Don't Look Now...Is That A Playoff Spot?

What a difference a few games make in the NHL...this time a week ago the residents of Blueland were ready to take the GM, Coach and Team all out back and shoot them...now I think they'd settle for the GM. Last night's convincing win again the Ottawa Senators, along with Boston's shutout loss to Pittsburgh, and the Rags dropping a close one to the Blues puts Atlanta back in the thick of the fight.

Atlanta came out and struck early with a goal by Artyukhin in the first period and then played the rest of the period out solidly. We opened the second period with a goal by Jim Slater, whose game has vastly improved from last season, off a pass from Todd White. Then with a totally blind, bias, bullshit call from the refs later in the period the Senators get a gift with a goalie interference call that cost the Thrashers a goal, and almost immediately after that another goal to tie the game at 3.

Now the 3rd goal I really believe was more that Moose was still so incensed with the previous no call that he may have let his concentration slip a little. What I'm happy to see is that the team responded the way it should by coming out in the 3rd period and controlling the game. There have been times before where this would have been enough to totally deflate the team and for them to respond by coming out flat and giving up, rather than scoring, 3 goals.

Last night's win gives the Thrashers a little more control of their own destiny and they can seize the opportunity with a strong showing this weekend against Philly. The Thrashers have a back to back, home and home stand with the Flyers starting here in Atlanta on Saturday and then Sunday up in Philly. If we can grab all 4 of those points along with a little luck in Boston hopefully continuing to lose and then we host Boston next Tuesday. We have the opportunity by then, if we work hard, to take sole posession of 8th place.

Bill Tiller and his gang over at the Iceman Blogs have a great idea to nominate the elderly couple from the kiss cam, your editor and the entire staff here at FanThrashtic LOVE that idea...GO OLD COUPLE!!

Have a great weekend and Believe in Blueland