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Monday, March 22, 2010
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Do you believe in...eh....the improbable?
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"You never want to be bullied around. We stuck right with them and finished our hits.”
Jim Slater on beating the Flyers at their own game
The Thrashers dominated The Flyers. They man-handled them physically and outworked them. Atlanta came more prepared. The Thrashers had the greater sense of urgency and a superior game plan. They bloodied the Broad Street Brawlers in Blueland and demoralized them in their own house. The beating could not have happened to a nicer bunch of guys.
Daniel Carcillo could have driven Mother Theresa to violence. He whines like a cat in heat. When not whining he complains. When not complaining he delivers cheap shots. He's the kid at school who used to get chased home every day by the bullies for mouthing off. Scott Harnell is a distant second to Carcillo on the aggravation scale but his mullet in irritating to all senses. This gum-flapping duo of irritation make the legendarily obnoxious Chris Pronger seem as abrasive as the late, great Mr. Rogers.
Over the weekend the Thrashers silenced the yapping Flyer traps with 120 minutes of hard, solid, passionate hockey. The weekend drubbing capped a 4-0 performance versus Philadelphia this season which equals the total number of victories the Thrashers have amassed over the Flyers during their previous nine years of existence. But that's old news and must be immediately put out of mind.
One simple truth of winning is all that matters is the next game. In this case that game is the most important regular season game in franchise history. The contest versus Boston is monumental because a win legitimizes the improbable sprint the Thrashers have broken into over the last four games. With a win this Thrasher team can prove to themselves, the fickle Atlanta sports community and their emotionally battered fans that they are capable of clutch performance.
The Bruins game is pivotal because of the brutally bad joke which is the April schedule. The Thrashers only play the three best teams in the East over their last six games of the season. They have the pleasure of playing the NHL's best club, The Capitals, twice. Both games are on the road no less. Points will be hard to acquire come April making every March game a must win.
So the stage is set for the lowly, much-maligned Thrash to slide into a playoff position despite their recent six-game losing streak which was proceeded by their liquidation sale and followed by rumors of the demise or relocation of the franchise. Two weeks ago the odds of this club finishing in the bottom three in the East were higher than earning their second playoff birth in franchise history. But here we are, less than 24 hours away from a win that go a long way towards securing a post season spot.
But if you're a Thrasher fan, you're feeling equally excited, apprehensive and nauseous. We've been hurt before you see. But like Tina Turner to Ike, we keep coming back for more before the bruises have healed. Maybe it will be different this time? Maybe things have changed? Just more one chance.....
Any sports Psychologist will tell you that positive visualization is integral to the success of an athlete. So let's try this together. I'll set the scene. Breath deeply and picture this:
Third period, 1:45 minutes to go, Thrashers up 3-2. The Bruins pull Goalie Rask and attack with five Forwards and Chara. They send the puck into the Thrasher zone. Slater battles Chara. Toby jumps on Jimmy's back and battles Chara. The puck gets to Sturm at point blank range. He shoots and is denied by the Moose, who covers up. The crowd exhales. The Thrashers win the face-off and drive the puck down the ice. Max skates through two Defenders with 1:18 and left. He sees the empty net. He shoots. He scores. The "Woo Hoo" song blares as does the goal horn. The arena shakes. The clock runs down. The final horn sounds.
Can you feel it. Can you hear it? We can almost taste it. Let's git it!
But alas, positive visualization alone can't bring this critical two points home to Papa. Here are my keys to victory:
1) Continued sticks in lanes and quick D-men feet - The Thrasher Defensemen have been spectacular. They block shots, they break up rushes, they hustle, they hit. This must continue.
2) Toby must shoot the puck - When Toby Enstrom pulls the trigger, good things happen for the Thrashers. At minimum he must shoot from the point on the power play. Best case, he lets it fly whenever he sees daylight. If Toby shot on goal total is 5+, the Thrashers can't lose.
3) Flying Slater - Jimmy's energy and edge have been irreplaceable during the winning streak. He has to turn it up a few degrees.
4) Stay out of the box - The Thrasher PK unit has been excellent lately but odds are it can't hold much longer. The Thrashers must spend more time in a man advantage situation than the Bruins.
5) Two or Fewer - Boston Goalie Tuukka Rask has a 2.08 Goals against average. The Thrashers can not let up more than the young Phenoms' average.
I hope you'll join me at Phillips tomorrow. We need volume and a massive collective will to win. I'll be twisted up, medicated and hurting as my ancient back has failed me again. If the final horn is sounded with the Thrashers ahead, I will feel no pain.
Your Loyal Servant,
Sean Grace
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Bolts before landing an uppercut - photo by Joe Petersen |
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| One of many scrums with the Flyers - photo by Joe Petersen |
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| The game that sparked the rally - photo by Tom Francisco |
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| Chris Chelios in Thrasher blue - photo by Tom Francisco |
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YOUR HOST - SEAN GRACE |
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"Live this moment, leave your mark not a stain, crash the net, finish your check, raise your voice, listen more speak less, passion, One Cup in my lifetime,The will to win, shake the arena, one overwhelming voice, believe in Blueland |
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