Atlanta Thrashers vs the Ottawa Senators

Another "Thrashers Thursday" for Blueland as the Ottawa Senators rolled into town. Ottawa was on a strong surge going into the Olympics, but had been on a bit of a slide when the games were over. We hoped to continue to help them with that slide.


Warm ups.


Moose slides side to side.





Slater clearing pucks out of the net.





Jimmy and the guys taking some shots.





The Moose cruise. He's checking out my buddy Donna. She won the Hedberg St. Patrick's Day jersey and was wearing it. He winked at her, he does all the time. I'm getting very jealous! Good thing I like her!





At least I have my own piece of Swedish heaven.





Watcha looking for pumpkin? Here I am!





An unmasked Moose, unusual sight during warm ups. It turned out to be an unusual night for Moose.





Kubina because I don't have much Kubina.





Moose making a save.





Hey Slater, I think the chick in the Hainsey jersey is trying to get your attention.





A shot of the top of Moose's mask.





Afinogenov in the zone.





This is becoming a common sight, Bryan and Nik laughing it up before the game.





Swarming the goalie.





Nik smiling. My friends Kerry and Randy say if they see Nik smiling in warm ups, he always scores.


First Period!




Elliot turns aside the puck.





Get up and let go, Foligno! This will not be the last time Foligno, Moose and Hainsey have some action in the crease.





MacArthur puts a shot on Elliot.





Mac tries again.

Atlanta was out shot in the first period 15 to 9, but managed to get on the scoreboard with a backhand from Artyukhin. Oduya got an assist and so did his partner Hainsey. Good times.


Second period







Beer on the ground! In all my trips to Phillips I've yet to see one of the beer guys drop his beer. Big mess.





This is a goal. You can't see it because it's still under Elliot.





More action in front of Elliot.





Max stretching to get the puck.





A blurry pic, but I love the old school pad stack, then windmill.





On the other end of the ice, some scary times. Michalek went hard to the net and found out that there are posts there. He was down for a few minutes. Moose is telling the ref "I told that bitch to stay out of my crease."





The team doctors sit a few rows over, you know it's bad when they leave and go down to the bench.





Fortunately Michalek made it up and out with some assistance.





Nice splits there, Elliot!





Things get a little chippy. Someone just needs to put a beat-down on Ruutu.





Too bad that beat down didn't come before this. This is moments before all hell broke lose. Zack is blocking the action (thanks Bogo), but you can see Ruutu to the right of him. Moose made the initial save on Campoli, but thanks to some blatant interference by Ruutu, Jarko (jerko) was able to scoop the puck back up and put put it in net.


You can see most of it here. Of course we were treated to like 200 replays, close ups and different angles. The place went nuts.


So did Moose.





Moose had to be restrained from going after ref, Stephane Auger.





Moose complained bitterly to the ref.
Moose: He elbowed me in the head.
Ref: You should be glad he didn't bite you.





He tried showing him the replay. No avail. Being the 100% class act that Johan Hedberg is, he later apologized for his actions. They should be apologizing to YOU, Moose!



They should have put this sign by Moose's net! for the rest of the game!





Moose was definitely hot. He battled with several people coming into his crease. If the refs weren't going to take care of him, he'd take care of himself as Neil is finding out here.

Unfortunately, Moose was also rattled and let another goal in less than a minute later. Fortunately, the period ended soon after and they could regroup. Thanks to Ruutu's display of jackassery and the effects that followed, we went into the third period tied at 3.


Third period!







Johnny patroling in front of our net.





YES! Nik breaks the tie!





Get up asshole, nobody cares if you are hurt.





Aside from a rampaging Moose, the other story of the night was the non-story of Boulton vs former Thrasher, Andy Sutton. We were all dying to see this one. Boultsie tried to make it happen a few times, but Sutton went to the bench. This lead to some people chanting WUSSY...except it started with a P.





Moose making a save with Foligno in front of the net.





Then Foligno is IN the net.





That's right Ron, get that piece of crap out of there.





Ron doesn't let go for quite a while.





Hainsey: Moose, what do you want me to do with this jackass?
Moose: Hold him still so I can kick his ass.
Foligno: Ref, help!
Ref: HA HA





Ron, I think you can let go now.





Seriously Ron, let go of Foligno. (Thanks to my buddy Kerry for pointing out how long Ron held on to Foligno).

Nik tied the game up and the Colby Armstrong had TWO goals within five minutes.


Thrashers win 6 to 3!





Thrashers win so there is a post game show guest. I took MARTA, so I don't have to rush to my car. The post game show guest is the first star of tonight's game, Colby Armstrong! Typical Army pose, looking a little stunned.





Colby always looks like he's about to say something hysterical.





Best pic of the night...and OF COURSE Army's eyes are shut. Par for the course!