Atlanta 4 - Vancouver 3 SO
The last two Thrashers games I attended, I simply didn't have the heart to post my reports. I've become pretty disgusted with the results. It seems that the team has been spinning its wheels lately, making little to no progress and ending up with nothing but losses, some quite
embarrassing.
With a new year comes new hope. While it is painfully obvious the Thrashers will be outside the playoffs and closer to the #1 overall pick, it doesn't mean I don't want to see more signs of improvement.
At times it feels like this team is snake bit. From selecting the dud
Patrik Stefan as its first overall pick, to the tragedy involving
Heatley and Snyder, to an unfortunate bounce that crippled them in their first playoff appearance. Many player acquisitions look decent on paper but fall way short of expectations. This season it has become almost laughable. I can't count the number of games I've seen where they played decent to great hockey only to come away with a loss. Rarely do the bounces go their way.
With that in mind, I pretty much expected the worst on Friday. Atlanta took a penalty mid-way through the first and were having difficultly clearing the puck as usual. Then, they caught a break. An outlet pass to
Crabb found him in good position to get the puck and have a step on the lone Vancouver defender. With the defender catching up to him quick,
Crabb took his best option and let rip a shot, beating
LaBabbera for an early 1-0 lead.
The lead was not to last long as the Thrashers took an additional penalty making it 5 on 3. Moments later, a Thrasher broke his stick making it basically a 5 on 2.5. It took only moments for the
Canucks to net an easy game tying goal.
The second period saw more solid play from the Thrashers but too many failed clearing attempts. The
Sedin brothers cashed in again taking a 2-1 lead. Minutes later,
Kovy netted his second goal in 2 games (waking up perhaps?) on a nice snap shot down close.
Atlanta found itself on the
powerplay once again early in the 3rd. The
powerplay. along with the
LittleWhiteRussian line has been one of the more consistent performers this season. Nice passes by
Kovy & White setup
Kozlov for the pretty goal and a 3-2 lead.
No lead is ever safe in the Thrashers hands, especially not a one goal lead late in a game. Sure enough the
Sedin brothers did it again with a tip-in goal shot from the point. With almost 10 minutes left I thought for certain the Thrashers would blow it again.
However, from this point on the Thrashers took control. They had the best opportunities in the rest of regulation and through the 5 minutes of overtime. The crowd was into it but the team simply couldn't finish it. They were headed to the shootout.
Little missed on the first opportunity and the
Canucks capitalized. Shootout master
Kozlov got the Thrashers their first and Kari came up big stopping
Wellwood.
Kovy took his shot but didn't really challenge the goalie. Fortunately, Burrows missed for the
Canucks. Christensen took the ice. He's been a real disappointment for the Thrashers. However, he is know for being one of the best shootout players in the game and left
Barbbera looking like a fool for an easy goal. Daniel
Sedin took to the ice but this time Kari had an answer stopping him cold. A WIN!
It wasn't easy but it was very effective. Good energy and play from both sides. The fight 4 seconds in was a little silly and the crowd was slow to come around but it was a good hockey game. The best of the year ;-) Here's hoping they can put some more of these together in the upcoming weeks.
Farley Hill is the highest point on the island and offers a great view of the Atlantic coast.
