We hope you'll smile again in the ATL, Slava.

Wow.

I never imagined the Atlanta Thrashers wouldn’t be able to offload Slava Kozlov. I am amazed to be sitting here writing that he’s still a Thrasher after all that. Will he play? Will he be waived? That’s what I imagine is going to happen: It’s waiver watch from now on. They can still waive after the deadline, no? (Apologies, I am no expert in this area.)

I am hopeful, ever so hopeful that Slava can get back in the good graces of John Anderson (loathsome man!) and be back on the ice playing like we know he can. I’d hate to see him buried in the AHL.

And could they lose him on re-entry after the trade deadline?  (Or in essence — in a roundabout way — grant his request out of Atlanta by waiving him and, if nobody claims him, subject him to re-entry waivers and pay half the freight of his salary.)   I don’t know the rules on this, unfortunately.  Feel free to comment and set me straight.

The unselfish part of me is sad for Kozlov. I know he wanted out and hoped to be traded.  And a teeny-tiny part of me wishes he’d gotten his wish.

The selfish part of me really wants him to get that one chance and totally play himself back onto the team and prove J.A. wrong because you know what?  J.A. is wrong unless Slava has suddenly become a head case or belligerent. (Maybe he has? Kozlov’s Fall Out With the Thrash. In which case, maybe they are both wrong?)

Nevertheless…

Anything to do with Kozlov is written from my heart, not my head. I love him as a player.  I’ve loved him since NHL hockey appeared on my radar screen back when he was first starting out with the Red Wings;  and I will love him no matter where he goes. Maybe it’s a Goddess kind of thing to say, but I just want this particular person to be happy. I think he’s, as the colloquial saying goes, “good people.”  But you know, I know a man who once told me he cried his eyes out when Wendel Clark was traded from the Maple Leafs, so it’s a God AND Goddess way to feel.  That is, everyone — man, woman or child — has one or two special players that they live and die with.  Slava is mine.

¡Bienvenidos (otra vez)! del Thrashers, Slava? ¡Te amo, mi amor (del hockey)!

Photo: Vyacheslav Kozlov by Goddess Kaat. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

… A headline which begs the question: Was there ever a good time?

Vyacheslav Kozlov

In light of the news that my (unabashedly) favorite Thrasher (and hockey player in general) wants out of Atlanta has me on the brink of begging to be run over by a Zamboni. Slava Kozlov has been a cornerstone of the franchise. Not in the way that Ilya was. Or Hossa was. Or Heater was. He’s just been a quiet force. A rock-solid, good leader. He’s been in a bit of a funk lately, but I can’t for the life of me figure out how he is benched in favor of some other guys who have been just as dismal and bring less to the table. Now, word is, he wants to leave Atlanta too. Aside from the personal heartbreak this brings, I think it speaks volumes about what is going on in Atlanta — none of it good. I am, frankly, rather terrified at the downward spiral the team seems to be in.

For those who don’t know, there are tons of hockey fans in Atlanta. Tons. There is also a great deal of corporate sponsorship, which other cities simply can’t offer. It’s important to have a team here, but the ownership and leadership is driving the franchise into the ground. Hockey fans in Atlanta deserve better than this.

I really feel Kozlov deserves better than this. I’d always hoped he’d retire a Thrasher and that his number would be the first retired at Philips. That he’d stay in the organization and make it better. Now he, too, wants to flee the scene.

It worries me.

Photo: Vyacheslav Kozlov by Goddess Kaat. Copyright 2009-2010. All Rights Reserved.

Hey folks! New goddess here. ;-) Since I’m the resident Bruins “expert,” and we’re entering the Olympic break, I thought I’d begin with a post about what some have called the surprise member of the Canadian Olympic team, Boston center Patrice Bergeron.

Patrice’s selection was probably only a surprise to those who haven’t followed his career. He’s not a flashy stats guy. He’s not a monster checker. He is, however, one of the most well-rounded, versatile, intelligent players in the NHL. He plays on the PK and on the power play. He’s excellent in the faceoff circle. He’s the guy you want on the ice when you’ve got the goalie pulled and are trying to tie the game, or if you’ve got a one-goal lead you’re trying desperately to protect.

