Thrashers Game Report - 10/28/08

Philadelphia Flyers 7 - Atlanta Thrashers 0
(aka "Creamed Corn")



Use it in a phrase : "The Thrashers play was about as inspirational as a plate of creamed corn".

Perhaps I should use this advice.

Boxscore

Lowlights

This was easily the worst game I've seen by the Thrashers this season. In each prior contest they were at least competitive. In each prior contest they at least had significant stretches where they played hard and out fought the other team. None of that happened this night.

I don't want to feed the negativity surrounding the team so I'm going to keep this to the point. Although writing these entries can be therapuetic at times, nothing I can do today will rid the images of the horrible performance last night.

It started with a less than packed house. I estimated less than 8000 in attendance for a middle of the week game. I so wish I was one of those that didn't buy a ticket or stayed home.

There were a number of Flyer fans in attendance but none more annoying than the guy sitting at top of section 409. He apparently got an early start at the bar proudly delaring he was already drunk and was yelling the praise of his Flyers with such witty remarks as "how many playoff games has your team won" and "how many times have they sipped champagne from The Cup". Good thing I got my barb in early, "how many times have the Flyers sipped in your lifetime - bitch". This fan and a Thrasher's fan in section 412 were yelling across at each other all night long. Unfortunately, there was no fight to entertain me. At least then the night wouldn't have been a waste. DAMNIT!

Things started poorly for the Thrashers. Less than two minutes in, Enstrom made another bad turnover at the top of the Flyers zone. This turned into a scoring opportunity for the Flyers that Lupol easily turned into a 1-0 lead.

All game long the Thrashers were outhustled to the puck. All game long the Thrashers passes hit their intended target in the feet or missed their intended target all together. They had serious problems handling the puck and failed several easy clearing attempts. They looked like a pee wee hockey team. At one point all I could do was laugh.

Whenever the Thrashers made a mistake the Flyers were ready to capitalize. Somehow they managed to stay in the game being down only 2-0 with less than 25 seconds to go in the 2nd period. With the Thrashers on the power play, Kovy received a pass at the left point. Without a clear shooting lane, he looked to the right point to pass. I screamed "CAREFUL!" but apparently he didn't he me from up in the rafters and didn't see Gagne waiting up top for that exact pass. No sooner did the puck leave Kovy's stick than Gagne stepped up, brokeaway and burried the puck behind Kari. Thrashers now down 3-0 and Kovy's digust got him 2 minutes for unsportsmanlike conduct. When he continued arguing when the period was over he got an additional 2 minutes.

I'll take a sidebar here. I am officially ending my campaign for Kovy for captain. It is acceptable for a captain to make mistakes. However, it is not acceptable for a captain to magnify that mistake by taking an additional 4 minutes. Although he may have been the best Thrasher on the ice for most of the game, his play and reaction at the end of 2nd period also made him the worst Thrasher for this game. Although it's highly unlikely, I'm throwing my support behind Hainsey for captain. Now where is my polling place.

If the shorthanded goal didn't do it the ensuing 4 minute penalty sealed the game. Two more powerplay goals stretched the margin to 5-0.

I never leave games early, maybe once in over 100 games. On this night I thought about leaving when it was 4-0. I considered again when it was 5-0. At 6-0, I finally walked out. I really wanted to find customer service and ask for my money back but I'd wasted enough of my time. I heard the final 7-0 tally on the ride home.

I wanted to say they neither team played all that great but it is hard to condemn a team that wins 7-0. The Flyers took advantage of every mistake the Thrashers made and they made plenty.

Lehtonen cannot be blamed for this loss. Sure, he could have made a spectacular save to make it 5-0 instead of 7-0 but on every goal he was pretty much hung out to dry. No goalie could have won it behind the Thrashers on this night.

I know it is customary to award a goalie that gets a shutout with one of the stars of the game but Nittymaki didn't deserve that honor tonight. I counted only 2 really good scoring chances by the Thrashers and only one really good save. This isn't a knock against the Finn more against the Thrashers pitiful performance.

Time to move on. The game against the Rangers now becomes a very important game. The Thrashers must show they can bounce back from a horrid performance. A win would be ideal, a hard played performance is mandatory. If not, we can start the "we want Tavarres" chants now. I had to bite my tongue to keep from starting them last night.

