Dirty, dirty rags

Tough loss tonite to the Rags, but I guess I could say that they deserve it. The Thrash just looked off this evening, despite the fact that they were playing their hearts out. I loved the physicality of the game, and definitely loved the Exelby/Hollweg duel... but would've loved a more bloody affair with Hollweg being taken off by a stretcher, but you can't have everything, right? Sad to see Kari not ever get himself settled. Between playing the puck in the corners once to nearly taking out Vishnevski, Kari couldn't find his footing and one puck after another went by him. How's that for coming back after a few games off, only proving yourself with a great "relief" performance during the Ottawa game Wednesday? We all have off nites - I mean, hell, DiPietro had a terrible nite against Le Thrash on the Isle a week ago - it just sucks that stuff like this happens to your own magical team, especially in front of a packed-out crowd.

It was also hard to get a good assessment of the game from my TVs only because apparently SportSouth is completely whitewashed on my screens... but elsewhere it doesn't seem to be. Awkward. Hard to follow the puck... or the opposition, in white jerseys... when you really can't control the brightness/contrast on your own television. Every other channel was fine, just not that one... weird.

Tonite was also a slaying against me on the fantasy front. The guy I'm matched up against has Jagr, Michael Nylander, and Martin Straka. Check out these stats:



At least there's no game-winner in there, but you really can't beat the contributions of those three tonite.

As I mentioned earlier (well, in an earlier post), I had some absolutely killer seats for the Ottawa game on Wednesday. You know, when you get emails from the Thrashers/Atlanta Spirit about ticket deals that are "less than 50% off all sections", you jump all over that. I figured the tickets I purchased were gonna be like the free ones I scored by writing 200 words (best price ever, by-the-way)... and those were behind the Thrashers net (attack... once?)... and were probably row J. Basically, not too bad. And when I got these tickets, all I knew was that I purchased lower bowl seats. No section, now row - nothing. But when I picked 'em up at will call, my mouth dropped when I found out they were row D in section 117... for 25$. Best seats for an amazing game.

I don't feel bad for Heatley getting booed and I don't care too much if others do it either. It could/should be a lot worse in other hockey environments. So considering this was my first Ottawa/Atlanta game since the whole TRADE TRADE TRADE last season, I didn't know what to expect. Well, seemingly every time he touched the puck (or even thought about it, actually), Heatley was treated with some BOOs. For a second I thought Hedberg was doing something monumental and that there was a lot of MOOSE going around the arena... whatever.

Kozlov's hatter was a sight to see and makes me question bringing a hat to the next game I go to, or the next succession of games, that is. And the great plays by Kari made the difference as the game was won by goaltending and perseverence. Glad to see a team that should be rather powerful (but with weak dudes between the pipes) go down to Le Thrash. Slater had a few great opportunities against Gerbs, and eventually he'll break through. And the game-tying goal from Kovy just blew my mind. How he continues (or anyone, for that matter) to just bypass other defensemen, breeze by everyone, somehow still have control, and let loose a nasty slapper and put it into the back of the net just floors me. I figured it was just a shot on goal... but either he knew exactly what he was doing (possible) or it was Thrashers luck (eh, perhaps). But when he tied it up, the place went nuts and I couldn't stop yelling... until my head felt like it was about to explode.

Yeah, it was an amazing game.

Next game is against the Tampa Bay (Threat of) Lightning. I haven't seen Marc Denis in net for them lately (I know this because he's on my fantasy team) and I'm wondering what the deal with that is. There's definitely trouble in HOCKEYBAY USA (ugh) with the sporadic scoring from St. Louis and the absent Brad Richards. We all know Lecavalier can produce big, and it appears that MSL has been on a hot streak, but I don't see it riding for much longer. I just wonder what he'll do when he gets pushed outta town to make room for the cap... thanks, Brad Richards. Wait - like I care!

Should be an interesting road game for the Thrash and then after that is time to rest AND to give Buffalo and/or Anaheim time to catch up to the Thrash in terms of games played. I just haven't felt that proud calling the Thrashers the "best team in the league" (in terms of points) when they have three more games played than both of those teams. When the schedules even up and there's still some kind of race for the top, then I can justify it. Not now though. Especially when you see teams like Buffalo pull out victories like they did tonite at home against Florida in OT. (:19 seconds into it and the Slugs pull it out? Ridiculous.)

Long Island pictures coming up shortly... or tomorrow. Yep yep yep!