This week has been a crazy miserable week for Thrashers fans. We have been pounded with the news of relocation and made believe that the moving vans are backed up to the arena and our beloved team is as good as gone. Make no doubt, times are bleak. I'm not one to usually buy into the hype, but even I'm worried.
This week Chris Mason, our starting goalie *snort* was interviewed for the "Illegal Curve Hockey Show" on the 1290 sports radio show in Winnipeg. Chris is driving from Atlanta to his home in Red Deer, Alberta and made time to stop and speak with the Winnipeg show.
Chris did say that the few fans that showed up were great and that they were a passionate as any Canadian fan. I did appreciate that. He did make it sound like he has no problems leaving Atlanta behind. I guess he loves the tundra, he is from Alberta. You can listen to his interview here:
Compare those comments with the comments of Johan Hedberg, former goalie for Atlanta.
"I've seen this market work. My first year here we had a really good team and made the playoffs. The building during the playoffs was electric. When football stops, you get more fans coming back. There's no doubt in my mind this could work. It takes time to build up a fan base. It takes time to build up the grass roots of hockey. If they just keep with it, I'm sure in years to come this is going to be a very strong market."
Keep in mind, Johan has played in Winnipeg:
"I played in Winnipeg, too. I like that city. I have fond memories of both places," the goalie said. "I think Winnipeg should definitely have an NHL team. I know it hasn't been easy for (Thrashers) ownership and the way things have gone pretty much since they took over the team."
Thanks for the kind words, Moose. More proof he's one of the classiest guys to every put on a Thrashers jersey.
Tank for a draft pick? HA! No way says Chris Mason as he stopped all 43 shots that the Flyers put on him last night.
Mason's showing earned him first star honors in the game as well as Puck Daddy.
He was also the first star of the night on nhl.com.
Way to go, Mace! This is the type of performance that Atlanta fans were hoping to see when he was signed. He seems to be one of those goalies who needs to be worked and face a lot of rubber.
Friday was one of my favorite games of the season, the St. Patrick's Day edition. The Thrashers wear special jerseys for warm-ups and then auction them off for charity. The jerseys are usually a bit rich for my blood. I was hoping to get Oduya's jersey, but couldn't break the bank to do it.
Thor was wearing his special protective gear to shield his badly split lip.
Mason rocking the green jersey.
Ben Maxwell stretches out...to go sit in the box.
Mason is giggles and grins in his green jersey.
Johnny is sticking his tongue out at me because he knows I can't afford his jersey.
Marc Stuart is stunned. Maybe he still wakes up in the morning and there is still that little 1/2 a second of peace and happiness when he thinks he's still with the Bruins.
Johnny having a bit of a wardrobe malfunction. Best part of this picture: You can see the little piece of tape between the O and the D of his name. Someone decided to make it look more Irish, O'duya.
Johnny likes.
Buff looking handsome in his green jersey.
The blue socks kind of kills it. At least they weren't wearing the socks for the red jerseys tonight.
It's a leprechaun! Nope, just Timmy Stapleton.
Swarming the goalie.
Hopefully good luck will follow us into the game. I had my sign that said "We need a LITTLE luck." Little has been snake bitten lately. If he keeps up his hard work, something good will have to come of it.
I like this picture because it looks like Pavs is giving Buff some directions.
I like this picture because...well you know why.
Come on Bogo, get that dirty bastard Hartnell out of the crease. He might give Pavs fleas.
Or even worse! Fortunately this didn't result in a goal.
Face off with Little and Carter.
Johnny and Thor seem to be discussing something.
Johnny: I was hoping my girl would win my jersey. She is a big fan. Thor: Well she bid on it. She was out of work for a while, so I'm sure bidding went to high. Johnny: Yeah, too bad. Thor: I guess some people really wanted a good Irish jersey for St. Patrick's day.
Johnny: Wait, what? Did you put that tape on my jersey? Thor: No, I thought it was supposed to be there, your name is Irish. Johnny: No, it's Kenyan. Thor: I thought you were Swedish? Johnny: I am. Thor: I'm confused.
My favorite spot on the ice to see Buff, harassing the goalie. I like his performance as a Dman this season, but he does his best work in front of the opposing goalie. Just ask Luongo!
Boucher tracks the puck through the chaos.
Bouch er peeks over his teammates.
Rare to get an action shot with all 6 players in it.
I talked with the former Peverley Hillbilly. He has reinvented himself as Laddies' Ladds. He has a kilt with Ladd's name and number. It even has the captain's "C" on it. Glad he could repurpose the mullet!
Buff, Mason and Pavs have a chat. Maybe they are chatting about how in the world they allowed the Flyers to score that tying goal with less than 2 minutes to play.
Nothing is decided in OT so we go to a shoot out!
Boucher denies Little.
Pavs turns aside Richard's shot...and his mouth guard.
Schremp comes in and confirms that he is money in the shootout.
Wheeler takes it in and gets almost past the goal. I thought he had lost it at this point.
But no, he puts it in the net!
Thrashers win! Shoot outs aren't the death sentence they used to be for the team. It's a good thing because God knows they can't win in regulation.
With 2 assists, Ron Hainsey is the #1 Star of the Game. And the winner of the autographed stick is the guy who waves the Blueland flag through the entire game.
I didn’t get too many action shots this time. Randy had seats in 113. He, Kerry and some guys they work with were over in club eating during the 1st period, so I really didn’t take the camera out the entire period. I got it firing during the 2nd though.
In one of my favorite features, Clubhouse Confessions, some of the Thrashers reveal what their favorite shows were when they were growing up.
Boultsie, you'll get no heat from me! I was a fan of the Smurfs!
Chris Mason furthers the idea that he is a massive dork (meant in a good way) by proclaiming his love for "The Mighty Hercules," an obscure cartoon from the 60s. Dragon Con AND the Might Hercules, does he get anymore awesome?
And finally, my beloved Johnny. No one has a problem seeing him as a fan of Fraggle Rock.
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, OndrejPavelec 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.
I'm a 39 year old rabid hockey fan in Atlanta. I'm originally from Mobile. I've been devastated by the loss of my Thrashers, but I'm trying to keep this blog going. I love to take pictures at hockey games. If you like crappy pictures, puckbunny comments and dumb jokes...you'll love my blog.