A final note. It is my opinion that coach Anderson needs to sit Enstrom down for a game. Let him view it from above and lets see if there are some other defensive combinations that might work. Enstrom is pressing a bit much and it is leading to too many mistakes. Put him back in there after a night off and move on. Hopefully it'll be the last time this kind of move is necessary.

Thrashers Game Report - 10/18/08

Atlanta Thrashers 3 - Buffalo Sabres 2 (SO)
(aka "Salting the Slugs")

Box Score

Highlights


What is it about Buffalo fans. I can't figure out if a ton of them follow the team to Atlanta or there is just a very large local following. Either way they are some of the most obnoxious fans in the NHL. Only the original six bring more enemy fans into Philips Arena. The Sabre fans get started early. On this occasion they filled the arena concourse, walking in large packs, beating drums and shouting "Let's Go Sabres". Atlanta fans, myself included, got an early start on our corresponding "Go Home Buffalo" chants. There is weird hatred between these two groups.

The Buffalo fans didn't have much to cheer about early as the Thrashers had their best performance of the season during the first period. They out shot the Sabres 19-6 and controlled play throughout. The Thrashers got on the scoreboard first when White delivered a nice outlet pass to Kovy who settled the puck and broke away. A nice chip shot top shelf and the score was 1-0 "Go Home Buffalo".

The Thrashers should have had a few more goals in the first. Numerous power plays resulted in nothing and Lalime came up big in net. I was greatly relieved when they got a second goal on more nice work by White that resulted in a pretty Bryan Little goal. 2-0 "Go Home Buffalo" as the period came to a close.

I knew the Thrashers couldn't keep up the pace in the 2nd and I knew Buffalo would come out stronger after undoubtedly being chewed out by coach Lindy Ruff. However, the Thrashers continued to play strong hockey and did what was necessary to keep the Sabres off the board. Only when the Thrashers were down two men late in the period did the Sabres finally put one past Lehtonen to make it 2-1.

The third period played much like the second. Thrashers did what they had to do to keep Buffalo in check but couldn't mount much pressure. Another power play opportunity was squandered but the penalty killing was strong. A nearly mistake free game was ruined late though as Boulton mishandled a puck near the blueline. Instead of simply chipping the puck out of the zone, he broke inside only to have the puck stolen and quickly put on net. Kari didn't handle the rebound well and Pominville easily tapped the puck into the net for the tying goal with less than 4 minutes left.

The rest of the game and OT played out much like the second and third periods. Both teams had opportunities but neither could finish. As much as I hate the shootout it was probably a good thing for the Thrashers as I got the feeling the longer it went the more likely the Slugs would have come out on top.

The first successful shootout attempt was made by Kovalchuk but was answered by Stafford. Kozlov, shooting in an unfamiliar 3rd position did his usual anyway, converting on the shootout and getting the game winning goal as Vanek's shot went wide of the net. "Go Home Buffalo".

Overall I think this was one of the Thrashers' best games ever. There wasn't a lot of scoring but there were plenty of opportunities. Their defense was extremely sound with Hainsey having a great performance, Bogosian sound and Schneider his best outing yet. Lehtonen continued his strong start and Little is looking like he could be the offensive threat the Thrashers desperately need. They went toe to toe against one of the better teams in the league, who got very good goaltending from their backup and still came out on top.

Thrashers Game Report - 10/10/08

Atlanta Thrashers 7 - Washington Capitals 4
Box Score
Game Highlights

The Capitals control play early while the Thrashers have difficulty clearing the defensive zone. In the end this results in Zach Bogosian (ZeBo) taking a penalty. Capitals have several good scoring chances but Kari makes some great stops. Only one that gets by is played with a high stick and waved off. Video review confirms it.

Zebo also gets the first shot on goal for the Thrashers. But its the other new defenseman, Hainsey who scores the first goal of the season, on the power play, for the Thrashers off a rebound chance created by White, Williams also gets an assist. Hainsey stepped up on the play, something the Thrashers defensemen did with regularity this night.

Next up it is Reasoner who gets a rebound off a Bryan Little shot, Perrin with the second assist.

Thrashers make it 3-0 when Havelid makes a nice outlet pass to Bryan Little who breaks away and scores a goal through Theodore's 5 hole.

Unfortunately on the next shift the Thrashers give it right back on a soft shot from the point. The first period ends with the Thrashers up 3-1.

Eight minutes into the second period, Washington commits a penalty giving the Thrashers a great opportunity to build on their lead. Instead a breakdown leads to any easy Capitals shorthanded goal off a rebound.

