Behind on the IIF World Championship? No Worries, I'll Catch You Up

So what to do great players do when their crappy teams don’t make the playoffs or are eliminated early? They go to the IIHF World Hockey Championships and represent their country. As the Thrashers are firmly entrenched in the culture of SUCK, we usually have several players that go. This season we had 6 players and 1 prospect head over to Bratislava, Slovakia to battle it out for the #1 spot. The preliminary rounds are ending and regulation starts tomorrow (Thursday, May 5)


First up...AMERICA...FUCK YEAH! (Some Team America World Police humor) We get to go first because 1. I'm American and 2. We just killed Osama Bin Laden. It's been a good week for us.
Team USA

The Thrashers have three players representing the red, white and blue.
Blake Wheeler



Tim Stapleton - I'm so excited for Timmy! He didn't have an NHL contract last year, now he's representing his country!



Marc Stuart - Not only is Stuie representing his country, he is the Captain of Team USA! Way to go, Marc!



Team USA is in Group C along with Sweden, Norway, and Austria. In the first preliminary game against Austria, Team USA won 5-1. Wheeler scored 1 goal, Timmy had some good looks at the net registering 4 shots on goal and Stuart got a delay of game penalty. Our next match is against Team Sweden Wednesday (May 4).





The True North strong and free! Team Canada has 2 Thrashers on it:
Evander Kane



and Thrashers captain, Andrew Ladd (someone give Laddy a brush!)



Ladd has played in all 3 games for Team Canada and is a +1. Evander Kane is off to a great start. He has played in all 3 games, is a +3 and has 2 assists. Way to go, Kaner!







Thrashers' net minder Ondrej Pavelec is well on his way to backstopping the Czech Republic team to tournament success. He has played in both games posting a GAA of 1 and a SV% of .956. He has won both games and shut Denmark out 6-0.








Thrashers prospect Arturs Kulda has done Team Latvia no favors so far. In his first game he delivered a brutal hit on Czech player and Islander Dman, Radek Martinek. Martinek suffered a severe concussion and a severe hematoma (bruise to the brain). He is NOT expected to return to the tournament. For his actions, Kulda was suspended for 3 games.

You can see the carnage here for yourself.

The NHL Network will be carrying some of these games. Be sure and check them out. It is awesome hockey. Good luck and safe play to our Thrashers in the tournament and Go USA!

Welcome to Fright Night...Sabres vs. Thrashers

This is our Halloween edition of GPD. The game Friday had tons of frightening events, costumes and some of the scariest things on the planet....BUFFALO FANS!

One (and only one) cool thing about Buffalo is Ryan Miller, I finally remembered to check him out when he's doing his little zen routine before warm up.


As is now the routine, the guys were in the red, third jerseys. It's my understanding that all Friday night games will be third jersey night.



Modine was back in the line up.



Nik looking a bit stunned.



Sandy's sign, which was right by me, on the jumbo tron. We had to make Pavelec a "homeless" sign. We didn't know in time that he would be back, so we had to make it on the fly.



Mason was debuting his new mask. It's the same design, but reverse colors. It looked good with the red jerseys, I'm thinking he might use it for away games and third jersey nights. What a fashionable dude!



Best of all, our little fainting goat, Ondrej Pavelec was back in the line up! Ondrej fainted on opening night due to hydration issues. He whacked his head on the ice and got a concussion. It was one of the scariest things I've seen at a game. We are so glad he's back.



Nik and Buff bouncing the puck.



Eric Boulton is sporting some new facial hair these days.



Love this kid! Burmie is proving that he indeed belongs in the NHL.



Andrew Ladd getting his game face on.



Nik and Anthony getting ready for some shots.



Swarming the goalie.



As has become tradition, the Thrashers had a funny Halloween video. Kerry got a picture of my favorite. Chris Thorburn said that he and Boulton were going to be the Hart Foundation.



They could totally pull that off! How awesome would that be?!?!



Oh look who's back.



Opening face off.



Niedermayer hanging out in front of Mason.



The guys having some discussions as Thrash looks on. What is disturbing though is to the left of the picture, Bryan Little is down and holding his face. He left the game and did not return. We later found out that he had a concussion and facial lacerations



Sopel and Oduya defending their zone.



AGH! Get it out of there!

In another Thrashers tradition, we finished the first period down 2-0. I did something I NEVER do. I left in the last few minutes of the first period and went and got a drink, a double margarita! That helps with the Slug fans.


Kerry pointed out that Marty St. Louis was at the game.



Sopel giving Vanek a little push to get him out of the way.



Sopel and Vanek jockey for a spot in front of the net.



Mason making an impressive save.



In the 2nd period Ladd was putting himself in front of the net and Miller lost lost his mind. I was drinking and talking, but fortunately Michelle got these pics.


You can see his confrontational stance here.



He lunges for Ladd.



His team pulls him back.



And by the time I realized what was going on and pointed the camera, you can see him barking at the ref here.


Here is the video of what happened. It looks like as Ladd spins around, he hits Ryan in the leg pad with his stick. We were hoping we were going to see a goalie fight! It starts at about 1:10



Ryan sees some more of his new friend, Andrew Ladd.



Antro up in Ryan's business.



Buff is good on D, but man I miss him in front of the net harassing goalies.



Welcome to the NHL, Alexander Burmistrov! He got his first NHL goal that night.



Thrash and his buddies were festive. Thrash was dressed as Super Thrash.

The second period belonged to the Thrashers. We went into the 3rd period tied up with the Sabres.


Opening face off.



Montador falls backwards over Miller.



I like this picture because you can see the puck on Mason's jersey.



Then he directs it off to the side.



Hainsey keeping an eye on Gaustad. Mason keeping an eye on Hainsey in order to prevent disaster.



The team sorting out the penalties while a slug sits in the box.



Ladd back in Miller's kitchen.



Buff and Toby defending the zone.



Mason comes over for a drink and tosses the towel back.



Beth and her Slayer/Slater sign are in the house!



Unfortunately so is she. Well she's definitely persistent.



The refs explaining something to Mason.



Hell yes! The Thrashers are up 3-2 and cruising to the end of the came. We've only got a few seconds left in the game. We can taste victory. Then with less than 8 seconds left, a punch in the stomach.



AGH! Over time. Even in OT Ladd is taking it to Miller.



Big Buff wins in the OT!



That's right douchebags, you lose. Go back to your burned out frozen shit hole. Fortunately we don't have to see Buffalo again this season.



Dustin Byfuglien is the #1 star of the game!