That Damn Finn Stumps Blueland Yet Again

If there is one goaltender in the NHL that strikes fear in the hearts of Thrashers fans all around the world it's surprisingly not Martin Brodeur or Roberto Luongo it's Antero Niittymaki. The goaltender also known in certain circles as Thrasher kryptonite once again turned away a tide of shots by the Thrashers to secure a victory and help to send my hopes for post season hockey in Atlanta straight to hell.

The thing is, I can't blame the Thrashers for losing Saturday night. They played damn good. The Thrashers out shot the Bolts and won the puck battles along the boards. Their PK, though victimized once, was overall very good. Their power play converted on one opportunity (as did Tampa's) and then it was deadlocked for the entire rest of the game.

The Moose was Moosetacular in net turning away 25 of 26 shots during regulation and the 5 minute futility extravaganza. The defense played well with a particularly great play by Antropov to sweep the net and keep us alive in the 3rd period when a puck got past Moose.

So with us playing well why didn't we win??...well quite frankly because that damn Finn was in the net against us. He's a good goaltender anyway..but when he plays Atlanta he goes from good to Out of his Frickin Mind.

Wouldn't you also know it that the once game that Slava has missed (Franchise record at 251 consecutive games until Sat) would come to a shoot out, a area of the game where he excels. I think what was more disappointing than Slava out is who John Anderson sends up...Todd White??? Really??? I would have sent Slater or even Kane before White. Todd White couldn't score with a fistful of money in a brothel.

Saturday's shoot out loss was painful in the standings,  though their hard play did at least earn them 1 point..and at this juncture every damn one of them counts. We're still in playoff contention but the way things are going lately reminds me of a guy hanging from a high place and his fingers are slowly slipping off the ledge..you've seen in in the movies..you know he's going to fall eventually..he's giving it hell..he keeps trying to tighten his grip get a foothold..do something to save himself from the precarious position he's found himself in..but in the end you see him fall..that's the way I'm starting to feel about this team.