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.
