Power’s back on for Thrashers; now, Ws need to follow

Oct 27 2008

Published by bud006 at 9:05 pm under Thrashers Analysis Edit This

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

ATLANTA — I just got home from pumping gas and there is no denying that it feels like hockey season in the big A tonight.

And not just because the Atlanta Thrashers actually scored on the power play while I was away in the mountains, without Internet access and far from the reaches of the Thrashers’ radio network …

Of course, my suburban house just south of downtown is outside of the team’s radio network as well, when the sun goes down.

Anyway, great to be back in the hockey blogging chair, refreshed and ready to jump head first into this season that’s started with less-than-stellar results. The two losses on the road this weekend, at Detroit and at Boston, were far from surprising in the regard the Thrashers are scuffling on the offensive end right now, staying in games largely in part to the play of Kari Lehtonen.

But still, it’s disappointing that this team is 2-4-2 through the first eight games.

At least the power play showed some signs of life during the weekend roadie. Atlanta broke its drought on the man advantage with Ron Hainsey’s goal 4:48 into the third at Detroit on Friday during a 5-on-3. The Thrashers added three more power play goals Saturday at Boston, on tallies by Jason Williams, Mathieu Schneider and Ilya Kovalchuk.

But breakdowns in the defensive zone – not to mention the barrage of shots thrown at Lehtonen on Friday and Johan Hedberg on Saturday – were too much. This team has to start playing a little better, doing the little things that turn close losses into much-needed wins.

Tuesday night’s nationally televised home tilt with the Flyers would be a good place to start.