Fortunately, the Thrashers answer quick with another nice outlet pass by Havelid. This time Kozlov is the recipient. He fakes a pass to Little and scores chasing Theodore from net.

With seven minutes left in the second period and the Thrashers up by two, Reasoner inadvertently gets a high stick up on a Capital, cutting him. The resulting 4 minute penalty results in two almost identical cross-ice passing goals, both by Green. Things are all tied up as Thrasher fans think "here we go again". Period ends in 4-4 tie.

Less the 4 minutes into the period, Washington creates pressure on the Thrashers net. A rebound finds its way behind Kari. With no choice, Enstrom flops on it but a non-goalie covering the puck in the crease is a penalty shot and the ref is quick to reward it. Its reigning Hart Trophy (MVP), Art Ross Trophy (goals scored) winner Alexander Ovechkin taking the penalty shot. He makes a nice move on Lehtonen but can't get the puck over Kari's glove hand. CHICKEN DENIED! Crowd goes ballistic.

The stop appears to be the catalyst for the Thrashers as they score 3 goals in less than two and half minutes. First it Little again. Then its Armstrong with the tally. Finally Kovalchuk finally gets on the scoring sheet with a nice pass across the crease to a wide open Todd White who taps it in. Suddenly it is 7-4 Thrashers and the building is pumping the loudest it has been since game two of playoff series in 2007.

All that left is for Washington to goon it up. The last five minutes is filled by 3 fights which for some reason don't show up in the box score. None of these fights are very significant in duration although king of the goons, Donald Brashear goes at it again the rookie, Bogosian who was a bit outmatched.

Quite an opening night for the Thrashers and their fans. A less than capacity house sees a very entertaining game. Amazing to see the Thrashers score 7 goals without Kovalchuk scoring one of them.

It was absolutely great to see so many contributions from relatively new Thrashers. Little, Reasoner, Hainsey, In addition to Little, Reasoner and Armstrong all showed up on the scoring sheet.

Little, Havelid and Lehtonen were the three stars and all deserved it. Lehtonen kept them in it early, faced 43 shots and most importantly shutdown Ovechkin on the penalty shot when the score was tied.

Bogosian had an up and down night. He has some nice defensive plays and got off a nice shot or two. However, he also took a couple of penalties and was beaten on a couple of occasions. He's the youngest Thrasher ever playing in his first NHL contest. I'll cut him some slack.

The Thrashers still have a lot of room for improvement. They allowed way too many shots, 43 and had trouble clearing the defensive zone on multiple occasions. Still dumping the puck too many times. But any time you keep Ovechkin off the scoresheet, you are doing something right.

However, it certainly was a great way to start the season and here's hoping there are many more like it.

NHL Predictions

It seems like only yesterday that Lidstrom was raising The Cup to celebrate the Detroit Red Wings' victory in game 6 over the Pittsburgh Penguins. In reality, it was 4 months ago. Here we are again on the cusp of yet another NHL season. Sorry folks, I don't consider a couple of games overseas as the start of the season. Instead, it'll happen when the Red Wings raise the banner in Joe Louis Arena before playing their long-time rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.


I'll start by looking at my two favorite teams at opposite ends of the spectrum, the Atlanta Thrashers and the Detroit Red Wings. But before I do, there is one significant change in the NHL that I think will have a huge bearing on playoff seatings. This year there will be more interconference games (East vs West) and less division games. This is long overdue. It was silly that over the course of an 82 game season that each team was not playing each other at least once. Plus it allows all the original six to get together once again.



Detroit Red Wings


It's awful hard to see a reason why this team can't win the championship once again. Their only significant losses were Hasek (retirement) and Drake (retirement). Hasek was certainly past his prime and he didn't make it past the first round of the playoffs before being replaced by the more consistent Osgood. Drake, while a significant piece, was only a 4th line forward. The Wings have many players who can fill his role.


How did they improve? Somehow they managed to get the best free-agent forward available in Marian Hossa. He fits their system perfectly as Hossa is equally adept scoring goals and playing defense. No team in the league had better two-way forwards last year and the Wings just added another one. With Datsyuk centering Hossa, Hossa will get plenty of scoring chances. The overall talent level on the Wings second line is better than the top line of at least 75% of the NHL teams. Teams are going to have a very hard time shutting down the Wings offense.


