Scouting the Enemy: Atlanta Thrashers

by FrankD on Jan 6, 2009 1:30 PM EST in News

Logo_atlanta_thrashers_medium

Record: 13-22-5

Leading scorers: Ilya Kovalchuk (13G, 26A, 39pts), Vyacheslav Kozlov (16G, 20A, 36pts)

Blogs: DO THE THRASHERS HAVE LARGE TALONS?

Here we go again. Doesn't it feel like the Penguins just played them? In any case, this should hopefully be the game that turns it around for the Penguins (I know, I've said it for five straight games already). Let's take a look at the previous matchups this season:

Final - 12.18.2008	1	2	3	Total
Pittsburgh Penguins	2	3	1	6
Atlanta Thrashers	1	1	1	3

Complete Coverage >

Final - 11.20.2008	1	2	3	Total
Pittsburgh Penguins	1	1	1	3
Atlanta Thrashers	1	1	0	2

Complete Coverage >

On paper...er, blog, it would appear this game is in favor of the Pens. But as we've discovered in other instances this season it's far too sketchy too make those kinds of predictions.

The Thrashers are 1-4-1 in their last six, their only win of 2009 coming against the Lightning in a shootout on January 2 [EDIT: Canucks, thanks HockeyWench]. Kari Lehtonen (4-9-2) is back in net for the Thrash and has yet to really play lights out hockey. Earlier in the season he was bothered by flu and back symptoms that have subsided enough for him to return to the ice.

Former Pen Colby Armstrong has lit the lamp 10 times this season, bringing him only six short of his career-high 16 during the Penguins' 2005-06 season. I'd imagine he'll accomplish this feat in 09, barring injury of course.

Unless the Pens are comfortable with losing their sixth straight (I'm sure they're not) then tonight's 7:30 game is a must win.

Injuries after the jump.

Atlanta Thrashers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Zach Bogosian	left leg	12.30.2008

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Mike Hoffman	broken right hand	10.9.2008
Garnet Exelby	hairline fracture in right leg	12.17.2008

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Incorrect Statistics

Interesting post of incorrect stats & facts! Let me break it down for you! First off tonight will be our third game during the new year. Our winning game was against the Vancouver Canucks in the shootout on 1/2/09 not the Tampa Bay Lightning which we played on 1/4/09. Next, Zach Bogosian did not get injured on 12/30/08 try October. He is also off the injury list and is with our AHL affiliate team for a short conditioning stint. Mike Hoffman was sent down on waivers and has been with the Chicago Wolves since October so he is no longer on our roster.

by HockeyWench on Jan 6, 2009 11:18 PM EST reply actions

As for the shootout flub that is my mistake. I guess I saw so many ’L’s’ on the Thrashers’ schedule my eye lost its place.

The other thing, such as the injuries and such, come from a sports information server. So unless you follow the Thrashers religiously (which I do not and you apparently do) then it won’t pick up little things like demotions to the minors until much later.

Thanks for your expertise.

Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com

by FrankD on Jan 7, 2009 8:05 AM EST up reply actions