Ok. So, I’ve been reading around on other sites, particularly those of the Senators, and Sabres, doing my usual hockey routine to get some material on what should have been yesterdays post game wrap. I read and I read, and I got angrier and angrier. Folks, the teams out there are giving us NO respect whatsover. Most people are saying the Rangers got the luckiest draw for an opponent with my home town Thrashers. They are saying that we will get destroyed by the 2 juggernauts, etc etc etc.
I say. Really?
So, rather than focus on the sweep we just accomplished, I would prefer to take a look at the team we just faced, the Atlanta Thrashers.
For all those trash talkers out there, lets see how the Thrashers did against all 7 Eastern Conference playoff teams.:
|
Border Color
|
|
| Team Is Winning Series | |
| Team Is Tied In Series | |
| Team Is Losing Series | |
| Team Has Won Series | |
|
VS Buffalo Sabres
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Oct 28
|
Win
|
5-4
|
|
Dec 30
|
Loss
|
1-4
|
|
Feb 6
|
OTL
|
3-4
|
|
Mar 18
|
Win
|
4-3
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
2-1-1
|
||
|
VS New Jersey Devils
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Dec 19
|
Win
|
4-3
|
|
Dec 23
|
Win
|
5-2
|
|
Jan 12
|
Loss
|
1-2
|
|
Jan 30
|
Win
|
5-4
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
3-1-0
|
||
|
VS Ottawa Senators
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Nov 8
|
Win
|
5-4
|
|
Jan 1
|
Win
|
3-2
|
|
Feb 17
|
Loss
|
3-5
|
|
Feb 26
|
Win
|
4-2
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
3-1-0
|
||
|
VS Pittsburgh Penguins
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Dec 9
|
OTL
|
3-4
|
|
Dec 21
|
Win
|
4-3
|
|
Dec 27
|
Win
|
4-2
|
|
Mar 24
|
Loss
|
1-2
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
2-1-1
|
||
|
VS New York Rangers
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Nov 10
|
Loss
|
2-5
|
|
Nov 28
|
Win
|
5-4
|
|
Jan 20
|
Win
|
3-1
|
|
Mar 16
|
Win
|
2-1
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
3-1-0
|
||
|
VS Tampa Bay Lightning
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Oct 5
|
OTL
|
2-3
|
|
Oct 9
|
Win
|
1-0
|
|
Nov 11
|
Loss
|
3-5
|
|
Nov 24
|
OTL
|
2-3
|
|
Dec 7
|
Loss
|
0-8
|
|
Dec 26
|
Win
|
2-1
|
|
Feb 22
|
OTL
|
4-5
|
|
Apr 7
|
Win
|
3-2
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
3-2-3
|
||
|
VS New York Islanders
|
||
|
Date
|
Result
|
Score
|
|
Nov 4
|
Win
|
4-1
|
|
Dec 16
|
Loss
|
0-6
|
|
Jan 26
|
Win
|
5-4
|
|
Feb 1
|
Loss
|
2-5
|
|
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
||
|
2-2-0
|
||
|
Cumulative Record
|
|
18-9-5
|
So, while it may be easier to call the Thrashers a crappy team, the numbers, well, they just dont back it up. Heres the truth of the matter folks. The Thrashers are a VERY good team. A team that could, and has, beaten every team in the league, and does not have a losing record against ANY of the playoff teams. So all I can say is, the Rangers earned their win against a damn good team, and its just idiocy to say otherwise.
Personally, I think the reason the Thrashers had a less than stellar showing has more to do with some questionable coaching moves, and some flat out GREAT defense by the Rangers. Their stars had no room to play, no room to create, and most of their lanes closed off. Give us our due, were owed it.
Anyway, to finish things off, a friend of mine, Angie, was kind enough to let me share this short clip from the end of yesterdays game. MSG cuts too much of the crowd audio out, trust me, the place was ROCKING.
-Inferno