The Franzen factor. No player in the league was hotter than Franzen heading into the playoffs last year. He scored a sick 29 goals in 26 games and wasn't slowed down until a concussion hit him in the second round. Despite that, he became a factor again in the finals and nearly won the Conn Smyth trophy. It doesn't look like he intends on slowing down either. He had a strong preseason and will likely get even more playing time on the first line and powerplay. It's a contract year for Franzen and he could easily catapult himself into a huge payday.


At this time last year, I was trumpting Zetterberg for league MVP. Some early and late season injuries derailed that but he came out on top as playoff MVP. I think he can be in the mix once again. Although not quite the goal scorer Ovechkin or Crosby are, his defensive game is much better than those two. Datsyuk is just as good although he plays a craftier role. His work with puck is just incredible and he led the league in steals.


There are a series of young forwards who've gained valuable experience and are also ready to take on bigger roles. I think this may be a breakout year for Filppula. They've got so much depth at forward that two NHL ready players, Leino & Helm couldn't fit and were sent to Grand Rapids.


The defense was the best in the league last year and appears to be stronger. The solid corp of Lidstrom, Rafalski, Stuart and Kronwall are back and a lot of quality players are ready to make the leap to the next level. Chelios seems content to take a minor role and he'll have to as the young guys are ready to take on bigger roles. Ericsson, another late round steal, looks ready for the NHL but gets caught up in the numbers game and sent to Grand Rapids. He won't be there long.


The other big offseason acquisition was in goal where Ty Conklin was added as a backup. He more than proved his value when he almost single handedly kept the Penguins afloat when Crosby and Fluery were out for and extended period. He is comfortable in the backup role and will likely play in 20-25 games. Osgood is better at this point in his career than ever before. More sound technically and more sound mentally, his calmness saved the Wings during the playoffs last year. Face it, a Wings goalie doesn't have to win games by himself. Rather, he just has work with the defense in front off him and bounce back from poor outings.


All that being said, repeating as champs is a difficult process. A lot of things have to fall into place. Teams already raise their level of play against the Wings and I expect it to kick up a notch. Playing more games against the East should actually boost the Red Wings record as that means less travel for them since they are an Easterly West Conference team. I think they parlay that into the best record in the regular season. The playoffs are different beast. In reality usually 12 of the 16 teams that make it in have a shot at winning. As much as I want to pick the Wings to win the cup again, I'm thinking they come up just a bit short.


Atlanta Thrashers


Here we go again. Almost 10 years into the Thrashers existence and we've got only one playoff series to show for it. That one resulted in an embarassing 4 game sweep. Now, 18 months later, the team is back at the bottom.


Last year at this time I was disturbed the Thrashers didn't see the light and make the major changes necessary to retool for the future instead of clinging to minor success of winning the division and MAKING the playoffs. In some ways I understood that, they really had no young players ready to play at the NHL level and fill the spots. Fortunately, it looks like this offseason was handled differently and I believe it is for the better. Unforunately, the process is going to take some time. It's like we're back at year 3 once again.


A lot of what should make the Thrashers better are some subtractions. First, Hartley is gone for good and actually has a replacement in Anderson. Holik and Zhitnik are gone and with it goes the two of worst work ethics in the organization.


The nucleus to the makeover and my hope for the future lies with the youth in the organization. The started when Hossa and Dupois were traded to Pittsburgh for Christensen, Armstrong, Esposito and 1st round pick. It continued with the drafting of Zach Bogosian third overall in the June draft. Other young players like Enstrom, Little and Thorburn will take on larger roles while still young players like Kovalchuk (25) and Lehtonen (24) are the backbones for the team.


It didn't stop there. Instead of the usual process of bringing in aging veterans to fill holes, the Thrashers looked to younger players on the rise. In comes winger Jason Williams and defenseman Ron Hainsey. There is some risk involved with these acquisitions but I think it is a lot better approach.


The Thrashers didn't stand pat with its veterans either. Reasoner was brought as a improvement over Holik and Schneider was acquired as an improvement over Klee when Anaheim was forced to deal him due to salary cap issues.


Overall, I can't see how this won't be a better team. The question is really how long will it take to see that as Ws in the standings. For it to turn around quickly, all the new players are going to have to make an impact, Kozlov and Exelby must rebound from poor seasons, Kari must improve his consistency and rebound control, Enstrom cannot take a step back, the young players have to contribute and coach Anderson must build an identiy for this team with a strong system. That's a lot of IFs.


