlanta fans.

One off night for Kovy does not affect any opinions in Atlanta, but then again, it didn’t change any in Canada, either.

Postgame, vs. NJ Devils: The Brodeur Show

You can’t win them all. Cliché, but true. A lot of people will look at this game, see the 3-0 score, and overreact. Don’t.

This game came down to three key things: we just could not get a break, we played a very good defensive team, and we were facing arguably the best goaltender in history.

About the “breaks:” the last few games it is seemed that every bounce, rebound, etc. went our way. Passes were crisp, and found the streaking player right on the tape. Tonight was the exact opposite: nothing went our way, and then to not help things, it seemed that everyone’s timing was off.

Once the Devils went up by a goal, and especially up by two, they went into complete lockdown mode so well that it was hard to even enter the zone. They played the “we have the lead, now hold it” game to perfection. Kudos to them.

We got chances on Brodeur, but he played like one of the best of all time. Can’t do much about that.

Don’t blame Moose, he kept us in the game. Don’t blame the defense, they too kept us in the game. And don’t blame the offense, there were plenty of chances.

Bottom line is that there are losses that are unacceptable, and then there are games you lose and don’t really feel that bad about it. This game was the latter.

Best player for the Thrashers by far was Pascal Dupuis. He usually brings a lot of energy to the ice, but tonight he played at a major higher level that normal. He had a ton of great chances and amazing plays, and almost scored on two or three occasions.

I only have one comment about the refs. They missed a ton of calls, even to the point where I was commenting on should-have-been penalties on the Thrashers. Granted, they missed calls both ways. That wasn’t the problem. The problem I had with the game was how the refs reverted to pre-lockout rules and game-play. The hooks and the holds that aren’t allowable after 2005 did not get called tonight. Refs: call it fairly, but also call it by the rules. That’s what they are there for.

Hey look! The sellout streak continued.

In non-game news, Kari will report to Chicago tomorrow for rehab.

Tomorrow night the team is in Pittsburgh. Ondrej Pavelec is in goal, and hopefully the Thrashers will be able to start a new winning streak.

(AP Photo/Tami Chappell)

OUCH!

Tonight the Thrashers were taken out to slaughter by the San Jose Sharks. The final score was 5-1. I am just going to write as much as I can before I completely block tonight’s game from my memory because it was that bad. I would say this is pretty much the opposite of everything that happened in the past ten games. There was no teamwork, no hustle, no effort by the majority of the players.

The few players that played well in my opinion were Pascal Dupuis (1g), Slava Kozlov, and Johan Hedberg. Yes, Kari got pulled. Kari did not play horribly, but he wasn’t keeping us in the game either which we do depend on him to do. This game proved one thing to me personally and that is the strength of the Western Conference. San Jose was relentless. They were playing aggressive and fast after having already played a game the previous night. Their line shifts were so fast that there was never a break from the horror that was the Thrashers defense tonight.

I think the defense deserves the most blame for this loss. They played afraid. They were too afraid of San Jose to make aggressive moves to keep the puck in our offensive zone and even when they played back they didn’t play well. They couldn’t clear the crease. They couldn’t clear anything as a matter of fact, especially the puck out of the zone. The only offense they were willing to execute was the long pass for a break away. Overall, I am not too upset because I think that the Thrashers can and will bounce back from this because of the leaders we have on this team. Also, I think the referees made a few mistakes which sort of threw off the little bit of momentum the Thrashers had after scoring the first goal of the game.

BREAKING: Thrashers Acquire Pascal Dupuis

The Thrashers have acquired Pascal Dupuis from the NY Rangers in exchange for Alex Bourret. Dupuis is a left wing who has tallied 68 goals and 74 assists in 340 NHL games. Analysis to come later.

UPDATE: According to TSN, the trade was Pascal Dupuis for Alex Bourret and a third round draft pick.

UPDATE: From the Thrashers, Atlanta gets Pascal and a third round pick for Bourret. TSN had a little mistake on that one.