Patrice was picked 45th overall in the 2003 draft  and made the Bruins at age 18. He won a gold medal with the Canadian senior men’s team in 2004, and a gold medal with the juniors in 2005, the first player in history to have accomplished that feat. He skated on a line with Sidney Crosby at the junior tournament (and was named the tournament MVP), and speculation is that he’ll do the same in Vancouver.

Unfortunately Patrice’s biggest claim to fame is the horrific concussion he suffered in October 2007, when he was hit from behind by Philadelphia’s Randy Jones. What not many people outside of New England seem to realize is that Patrice came periously close to dying that day. His doctor said that any normal human being (and many hockey players) would have suffered a broken neck from that hit, but thankfully Patrice’s astounding level of fitness and strength spared him. 

Even so, the hit was devastating. Patrice missed the rest of the season with a Grade III concussion.  Many fans and media declared he’d never make it back, but not this fan. If there’s one thing that surpasses Patrice’s physical strength, it’s his heart and will. That’s what makes him a special hockey player (and a special human being), and I knew he’d be  back with a vengeance. 

After a long, difficult recovery (knocked off the rails a bit when he suffered another concussion in December), Patrice was back to normal by the time last spring’s playoffs rolled around, as Josh Gorges discovered:

Josh Gorges vs. Patrice Bergeron

That was the first fight of Patrice’s career, and as usual, he got it right the first time.

However, that’s not what makes Patrice Bergeron a superb hockey player. What makes him great is his vision, his hockey sense, his passing ability, and strength on his skates. Watch his move on Mike Richards:

Winter Classic goal

Even better, Patrice steals the puck from Maxim Lapierre and feeds Mark Recchi:

Recchi scores in OT

Two things to love about this goal: The strength and balance Patrice shows in taking the puck away, and the absolutely wonderful feed to Recchi. Patrice never looks at Recchi; he appears to be thinking shot all the way, then dishes off and hits Recchi’s blade perfectly.

That’s why Patrice Bergeron was the only player not invited to Canada’s summer tryout camp to be named to the Olympic roster. Despite the naysayers, I have no doubt he’ll be a key part of  Canada’s success.

Besides, it doesn’t hurt to have a pretty team, right?

Some additional notes on Patrice Bergeron:

 - When he was very little and just starting to skate, his parents signed him up for hockey lessons. On the first day, he sat down inside the net and watched. The coach asked him if he wanted to join in, and he said, “No, I’m good.” This went on for several sessions until one day he proclaimed himself ready and played. His mother, upon telling the story, said it was typical of Patrice. “He watches and studies and when he’s ready, he’s ready.”

- Bergeron is his mother’s maiden name. His father’s name is Cleary. After his fight against Gorges, teammate Shawn Thornton dubbed him “Patrick Cleary” and still refers to him by that name, especially when Patrice gets fiesty.

- Patrice is one of Boston’s busiest athletes when it comes to charity work. Among his many projects, he owns a suite at the Garden in which children from area hospitals or community groups are invited, and he meets with them after games.

- Patrice has been an alternate captain since his second year with the Bruins, and most Bruins fans have no doubt he’ll inherit the “C” when Zdeno Chara retires (the other “A” is rotated amongst the Bruins veterans).

Though I’m an American, I’ll actually be rooting for Canada in the Olympics, for one reason only: Patrice Bergeron. He makes me proud to be a Bruins fan.

Until next time!

Say you’ll love us again … Kovy? (Hope does spring eternal.)

Intriguing article out of NY. Of course it’s out of New York — The Post — so maybe case open AND closed. Kovy, Kovy, Kovy

I am far too attached to Ilya Kovalchuk to be even remotely objective on the subject of the trade. I’ll just sum it up by saying the Thrashers break my heart into tiny pieces every year, just when I am glueing them back together again. This time, though, it was the Thrashers and “I want to stay in Atlanta” Ilya crushing what was left of my naive hockey-loving heart into tiny irreparable shards.