If nothing else they should be better on the defensive end (can they get much worse?). More playmakers and puck movers abound. No more slow footed defensemen. This should help the offense and especially the powerplay. They've got some holes up front and no significant scoring threat outside Kovalchuk. Hope is that they get a surprise out of Christensen, Williams, Armstrong or White/Kozlov can regain a their form.


Realistically, I'm hoping for a team that is more competitive and one that grows stronger as the season progresses. I think it is too much to ask for anything more than fighting for the 8th playoff spot. Once again it is all about baby steps and doing what they can to gain some respectability in the league. I think they can do it but it may be painful, at times, to watch the process.


NHL Predictions


EASTERN CONFRENCE

1. Canadiens - 100th season a charm. Nice well rounded team that should get better. Dangerous on the powerplay and adept at defense. Goaltending still the biggest question mark.

2. Penguins - Really tough battle in the Atlantic is won out by team with the offensive weapons. Gonchar's injury hurts.

3. Capitals - Not ready to put them into the upper class just yet but the team is certainly capable of dominating the Southeast Division. Team on the major upswing. Choosing Theodore as a goalie may come back to bite them.

4. Senators - People are way too quick to count this team out. Still a ton of talent up front and enough growing young talent. Coaching change should get the team back on track.

5. Flyers - Last season was a huge success but with it comes lofty expectations. They are built well for the future but need another year for defense to come around.


6. Rangers - Lundqvist better be able to carry the load because I think there are some questions with scoring up front. Jagr's loss will be felt but it'll be better for the team in the long run. Sundin could win them the division IF they can do it without losing talent and do it early in the season.


7. Sabres - Recovery process after losing Briere and Drury should be over. Ruff will bring the this team back.


8. Hurricanes - Getting healthy and improvements on defense will get this team back to the playoffs but the trip won't last long as an infusion of youth is desperately needed.

------

9. Bruins - They'll come up short as they probably should have last season. Secondary scoring is desperately needed to improve.


10. Lightning - A lot of nice pieces in place but simply too many changes to turn it around in one season. Struggles scoring in first two contests not a good sign. Good thing they get to play in the Southeast.


11. Devils - Every year I think this team will take a tumble and this one is no different. This team got old awful fast and their solution was to add Holik and Rolston? Broduer will have to carry the team again.


12. Thrashers - Not where I want to see them but I have a hard time seeing them much higher. They'll need to take full advantage of games against the Southeast to do any better.


13. Panthers - How long this team can stay competitive depends on how long they can keep Bouwmeester in the fold. Once he's traded (and I think it'll come sooner rather than later), the team is sunk.


14. Leafs - For years Toronto management ignored the need for this team to get younger and instead clung onto the misguided notion that they were only a player or two away from The Cup. Now, they're paying the price. It'll probably get worse before it gets better.


15. Islanders - Similar to the Thrashers, the Islanders are going with youth. Unfortunately, they don't have a player as dynamic as Kovalchuk or a sound defense. If DiPietro's hips continue to be a problem, this team could be a doormat for years.


WESTERN CONFERENCE

1. Red Wings - The team won't have a letdown because Babcock won't allow it. Too much talent up front and on the back end to not overpower most teams. They'll continue to face a stiffer challenge from the likes of Chicago but take advange of the weak sisters.

2. Stars - Success in the playoffs will form a nice building block to this season. Fiesty physical club will be tough to beat in close games.

3. Flames - Appear to be gooning it up for even more physical play. That'll be enough to take the relatively weak Northwest division but'll be their downfall in the playoffs. Watch Keenan unfold before your eyes.

4. Sharks - Wilson out and former Wings assistant McClellan in at coach will bring a more disciplined approach to a team deseperatly in need of it. They may struggle to find the identity early but it is all about playoffs for this underachieving bunch.


5. Ducks - Issues are with scoring but they make up for it with a strong defense, good goaltending and coaching. Good thing for them Selanne decided to return. They desperately need secondary scoring to emerge.


6. Blackhawks - Ready to get back into the playoffs in a big way. Improvements on defense are a key. Finally getting a lot of fans back in the seats will help make Chicago a difficult place to play once again.

7. Oilers - Hard work and a youth movement last season will pay off as the Oilers get back in the playoffs again. Goaltending is a key to getting there.

8. Coyotes - Gretzky finally returns to the playoffs after sticking with a good rebuilding plan. They won't get far but getting there will be a major achievement for this young team.

9. Predators - I don't know how they do it year in and year out so I probably shouldn't count them out. Goaltending could carry them further and if they can take advantage of some Eastern Conference games they could easily jump to #6.


