ATL = Atlanta Thrashers Luck...?

Yadda, yadda, yadda - the Thrashers are nearly atop of the Eastern Conference. Should this really be expected? I mean, c'mon, who would've really thought that our own Atlanta Thrashers would be even leading the Southeast Division?

This team has been red hot and I'm surprised that they aren't blazing a trail on ice... wait, that can't even be possible...? Anyway, poor jokes aside, it was admittingly difficult to find out that they were down early in the game to an abyssmal (sp?) Panthers squad of guys who have either had better years in the league (i.e. Roberts, Nieuwendyk) or players who actually have some promise ahead of them (i.e. Horton, Bouwmeester). But somehow, the Thrashers tore it up, delicately pawing away at the Panthers penalty kill unit and ending up on top 6-3, with an astounding 83% on the power play. It seems like two players stole the show last nite, between Mr. "The Stoli's on Me Tonite, Guys" Kovalchuk and the rugged vet Steve Rucchin. Everyone's going nuts (well, Thrashers fans, and some others, I guess) over Kovy's hat trick and apparently he's making a comeback (after only nine games...?) like no other. And Rucchin's team play on the penalty kills appeared quite useful as Florida's "League-leading power play" was granted only a goal in the goose-egg department.

Am I ever glad to finally see this Thrashers team coming alive... even if it is early in the season. What really shocked me about last nite was that I ended up passing out with about 10 minutes left in the game. I can't believe I put that much faith in them to just fall asleep and believe that the game was their's. Things must definitely be on our side if that's the case.

This road trip that lies ahead does look intimidating. The Saturday nite game against Buffalo is officially circled in red on calendars across Blueland as that is the game that is whetting (sp?) everybody's palate. Yeah, we all know that the Sabres are strong and likewise can be said about the Thrashers, but what will happen when these worlds collide? Eh, just don't rely on Powerman 5000 to come up with an accurate answer to that question. It's a keynote game so early in the season and some are even claiming that this could be a preview for the Eastern Conference final. That's a bit of a stretch, but the idea that Atlanta is making that much of an impression (so early into the season, none-the-less) is telling.

And yeah! I was in the running for a fan correspondent position on the Thrashers' own Blueland blog. As a result, I had amazing tickets to the last home game, against the Florida Swamp Cats, all for free. For a minute I considered just writing to get the tickets, but I nixed that idea and decided to fulfill my half of the bargain. So I sent something in after the game and we'll see how that goes. To even be selected as one of the top six participants is a pretty big deal and I really hope that something can come out of my writing. Every once in a while it's good to receive some sort of validation for my crafts. So thanks to the web team over at the Blueland blog for the killer seats my girlfriend and I scored Saturday nite and we'll see what happens before week's end!