I know I promised some KHL hockey observations, and I have many, but in lieu of what has transpired over the last 24 hours I feel it necessary to give some thoughts on the Kovalchuk trade. Fellow Goddess Kaatiya is still in mourning and like most Atlanta fans may be so for quite some time.

Colorado is my team of course, but Atlanta is my second. I love the diversity of the players in Atlanta, the Russians and the Swedes. My pal Salmela is unfortunately gone along with Ilya, but I still love the team.

As hockey fans, we often get attached to individual players. I know I sure do. While some people don’t separate the individual from the team, it’s the whole persona that individual players often bring that endear us to a team or a sport. Ilya was one such person. He was a fantastic player, a kind soul to fans and a wonderful father and wife to his family. People watched him grow up in Atlanta. It’s hard to take that he just didn’t want to be there anymore.

Fans will blame the owners and GM, but really, if he had wanted to stay he would have for the deal he was offered. Yes, people will argue past problems with the team, but with the ownership issue resolved this year, the team went out and got Antropov and Afinogenov per Kovy’s request. And it hurts those of us who truly loved him and believed he wanted to stay in Atlanta for his entire career.

I know, I know. You’re going to tell me it’s just business. But we’re all human. We want to believe that people aren’t just motivated by dollars and really care about the fans and the organizations that have given so much to them.

Despite the heartbreak many of us are feeling, I am a perpetual optimist, and I see much in this trade to be optimistic. Hurt feelings aside, I believe this isn’t the end for the Thrashers, but a new beginning – and a legitmate one at that. One only need to look as far as my number one team, the Colorado Avalanche, to see what a plethora of youthful talent can do for you. A solid goalie (Kari is about ready) and hungry youngsters is how all great teams start. Detroit has proven this time and time again.

Atlanta has made some savvy moves in this deal. Take Niclas Bergfors. He’s one of the top scoring rookies this year in a defensive minded system. Put him with Afinogenov or a passer like Kozlov and watch this kid bloom. Oduya? He’s just the defenseman the Thrashers have needed this year. One can argue this had been the team’s biggest weakness this year. It also doesn’t hurt to have another player of African decent in a city with a large African-American population. The Thrashers need to grow their fan base, and this could help market the team. I don’t want to overplay the ethnic issue, but as a Native American, I can tell you that any team with Natives on it sure becomes more interesting to me and is the reason I came back to hockey in the early 90’s. Then there’s Cormier. Suspension aside, let’s not forget that he was the captain of Canada’s World Junior team this year and is a physical force and exciting to watch.

Finally, and what might get me into hot water, is my response to the fans that are crying foul on the management. Putting the past aside, I can’t fault the GM on this move, as much as I hated to see it happen. Hindsight is 20/20 but I think everyone believed that Ilya really wanted to stay in Atlanta. I’ve seen many fans on message boards saying they will no longer be Atlanta fans because of their disgust with the ownership and management. Yet based on the attendance at games, I wonder how many true fans there really are? Don’t get me wrong. I understand that there is enough corporate sponsorship for the survival of this team (something Winnipeg simply can’t rival – sorry folks,) and that poor attendance isn’t enough to move them, but if you love this team you need to come out and support them. If you claim to be a fan, why aren’t you at Philips Arena for games? If Ilya isn’t enough to bring people out to games, perhaps some exciting, passionate youth who might be willing to get out in the community and sell themselves will do the job.

Only time will tell, but I, for one, am not giving up on the team.

We apologize for the sporadic posting at Hockey Goddesses. Life really did get in the way, with both Goddesses having multiple careers and time is at a premium right now.

However, we have decided to revive our blog with a report from none other than the Atlanta Thrasher’s Casino Night. The night is always a great event, for a great cause. While many teams have charity events, I must say the Thrashers always put on a night to remember.

The event was held at the Opera House on a record chilly Atlanta night, yet it took no time to warm up as the festivities began. Goddess Kaatiya had brought a game program for our friend Tatiana whom we are going to visit in Moscow next week, with the intent of getting the Russians plus a few others to sign.