10. Wild - Shouldn't really count out this team so quickly but eventually that defensive system will be their downfall. They've been desperately trying to sign Gaborik long-term and they better because without him their offense will be almost non-existent.


11. Blue Jackets - Hitchcock is on the verge of getting this team to the playoffs but he needs a couple more players to do it. Hainsey's loss will hurt but some younger players should be ready for bigger roles.


12. Canucks - If they get Sundin this pick changes a bit as would any team that adds him. Without him they'll have a hard time scoring goals and Luongo can't do it alone. Will they shop the Sedin twins at the deadline?


13. Kings - Their tide is beginning to turn but it is probably a year or two from fruition. A bunch of young stars are itching to make an impact. The question is how many of their free agents will be around to see this team finally make it back to the playoffs. Goaltending must get more consistent.


14. Avalanche - The team tried to relive the past one too many times. Now they are recycling old coaches and digging at scraps trying to fill numerous holes. Goaltending is weak and even Sakic can't save the offense. A weak division won't be enough to grab the #8 seed. I hear Claude Lemieux wants to make a comeback. Avs management is stupid enough to grant that wish.


15. Blues - Loss of Jackman is huge. This young team cannot afford to lose one of its stars. They are doing it right in St. Louis its just that they did it wrong, much like the Leafs, for years.

PLAYOFFS

Predicting the playoffs this far out is a bit of crapshoot. Things like matchups, injuries and momentum can play a big role in determining outcome. That be said, it wouldn't be a complete prediction without it.

Eastern Conference Champion : Montreal Canadiens
Western Conference Champion : Detroit Red Wings
Stanley Cup Champion : Montreal Canadiens

This certainly would make for a great series. Maybe not quite as well in the U.S. markets as Detroit-Pittsburgh but getting a Canada team back envolved would be huge up there. A original six matchup with a bunch of history would certainly be a great way to highlight the Canadiens' hundreth season.

Bear Moutain New York Hike

This hike was more than a little outside my normal stomping grounds of North Georgia. It was an hour outside New York City, done as part of trip to see my brother in the big city.


Bear Mountain State Park is pretty nice and fairly crowded. On this particular Saturday it was being used as the host of a high school cross country meet and an Oktoberfest gathering. We came for the hiking but I can certainly see why others come to relax and getaway from the hustle and bustle of New York City.


The hike was close to 4 miles long and is essentially and up and down hike to the top of Bear Mountain. The first half of the hike was quite challenging as it is basically straight up a rocky slope. The following picture isn't exactly flattering to myself but does a good job of showing a sample of this path.




Upon reaching the top hikers are greeted with a nice vista of the Hudson river, a bridge crossing it and several smaller tree covered hills in the area.







The hike back down follows a small chunk of the Appalachian Trail. Apparently this section was the first part of the trail that was created. An easy descent, I found it to be unimpressive. Simply too much foot traffic in the area and sparse trees. This prevents it from delivering the feeling of isolation that my prior experiences with the AT have given me.


Despite taking a lot out of me, I really enjoyed the hike up the mountain. The vistas up top are worthy of a climb. Only the walk back down and the overuse of the trail leaves something to be desired.

Sigur Ros Concert Review

The third of my gift concerts. This one had me headed to New York City to see Sigur Ros at the United Palace Theater, September 18 2008.

Sigur Ros is a hard band to explain to those who haven't heard them. They are an Icelandic group that has created loyal and passionate following without the advantage of much U.S. radio play outside their homeland or small college radio. I believe that most people hear about them through word of mouth or read about them in various online music forums.

Some people try to compare them to Radiohead or Coldplay but in reality, the bands are very different. The Icelandic people are very quiet and reserved and music the band produces very much reflects that. Iceland itself is a land of striking beauty but is also very harsh and unforgiving. The color palette of the land is rich with browns, blacks, grays and whites. There is a lingering darkness in winter and endless light in the summer. Frequently called "the land of fire and ice", it is a country of contrasts. Sigur Ros's music reflects the landscape as much as the people. It is a music with and ebb and flow that cannot be experienced with just a quick sample. Is is music that must be felt as well as heard.

