Revenge of the Road Trip Thrashers vs Carolina

Back in January 151 Thrashers fans hit the road and followed their beloved team to Raleigh. We had an absolute blast. We showed up the entire Raleigh arena and I think they were honestly taken aback. The one thing we DIDN'T have...was a single goal. Not one single goal to cheer, so we cheered for the hell of cheering. It really bonded us.

Now it was time for the Caniacs to show us what they were made of. They planned their own road trip for when the Hurricanes blew into town last night, February 28. There were allegedly 150 of them, but it didn't look like it to me. I met several of them and they were really nice. While waiting in line to get in, they were loud and proud. I thought they were gonna give us a run for our money. Of course I'm sure I'm biased, but I think we had a much better showing. We had way more signs at warm up. I didn't even have room to put up all the signs. We completely lined the end of where the Thrashers warmed up and we sang, chanted and cheered during the entire warm-up. Okay, yes I'm biased.

Last night the Caniacs did get a few "Let's go Canes" chants started, we managed to drownd them out most of the time. They had a lot to cheer about for a while. Canes scored first...and second. I had a horrible premonition...what if the score was the same as our road trip??? We lost 2-0 in Carolina, what if it was the same here?

Fortunately that was not to be. I was sitting behind the net where Atlanta attacked twice. First period Carolina scored twice, so the action was on the other end of the ice. Second period was back and forth. Third period was all Thrashers and that was good because I got a good view of it all. The Thrashers pulled ahead and passed the Canes to go on to a 5-3 victory. Not bad for the NHL's worst home team.


Canes fans are cool. They hung out and tail gated with some of the members of our Nasty Nest (season ticket holders up in 314). But I can't give them total love, the ARE the "enemy" after all. I am glad they enjoyed as much fun as we did on our road trip, including driving 6 hours for a loss. We had more people, more fun and more noise. We win :)



Tonight I brought my Kari is Finntastic sign and a new Moose sign. Kari reads all of my signs and I think he liked his.




Boultsie warming up by Carolina's back up, Leighton.
Boultsie: You know, I'm not opposed to whipping a back up goalie's ass




Ex getting the pucks out of the net for back up.



Leighton
Wow. Just wow.



The usual guys standing in the usual place.

Our little ice Chihuahua, Toby Enstrom.

Kari warming up facing some rubber. Don't worry Kari, it will be an easy night, you'll only face 35 shots.

Not sure who Boris is glaring at, but that's what we fans call his "death stare." I'd like to see him back up that stare with some physicality, but I guess when you are 6'7'' it's assumed you can back up that stare. And also, he can't skate across the ice without getting a penalty, at 6'7'' you just LOOK like you need a penalty.

Crusher taking some shots.

The Little White Russian part 2

Happy Birthday, Wardo! Several of the Carolina fans had signs wishing Cam Ward a happy birthday. Cam is actually a leap year baby, his birthday is February 29.

Colin Stuart, our shortie scoring king. He's had 3 shorthanded goals since being called up from the Wolves. I haven't been able to get too many pictures of him.

Awwww, Bobo is looking mighty happy.

Haven't had a hot pic of Hainsey in his usual spot. Hainsey is always either:

1. Looking confused
2. Chirping
3. Burping

Boultsie

Obligatory Moose shot. I was wondering if he would start. He used to have a really good record with Carolina, but last time he was in net Staal really had his number.



On to the game

Goalies are always so thirsty.

Is he doing Yoga? During extended stops in play, Wardo would do some stretches and breathing near the bench.

Some smooshing and fighting for the puck.


Face off

Boris and Colin waiting in the face off.

Pevs waiting to get the puck and do something fantastical.

Hainsey and Pitkanen having some words. Bobo is keeping the peace in the background.



Perrin and Staal in the face off.

Welcome to the 3rd period, Wardo. I'm sure you are MUCH thirstier this period. Letting in 4 goals will do that.

Some action

Maybe the ref is explaining to Cam that unfortunately there is no NHL rules that prevent a goalie from losing on his birthday. Maybe Staal is apologizing and telling Cam the team will buy him dinner.

So Thrashers win. WOO HOO!!!! Such a rare thing at home. My favorite part was chanting at the end "Go home Canes....Go home Canes."

When we win, the guys don't have to fly out the next day for a game and the planets are aligned, we get a guest at the post game show! Woot!

Last night it was time for us to get to meet Baby Bogo, Zach Bogosian. Zach was our first round draft pick this season. He missed a good part of the season due to a broken leg. Since his return he has really gotten more comfortable in the game and improved. While he was injured he did some guest blogging for the Blueland Blog. It was completely adorable. Some of the adorable things I've learned about Zach from his blog posts and other articles:

1. He likes icecream.
2. He does the dishes after BBQs
3. He has a favorite recipe for french fries that his mom taught him.
4. His Armenian heritage is important to him.
5. He has to take motion sickness medication for air plane trips.

Could he be any more adorable? Actually, yes he could. Zach is a handsome young man!

Hi! I'm Zach Bogosian and I was born the year you graduated from high school *sob*




Maybe he's asking Darren Elliot to buy him a beer since his buddy Mattieu Schneider got traded to Montreal.

It was a great night in Blue Land!!!