As much as I wanted to stop by Toby Enstrom’s table (in fact it took a while for it to fill up) tradition dictated that we stop by Slava Kozlov’s table first. Plus, I wanted to save the best for last in Toby. Slava remembered me as the crazy woman who was learning Russian, and we actually got to exchange a couple of phrases. Last year, he let the assistant deal but was determined this year to do it himself. As always, he was incredibly kind, signed a personalized message to Tatiana and gave me a yellow chip! After chatting with an apparent Russian friend of his at the table for a few minutes, I moved on to find my goal for the year – Maxim Afinogenov.

The ever serious Slava Kozlov © 2010, Geneen Pipher and HockeyGoddesses.com. All Rights Reserved.

You have to understand, as a speed skater of many, many years, I love Max and his speed. He’s so amazing to watch, and I’ve admired him for a long time. He is an incredibly sweet, genuinely friendly man, and had a smile on his face the entire night. He truly enjoyed himself and you can tell he’s having he time of his life playing for Atlanta. When I told him we were leaving for Moscow next weekend to see some KHL games, he got excited and told me I had to go see Moscow Dynamo because “They’re my team!” He was more than happy to sign the program, and humored me by listening to me make no sense in Russian. He played until they closed his table, keeping both men and women alike entertained.

The lovely Maxim Afinogenov. © 2010, Geneen Pipher and HockeyGoddesses.com. All Rights Reserved.

Next stop was Nik Antropov. Of course, his table was fully of young females batting their eyes at him, yet he gladly wrote a personalized message to Tatiana.

We stopped to chat just a bit with John Anderson, Evander Kane and get a pic with Boris “healthy scratch” Valabik and Johan Hedberg, who seemed much more relaxed this year.

Finally, we got to Toby’s table. You have understand, Toby is my favorite Thrashers player because a) I love Swedes, b) I love Sweden, c) I’m a fellow defenseman and d) He’s so damn adorable.

Unfortunately, as last year, we got to his table very late in the game. The goddesses had consumed much vodka and the tables were close to closing. Still, he was very sweet and I told him I may be making it to Stockholm or Gothenburg to coach hockey next summer so we talked a bit about Sweden. Next year, Toby, I promise to start with your table!

Toby Enstrom and Goddess Sasha. © 2010, Geneen Pipher and HockeyGoddesses.com. All Rights Reserved.

At that point, time was running out. Ilya Kovalchuk had long closed his table and like the wonderful husband he is had gone upstairs to be with his wife whom is 7 months pregnant. They left a bit early, but I was able to snag him and get his to sign for Tatiana. I refrained from begging him to stay in Atlanta – we had already made half a dozen signs doing that exact thing for the game against the Caps the night before.

As the night came to a close, I ran into Anssi Salmela. I told him I liked his hair and he got very excited, telling me he dyed it and that it was naturally lighter. The ensuing conversation was … interesting. And we’ll leave it at that. I did get a nice picture of us though.

Goddess Sasha and Anssi Salmela. © 2010, Goddess Sasha and HockeyGoddesses.com. All Rights Reserved.

I must say, the mood wasn’t as jovial as last year. With Kovalchek’s contract still far from being signed the future of the team is tenuous. It also may very well be Slava Kozlov’s last year in the league, which is also left us feeling a bit melancholy.

Regardless, I’ll be back next year. The Avalanche don’t have a casino night (one of the few teams in the league that doesn’t) and really, the Thrasher’s event is top notch.

On a side note, I had considered handing out my business cards in case any of the guys were interested in a trainer, but I managed to only give out one and that was just to use the back to write on. It seemed like it might not be an appropriate venue to push my services.

Next week, Moscow! Yep, Goddess Sasha and Goddess Kaatiya are going to Moscow to catch some KHL games. Look for live Tweets from the games, as well as blogging.

До свидания!

The Tampa Bay Lightning participated in a “Naked Shootout” as a team bonding/motivator. Martin St. Louis is hilarious. We recommend this video … what do you think?

Check out new Philadelphia Flyers pictures from Goddess Kelles. Onward to the photos!

The Thrashers signed a guy I think Goddess Sasha will approve of: Peter Mannino of her alma mater, DU. Yay!

Peter Mannino in his DU days.

He’s Baaack!

