Well, whatever John Anderson said, did or fed his Atlanta Thrashers in between Saturday’s loss to Columbus and Tuesday’s game in Toronto worked. After what was the worst offensive performance under the first-year head coach, the Thrashers responded with six goals to pull out a 6-3 victory in Toronto.
Little was different in terms of lines, but the team played with a newfound source of intensity. Atlanta didn’t wait to fall behind to Toronto, getting the early lead on a goal by Colby Armstrong, his first in 14 games.
Atlanta kept the pedal to the metal, scoring the next two goals to build a 3-0 lead before Toronto finally got on the board 7:31 into the middle frame. Todd White and Chris Thorburn each scored between Armstrong’s goal to open the game and the Leafs’ first of the night.
In the end Atlanta was still outshot for the game, but most of those Maple Leaf shots came after the Thrashers had already established a commanding lead in the third period.
HEARING THE WHISPERS
Ilya Kovalchuk was more frustrated in Saturday’s loss than at any point I’ve seen him before this season. The influence his play has on the success of his team is evident, as the Thrashers are now 7-4-1 when he scores a point, but Tuesday he showed the markings of a true on-ice leader.
Toronto’s Ian White was chirping at Kovalchuk throughout the game. For the most part Kovalchuk ignored it, but after a late hit sent him into the boards the usually docile forward decided to send a message of his own to White. He was charged with two minor penalties for roughing and charging White, along with a pair of fighting majors for the two.
After the brawl, Kovalchuk could be seen grinning from ear to ear. This is what the fans have been looking for from the possible team captain all season. Kovalchuk is the consummate professional, but sometimes it’s good that the fans see how much he enjoys playing the sport.
This could be a sign of big things to come, not only from Ilya Kovalchuk, but the team in general. He is so talented with the puck once he gets on a scoring roll, opposing defenses will be forced to send an extra man his way, leaving the ice open for players like Ron Hainsey and Erik Christensen to fill in and put shots on the net.
FIRST-YEAR WONDER
A win like this shows me a lot. It shows the talent this team can display when it wants to play together, and also that John Anderson’s speeches aren’t falling on deaf ears. He said after Saturday’s loss that getting a lead in Toronto would be a big focus for his team, which they accomplished seven minutes in.
Though he’s a first-year head coach, his veterans are certainly listening. Whatever he did worked, and now the team has something to build on. Hopefully the Thrashers continue their streak of fast starts in Washington on Wednesday.
CHAMELEON IN NET
Is there any other team in the NHL for which every article written about it ends by naming the starting goalie for the next game? It has been amazing how both Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg have played extremely well while not getting consistent time in net. Each has been thrown in and has performed admirably, keeping the Thrashers in most games.
In Tuesday’s win, Hedberg stopped 32 shots and had one save that could be the save of the year so far for Atlanta.
Now for the obligatory closing:
Ondrej Pavelec is slated to start in goal on Wednesday.
Boral can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
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