Game Day Preview: ATL v CAR

Tonight we'll get our first look at Tuomo Ruutu in Carolina red. I'm at a point where I don't know what else to say on the game day previews anymore. Do you want optimism or honesty? Honesty? How about this for honesty (from AP):

Less than three weeks ago, the Carolina Hurricanes and Atlanta Thrashers were tied atop the Southeast Division. When they meet Wednesday at Philips Arena, they'll be separated by two other teams and eight points.

The surging Hurricanes look to extend their division lead, while the fourth-place Thrashers hope to avoid an eighth straight loss as the clubs meet for the sixth time this season.

On Feb. 15, Atlanta won its third in a row to pull even with Carolina at 29-27-4. The Thrashers (29-31-7) haven't won since, going 0-4-3 in their last seven, with all of the non-regulation losses coming in the last three games.

Carolina, meanwhile, has seized a three-point lead over second-place Washington by going 5-2-1 since Feb. 15 and 7-2-1 in its last 10. The Hurricanes (34-29-5) have won four of their last five.

I can sum that up in two words: We're screwed!

I have a big long post half written comparing stats by player etc, it was hella impressive and pretty with colours and charts, but then I went to the doctor and forgot what the damned point I meant to make was.

At this point, we're probably gonna lose tonight. But hey, stranger things have happened. To that end...


Go Captain Pommerdoodle!

And your random hockey quote of the day (which I should actually remember to post here instead of emailing to people):

Tampa Bay's leading scorer, Vincent Lecavalier, swept in on [Marc-Andre] Fleury on a breakaway.

"I was like, 'Oh, [expletive],' " Fleury said.

Well said, Flower.

Yesterday's photos

Here's your depressing Thrashers stat of the day: The boys are 2-10-1 in the 2nd game of back-to-back games this season. There are 4 more back-to-backs remaining in the season.

Don Wright of the AP took these. I want Don Wright to be my new best friend. These are some of the best hockey photos I have seen all season. He must be Pittsburgh-based, shame we don't play there very much. Someone should entice this guy to come work for Blueland. All photos enlarge to 1024x768.

Flower! With white pads!

Ex and Bugsy fight for position.
Kari does his thing against Sykora, poking the puck away. Ladies and Gentlemen, please note your player of the game, Joel Kwiatkowski,
letting Sykora get all up in Kari's grill............... Great D, Kiwi.

Kozzy works it in Flower's 5-hole.

Little and Genya battling. Oh look, and Genya holding Little's stick. Was that a penalty?

The GWG. Letang pretty much has this one move. I know Kari's weak on the stick side, but did no one show him video of the Winter Classic? Did Colby not tell Kari this was Tang's move? Sssssigh.

Also if anyone reading this besides me cares...
Million dollar bonus goal! Or, you know, knowing the Sabres, five million bucks. But worth every penny for its sheer beauty and genius. He stole the puck from the middle of a scrum, peeled away from the other 9 guys on the ice heading for Hasek, and by the time anyone knew what he was doing and could follow, he'd put it in the net. GENIUS! And that is why Pommerdoodle is captain for the month of March!