Jason Krog skates for the Manitoba Moose of the AHL.
The Thrash also picked up Jason Krog, he of the wild mane. He was with the Thrashers’ organization for a while and kicked butt for the Chicago Wolves. Of course, he’s been with many NHL organizations for a little while. He has so much potential — come on Krog, you can do it!

Photos: Mannino by Goddess Sasha; Krog by Goddess Kaat. Copyright 2009. All Rights Reserved.

As I watched past films of the NHL back in the 70s and 80s, the words a wise man closely tied to the NHL once told me suddenly rang in my ears.  Yes, the game as major-league sport was in its infancy, but the intensity and tenacity of these players once they hit the playoffs was incredible.

We’ve seen it this year in some of the teams, and we’ve seen it completely lacking in others.  We’ve seen it expressed in the wrong ways, which to me is probably the most disappointing.  Cheap shots to the head were almost unheard of back in the days of helmetless players.  Players had some level of respect.

But I digress.  What I really wanted to expound upon is the fact that there are teams out there that don’t know how to play in the playoffs.   Washington?  Look at the talent on that team!  They brought excitement to their fans every game this year.   We “ooohed” and “ahhhed” at Alexander Ovechkin’s exuberant tenacity, at Alexander Semin’s incredible hands and Mike Green’s brilliant slapshots.  What have they brought us in the playoffs thus far?  Nothing but frustration.

Beauty isn’t going to get you very far in the playoffs.  Neither is clean play.  And let’s face it, hooks and frustrated cross-checks aren’t going to get you anywhere but the box.  Look at teams that historically have had great success in the playoffs.  They have grit, brawn, and yes, some sneaky, chippy, and sometimes cheap play.

Ironically, it’s one of the players that is the most despised in the league that is playing an old style of nasty, grinding, playoff hockey.  Say what you will about Sean Avery, but no one can deny the impact he has had on the Capitals-Rangers series:  Getting under the skin of opponents, distracting them on the ice and giving the goalies a whack here and there to throw them off.

Washington?  Where is their Sean Avery?  Where is their forward camped out in front of Henrik Lundqvist, smacking his stick when the refs aren’t looking, giving him that extra little bump?  Give the goalie too much respect and you’re going to end up with a big goose egg in your goal column.

Don’t like the Sean Avery adulation?  How about Detroit, who has at least three — maybe even more — pests in their entourage, with Chris Draper and Tomas Holmstrom leading the pack.  Take a look at any team leading their series and you’ll find they have at least one or two guys who play that role and another one to two who will join their ranks in the playoffs.

And that, my friends, is what brings intensity and fans to playoff hockey. 

Because if you’re not cheating, you’re not trying.

And in what’s been coined (by me) as “The Battle of the Bottom Feeders” I bring you the Avs fan point of view for this live blog.

1st period:

• Yay!  Paul Stastny is finally back!  We’ve missed him and his gap-toothed grin.
• Mike Haynes, Avalanche play-by-play guy starts by saying “Watch for #17 for Atlanta.”  Really? Duh!
• Toby Enstrom!  Short handed goal?  I can’t help but get excited.  It’s Toby!
• Ilya! Scores on a fantastic tip.   My fantasy! (On my Yahoo! Fantasy team.  Geesh, get your mind out of the gutter).
• Oh, Darcy Tucker.  He went to the wrong penalty box.  It was definitely a LOL moment.
• I’d pay Ruslan Salei to hold me as long as he’s holding Colby Armstrong.
• Ugh, but I wouldn’t pay him to throw me into the boards like that!  Ouch!
• Uh….Reasoner?  Wow.  The Avs don’t look so hot.
• I’m wondering why Budaj hasn’t been yanked.
• They guys are mentioning that John-Michael Liles has been out and will return later this road trip.  I hadn’t really noticed he was gone, to be honest.  Yes, that’s the kind of year the Avs have been having.
• Ilya loves playing the Western teams.  It suits his run and gun style.  I think he’d be quite at home on a team out here ;)
• Milan!  Hejduk!  He’s been a bright spot all year.
• I’d love to say something nice about Kozlov but haven’t found a way to yet.  Not that there’s anything bad, just nothing outstanding.
• Awww, little Toby. It just had to be said again about my little friend
• And the period ends 3-1

