Special Teams Wins One For The Thrashers In Jersey

Not often can I say that the PK unit won us a game, but that was, in fact, the case tonight in New Jersey where the Thrashers took a 4-2 victory to go to 3-1-0 on the season.In the first period it looked as if it was going to be a very long night for the Thrashers.   They were outshot heavily and most of the play took place on the wrong side of the ice.  Pavelec played very well to keep the game scoreless going into the second period.

In the second things turned out quite nicely.  The Thrashers controlled the pace and flow of the game basically the entire period.  There was one bad turnover by Bogosian that created a Travis Zajac goal putting the Devils up 1-0.  The lead was fairly short lived because Rich “Raptor Jesus” Peverley tied it up on the powerplay on a rebound of a shot from Maxim Afinogenov.

The third played out much like the second only this time the Thrashers struck first.  Evander Kane(ROOKIE!!!!!!) made a BEAUTIFUL individual play beating a defending one on one and putting a shot perfectly over Brodeurs’ glove side.  The lead was stretched to 3-1 on another goal by Peverley on the powerplay on a feed from Antropov in front of the net.  After that Parise struck back for the devils making it 3-2.  This is when I started to get worried.  We had just killed 2 penalties off in succession and all the momentum was starting to swing the wrong way.  Bogosian got called for a holding penalty, setting up a 6th Devils powerplay.  Shortly into said powerplay “old faithful” Marty Reasoner created a turnover and a 2 on 1 for the Thrash.  He made a great pass across the ice that was stopped by Brodeur.  This led to a sequence of about 4 shots in rapid succession and ended with Thorburn scoring one while laying on his back in the crease.  That made the score 4-2 and that is where it would end.

Thoughts on the game:

• The penalty kill was 6 for 6.  How many times in the past have I been able to say that?!?!?!  AND THEY SCORED SHORT HANDED!! *brain explodes*
• The power play was very good as always, going 2 for 3.  Both of the 2 were scored by Peverley
• Pavelec kept the team in the game the whole first period.   He still makes me nervous in the way that he seems to get caught out of position A LOT.  I guess I will just have to get used to it or have a heart attack trying.
• Evander Kane is great on the PK and creates a ton of scoring chances.  Waddell and Anderson both said this week that he is basically a lock to stay with the team all year and it looks like that will be the right call.
• The shot differential was still not very good.  Half of the Devils 30 shots came in the first period though.   The big difference compared to last season is that we are not giving up near as many quality scoring chances as in years past.

Overall it was a good final 40 minutes and Pavs kept us in it early until the boys got there legs under them after having 6 days off between games.

The Thrashers tour moves down the road to Buffalo tomorrow night to take on the suddenly hot Sabres.  Hedberg will be in goal for that one.

-Chris Telford

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