Did I forget to mention that some of the vocals are done in a nonsense language the lead singer calls "Hopelandic". This is an "invented language in which Jónsi sings before lyrics are written to the vocals. It's, of course, not an actual language by definition (no vocabulary, grammar, etc.), it's rather a form of gibberish vocals that fits to the music and acts as another instrument." Nobody can really sing these songs unless they memorize these chants. Frankly, I'm not even certain they are the same from show to show. A big put-off to some, it really doesn't affect my enjoyment. In fact, I actually am more interested in the voice as an instrument so it works on that level. The rest of the songs are sung in Icelandic as are the song titles.

All this preface is written because it may help explain why I enjoy the band yet have a hard time naming the songs that were performed on this particular night, It certainly doesn't help that Icelandic is an incredibly hard language to spell, speak and pronounce.

What I generally like about the band is how each song conveys one or more sonic textures. Each texture elicits an emotional response that is undoubtedly unique to listener. It is the combination of the textures within a song or set of songs that I find so captivating.

The United Palace Theater was built in 1930. Long used for movies and Vaudeville, the theater was rebuild in 1969 and has been used since as a church and music hall. Although the place is obviously a nice piece of craftsmanship, I found the interior a little gaudy for my taste. In form and function it reminded me a lot of Atlanta's Fox Theater but I'd give the nod to the Fox hands done when it comes to overall look.

The theater was filled on this particular night. Sigur Ros hasn't played much in the states but they have played in NYC a few times before. Each show has sold out quick and this was no exception.

We got to the theater early enough to see the opening act, Parachute. This act was extremely odd because the music they played was so much like Sigur Ros, only much weaker. Perhaps that is explained because the lead singer of Parachute is the boyfriend of Sigur Ros's lead singer. On top of this oddity, many of the members of the band chose to perform sitting down on the stage. Not sitting in chairs, but actually on the stage. Just strange.

After that was over the main act took the stage and didn't disappoint. There was some fear going in that they might play a lot of material from their latest album which I find much more poppy and less textural in nature. Fortunately, that was not the case. About 2/3 of the act was devoted to older music. Each song was performed with a good deal of energy and went off with barely a hitch. Although they generally stuck to performing the songs without ad-lib there were a couple of nice additions thrown in. The crowd was very receptive and sound quality was excellent. They played close to a two-hour set including their encores and finished it off as strongly as they started.

All in all a great night and a great experience overall.

New York City

I recently completed a trip to New York City to visit my brother, see a concert and take in the big city. We didn't take in all the usual tourist sites because I intend to travel back again with my daughter. However, we did keep very busy and walked about 15 miles in the process.

Here's just a few of the sites I saw:

- Walked a good chunk of lower and central Manahattan including Battery Park, the financial district, Wall Street, Times Square, Grand Central Station, World Trade Center construction site and Central Park. I absolutely loved the big city buzz and being able to take the trains everywhere is great.

- Walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and ate pizza at Grimaldi's. Although VERY good pizza, still a notch below my all time favorite. I'm a picky pizza patron.

- Went to the United Palace Theater to see Sigur Ros in concert. Review here.

- Went to the Museum of Modern Art and the Natural History Museum. I was especially impressed with the size and content of the Natural History Museum. We probably spent way too much time in the geology area but the collection was too impressive to shorten. The stibnite alone is worth the trip. If some lady asks you what makes a certain bedrock red, the answer is iron and oxygen. Say it quick and run away! You'll thank me later.

- Took a bus ride out to Bear Mountain and did hike up and down. The weather was perfect every day of the trip. More details and pictures here.

- We went down to the East Village for food and drinks.

Here's the best of the photos:

Thrashers Game Report - 10/01/08

Detroit Red Wings 4 - Atlanta Thrashers 1

a.k.a. Detroit Love Fest in the ATL (preseason version)

It didn't take take long to realize that there were more Detroit fans in attendance than Thrasher fans. The concourse was covered in red and white from the moment I entered the doors just slightly after 6PM. While the Detroit fans were still pretty giddy from their Stanley Cup victory, most of the Thrasher fans were just glad hockey was back but more than a bit fearful they'd be a league laughingstock once again. Although an aura of optimism filled some Thrasher fans, myself included, it was always tempered with the realism that the Thrashers are a young team with a young coach and there are going to be some serious growing pains.

It didn't take long for those pains to be felt by every Thrasher fan in attendance. Less than 2 minutes into the contest, Colin Stuart, took a penalty for tripping. The Red Wings won the faceoff, moved the puck to Lidstrom, to Zetterberg and out to Samuelsson who slapped a long range shot past a screened Lehtonen. Wings 1-0.