2nd Period:

• Ilya is so fast.  So very fast.  I think I was that fast at one point. And then I woke up.
• I’m actually almost missing the Thrashers’ play-by-play guy and his strange affinity for calling the guys by their first names.
• Oh no!  Laperriere blocked a shot from Kovalchuk and went down.  I think it got the side of his knee.  Aww, and Ilya asked him if he was OK.  Love!
• Ouch!  Guite!  Shoulder pain is certain to follow that crash into the boards.
• Oh, Laperierre and Ilya spoke before the face off.  I wonder what was said. “Ilya, can you *not* shoot right into me when I’m clearly not in direct line of the goal?”
• Wrong team, Slava.  This has not been your best game.
• Thrashers have won 6 of last 7 faceoffs?  Wow.  Colorado seriously needs to look at a faceoff man in the off-season.
• Toby almost scored again!  He’s having a splendid night!
• Milan part 2!  3-2 now.
• OMG! So many posts are being hit!  There have been a good 4 “almost” goals in the past 2 minutes of this game.
• Peverley goes and …. uh, yeah.  Yank Budaj!
• Melee!  Gotta love a good scrum, although not much came of it.
• And the second period ends 4-2.

Third Period:

• Oh goody. Let’s start the period on a penalty kill, Avs.
• Now a power play.  Looks like we might get out of those tonight without giving up another shorthanded goal.
• Oops.  Spoke too soon.  Another powerplay.
• Five minutes into the period and there has been hardly any even strength play.  Like no more than a few seconds.
• Fact:  Atlanta only has 9 home wins this year.  I think they’re on their way to 10 tonight.
• When did I become such a pessimist?  Couldn’t be the fact that the Avs are last place in the Western Conference, could it?
• If I had a dollar for every time Smyth  hit the boards behind the net I’d be rich … or I’d at least I’d be able to buy a nice dinner at Russia House.
• Slava Kozlov?  In the box?  I know one goddess who isn’t going to be happy….
• The skating in this game is crazy!  Crazy good.  Wow!
• Empty net already?  This is sad indeed.
• Wait!  Wow!  One goal game now.  Stewart has been good for us.
• Salei has been a much more dirty player lately.  And I like it.
• Oh!  Almost!  So close!  Yet…..yeah.  :-(
• Final score: 4-3, Atlanta.

1st period, Colorado Avalanche at Atlanta Thrashers (2-24-2009)

• Paul Stastny is back. Now I need to decide who to drop from my fantasy team.
• PP already for Colorado is not good. Only hope is that Budaj is in net.
• Enstrom has a shorthanded goal? What?! Very nice. A bizarre looking goal, but awesome nonetheless. (First career shorthanded goal.)
• It’s very interesting how the Thrashers have all of a sudden been able to score shorthanded.
• I really think it’s time to pick up Rich Peverley in one of my fantasy leagues.
• Ilya looked fantastic vs. Adam Foote.
• Nice to see Darcy Tucker back in the ATL — and still taking penalties.
• It’s getting good baby. Another nice goal.
• Kovalchuk credited for tip in. Not that I saw it, mind you …
• I am absolutely cursing Comcast. F*** YOU for having such horrible service. This entire year I’ve had to watch all of the hockey games on the Center Ice package through pixelating and stuttering and freezing on the feeds. You pay 150 bucks, you should get crystal-clear reception. One day of bad reception I can understand. EVERY night is so not acceptable. Sometimes I think I’d better off just listening to it on the radio.
• I am going to call them now, damn it. Damn them for interrupting my game watching — and making me sit on hold. And messing up my first Blog-Along since November. Grrr…
• OK So I just spent the last 15 minutes on the phone with Comcast begging them to solve our problems. I have a “job number” now and an appointment with the cable guy. You know how it goes, you have to sit there for a five hour window and wait for them to fix something that shouldn’t be a problem in the first place. Double grrr…
• So no blogging from about 13:00 – period end. Thanks Comcast!

