Posted on Fri, Oct. 21, 2005
Thrashers pounding teams in season of hope
DAYEL PETERSON
Associated Press
Atlanta The hype leading up to season 4 in the CPHL certainly added a lot of weight to the collective shoulders of the Thrashers players. Two GM changes later and fan favoorite GM Peterson has done an amazing about face on the team structure and depth so badly needed to get the team to the finals once again.
When the Schedule was released early in September, GM Peterson salivated when he saw the league had provided him with a run through the expansion teams and weaker sisters of the league in week 3. The coach/GM kept hammering at his players that they should not take them lightly and that message was hammered home early in week 2 with a 3-2 loss to the Nordique, handing the struggling Quebecois team their first victory of the season. The message sunk in to the collective minds of the Thrasher players after that humiliating loss. The next match saw the team humiliate the Nords 10-4 and the team has steam rolled since.
Saturday the Birds continued this hot streak burying perennial losers, the Tampa Bay Lightning, by a 6-0 score. Bill Guerin the much maligned player, continued his hot ways with 2 more goals with Brendan Shanahan popping in one of his own and two helpers. Balance has been the key as the Thrashers are continuing to score by committee which helps keep other teams off guard in any attempt to match lines.
After 5 games in 5 nights the team gets a well deserved two days off and GM Peterson has suggested that they take Sunday off to recuperate before taking the ice to practise on Monday in preparation for their next games.
Goalie Statistics
Ed Belfour (LIG), 20 saves out of 25 shots, L, 2-9-0
Michael Leighton (LIG), 10 saves out of 11 shots
Patrick Lalime (THR), 19 saves out of 19 shots, W, 9-1-0
Power Play Conversions
LIGHTNING 0 for 5
THRASHERS 3 for 14
Game Stars
1 - Bill Guerin (THR)
2 - Patrick Lalime (THR)
3 - Brendan Shanahan (THR)
Week 4 games
Tuesday in Dallas vs the Stars
Wednesday in Atlanta vs the Capitals
Friday in Atlanta vs the Devils