The Wings controlled play for a majority of the game. At times it looked the Wings and especially Zetterberg were toying with the less skilled and less experienced Thrashers. There were at least a dozen times where the Wings would cycle the puck causing the Thrashers to overload to one side. Then, the Wings we send a player down low in the open ice, make a pretty cross-ice pass and get an uncontested shot on goal. Fortunately for the Thrashers, these "ooh" and "aah" moments didn't get converted. However, it clearly showed the Thrashers have a long way to go.

Even with the poor positioning the Thrashers were in the right place at the right time for one of the Wings biggest miscues. Wings defenseman, Brad Stuart, misplayed the puck in his own end resulting in an easy steal for the Thrasher's Christensen. He got to use his breakaway/shootout skills to twist Osgood around and easily put the puck in the Detroit net tying the score at 1-1.

Next up our first fight of the night. More frequent in preseason as young players or players on the roster fence try to make an impact. This time it was Atlanta's Jim Slater vs Detroit's Andreas Lilja. Not much of a fight as Lilja swung wildly at Slater and missed getting himself off-balance. Then Slater grabbed him and took him down to the ice. The result was some blood on the ice that appeared to come from Lilja. He didn't returned to the game.

Next, it was time for Lehtonen to screw up. While Kari played a pretty solid game overall, his one goof up was just awful. Leaving the net to go after a loose puck in the corner (no Kari no!), Kari is confronted with a speedy Zetterberg working his way deep into the offensive zone. Trapped in the corner, Kari didn't have any "safe" option. Instead of sucking it up and taking the slight push he get from Zetterberg, Kari does the worst thing and pushes the puck 45 degrees out and towards the center of the ice. Zetterberg grabs it quickly and guides it right into the net. Laughing and UGHs! poor forth from the stands. It's official, the Thrashers are laughingstocks for this night.

Second period is pretty similar to the first. The Thrashers show a little more intensity but are still clearly outclassed by the Wings. Wings just find ways to get to loose pucks and do a much better job at having a second player in position to make up for whenever one makes a mistake. A majority of the Wings scoring chances come as a result of good teamwork (crisp passes, positioning) whereas most of the Thrashers chances are individual efforts.

8 minutes into the second period we get a much better fight involving two players better equipped to handle a tussle. This time its Atlanta's Thorburn vs Detroit's McCarty. A good opportunity for Thorburn to learn how to scrap from one of Detroit's best scrapers. Unfortunately, Thorburn waits too long to make his move and Darren hits him with several quick punches. From there the two exchange a couple weaker blows before McCarty comes down on top on Thorburn to close the fight.

Now it is time for a flashback to the first two minutes of the game. This time it is Atlanta's rookie, Bogosian, who takes the penalty. 2 minutes for interference when he gets caught out of position. A couple quick passes involving Lidstrom and Zetterberg end with Samuelsson sending the slapshot past Kari for his second PP goal of the night.

Some of the Thrashers' best scoring opportunities come in the third period but they don't amount to much as Osgood has some strong saves and gives up few rebounds. Down 3-1 with 90 seconds to play, the Thrashers pull the goalie in what is only a fruitless effort at this point. It takes Detroit only seconds to gain the puck, make a couple passes so that Franzen can get on the board and ice the 4-1 victory.

All in all a pretty grim contest for the Thrashers. Thank goodness it was a preseason tilt. Sure the Thrashers weren't playing with Kozlov, Perrin, White (is that really a loss), Valabik and Schneider. But the Wings didn't have Hossa, Datsyuk, Holmstrom, Kronwall, Maltby or Draper dressed.

I thought the only Thrasher that stood out positively was Christensen. Not only did he have the pretty breakaway goal but he also made some nice passes in the offensive zone and got to some loose pucks down low. As a team, the Thrashers showed more speed on defense but need serious work on their positioning and outlet passes. Seeing more players in front of the opponent's net was a welcome change.

As for the recent additions, none stood out. While Bogosian looked pretty good in the offensive zone, he had troubles on the defensive side. If this is any indication of his overall play, it is my opinion he'd be best served returning to the minors for another season assuming they've got a better option. Kulda looks just as good as Bogosian at this point. Hainsey was a disappointment as I don't think he played well on either end of the ice. Williams was part of the most effective line (Kovy, Christensen, Williams) but was relatively quiet.

I've rambled on for far too long. It's only a preseason game! Now that I've completed this entry I'm going to try to erase my mind of remembrance of the Thrashers' performance on this early October night. I hope to form better memories opening night.