Intermission 1, Colorado Avalanche at Atlanta Thrashers (2-24-2009)

• I scrolled back through to see that the team had scored again. Marty Reasoner looking gorgeous scoring there. Plus Slava Kozlov assist.
• What the hell has gotten into this team? Why, now that they are practically mathematically eliminated from playoff contention are they suddenly winning — and racking up goals?
• Peter Budaj is one of my favorite goalies.
• Natalie Taylor, the little cheeseball who does intermission reports, subtracts, rather than adds to broadcasts. I am a female journalist and feel ashamed of her every time I see her. STOP SMILING! You look like a deranged Cheshire cat. It was so much nicer when they made Darren Eliot hustle downstairs for the intermission interviews on that West Coast roadtrip. SportSouth, I am begging for mercy here. STOP NATALIE TAYLOR. She’s a twit. Get a female journalist — a real one. Not one who looks like she’s two seconds from jumping the guy she’s interviewing. The Southern accent isn’t helping either. She’s just not professional at all.
• I absolutely love this year’s Thrashers’ marketing piece — that little 30-second clip. “It is the moment of impact … it is making a stand when it’s needed most…” I totally dig that. I wish I could find it on YouTube. For years I thought their TV ads weren’t as good as they could be — or should be — this year’s is really, really good. I think it does a good job of conveying the intensity and toughness of the game, while showcasing the players. I find it somewhat intriguing that they used Johan Hedberg and not Kari Lehtonen as the goalie in that spot.
• I’d still like to see a little more selling of the personalities on the team. Exelby would do a fabulous job at this. But while I hold my breath for that, I’ll take this very well done ad.
• Speaking of selling the game in Atlanta, I would love to see Anson Carter, not just back in the league, but on the Thrashers. He’s good looking, he owns his own hip-hop music label, he’s personable and funny, he’d just be a great marketing piece to appeal to a hugely important demographic in Atlanta — black fans — a demographic that really is overlooked. He’s a talented player that I think could fit in in Atlanta. I’ve thought that for a long time. And with this management’s penchant for penny-pinching, bringing in an aging NHLer who is out of the league and playing in Switzerland right now — well, that sounds right up their alley. On the other hand, let’s remember, too, he’s not that far from a few glorious seasons playing on a line with the Sedins. I’d wager he’s just as good as anyone on our third or fourth lines, but, unlike most of them, he has the potential to appeal to and intrigue a whole new group of fans. Maybe. Just a thought.

2nd period, Colorado Avalanche at Atlanta Thrashers (2-24-2009)

• I predict the Avs will lock it down now. The Thrashers will get frustrated and fall behind.
• I was a cheerleader back in the day. I love real cheerleaders. The Blue Crew are NOT real cheerleaders. So cheesy. Give me a break.
• Let me tell you, the last truly great cheerleading squad I saw was in Denver — the Nuggets cheerleaders are FANTASTIC! Real cheerleading and hot girls. I don’t mind the girlies, but make them have some damn talent other than looking good in the uniform. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be nicer to have little kids shoveling snow? Just a thought.
• Ouch! Ian Laperriere hit by a Kovalchuk slapshot. I do like him very much. He seems like a cool dude.
• I was on a roll before my call to Comcast. Then my husband wanted to watch the first period. So I watched it a second time. Now I’m out of the flow. A little remark on the Marty Reasoner goal in the first period. Slava made the prettiest pass to set it up. He’s so awesome.
  
• I find myself torn. I want the Thrashers to win. I do. But I sure would love for them to get a high draft pick. At this point going on a winning streak doesn’t do them all that much good in the long run.
• Clink! Milan Hejduk scores! Typical Thrashers, just kind of mentally losing it.
• The Little-White-Russian Line lives — except the Russian is Ilya Kovalchuk now. Not Slava.
• Milan Hejduk is one of those players that you forget about. I’m not sure why because he’s so good.
• John Anderson looks thrilled with that Todd White penalty. The Thrashers love to give away leads. They’re so generous.
• Another shorthanded goal? Wow. Go Rich Peverley.
• OK. I am even more convinced that it’s time to pick up Peverley for my fantasy league. But I have so many good centers already. Hmm…
• White could have had a goal right out of the penalty box and it would have been a gorgeous one.
• I enjoy fights. I don’t want us all to just get along.
• Kozzie had a nice blast on the PP.
• Shooting gallery, but no score by Thrash.

Intermission 2, Colorado Avalanche at Atlanta Thrashers (2-24-2009)

• Aren’t intermissions so much nicer when they don’t involve Natalie Taylor?

3rd period, Colorado Avalanche at Atlanta Thrashers (2-24-2009)

• Ryan Smyth is one of my favorite players in the league. He’d be awesome on the Thrashers. He’s got guts.
• Budaj has a great goalie mask. Kari, not so much.
• Good clear Marty.
• Kind of off topic, but damn it’s good to see John Tortorella back in the league. I’m just sorry he’s out of the Southeast and we won’t see him as often. Oh the thought of him versus the New York media makes my mouth water.
• Another Thrashers penalty. They are begging for the Avalanche to step up and take the game from them.
• Zach Bogosian could have had a good one, so could Kovy.
• Clark tackled Kovalchuk.  Penalty.
• I looked at the score and know the result. Way to go Thrashers! You tried to give it away at the end, but hung on.
• Enstrom had a good game.
• Slava does this hilarious congratulate-the-goalie move.  Look for it next time you watch the Thrashers — and see them win.  (Good luck with that!)

I got the most recent edition of The Hockey News today and lately I’ve been so pissed off at that publication. The glee that many of their writers (and readers) seem to take at the prospect of plucking the Thrashers out of Atlanta just gets to me. People who have never even been south of, say, Washington, D.C. commenting on what Southern people will or won’t do. Or what Southern people are like.

I know Atlanta and I know that the people of that town — and most towns (duh!) — love to watch good teams. But more than that, people in Atlanta love a good time. When the Thrashers were competitive — the year they just missed the playoffs and then the year they did get in — there were really good crowds and lots of local celebrities at games. People in the ATL love a good show and will turn out for whatever happens to be going on that is good. If the stupid Thrashers owners would solve their stupid dispute and concentrate on putting a good team on the ice, attendance would not be an issue. I know many people in Canada like to think that all of the people in “the South” are dumb hicks that don’t know about hockey. Not true. Or that all we care about is NASCAR. That’s crap.

Funny that the Penguins struggled in the attendance department when their team stunk. The Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t fill their building. Why would you expect hockey fans in Atlanta to be any different than the people in those cities? The Colorado Avalanche have been losing and guess what? Attendance has fallen off — as Goddess Sasha, a season ticket holder, can attest. Why are Southern hockey fans always raked over the coals and derided when they don’t go watch a crappy team play? Yet people in Chicago didn’t go for years and nobody was saying: “hey let’s move the team.” Why is that? Oh yes, it is because in the South it doesn’t snow and, therefore, people didn’t grow up playing the game and THEREFORE, shouldn’t be allowed to learn the game now or have a pro hockey team there.

The solution to the issues in Atlanta is simple: Ice a good team. (And maybe fire Don Waddell — there is a large group of former season ticket holders who would be season ticket holders again if he were gone.)

All that being said, I was delighted with The Hockey News today. I was half-heartedly flipping through it when I stumbled on their picks or suggestions for the 2010 Olympic teams. For the Russian team, THN writers suggested Slava Kozlov would be a wonderful addition. I was so amazed that somebody finally recognized the oft-forgotten Kozlov that I squealed with glee and demanded my husband come look at the article and the accompanying list of suggested players.

I seriously doubt Kozlov will be selected. He seems to be either out of favor with Russian hockey higher-ups or rejects their offers or is passed over in favor of bigger, flashier players (Fedorov anyone?). I don’t know. But I appreciated THN appreciating Mr. Kozlov.

I hope Slava Kozlov has something in his contract about shootouts. He’s so automatic, he deserves a big bonus at the end of the year. He’s amazing.

Ilya Kovalchuk, who has been amazing recently, still needs to take a lesson from his countryman. I think he needs to pretend he has five guys chasing him — it seems like he’s better when he’s got people hot on his heels.

Kari Lehtonen was stellar tonight. I still don’t dig his new mask, but lately he’s shown far more flashes of the brilliance we know he possesses.