Blechhhh..... a Sister kisser!
Oilers and Thrash play a snoozefest!
Well after all the hype, all the hyperbole, and all the hope, the game itself turned into nothing more than...well the Hilton sisters!
A 2-2 score with minimal penalties and shots that were 32-30 Oil ended up putting the Georgia crowd to sleep. Denis Gauthier scored his 6th of the year from Brendan Shanahan late in the first helping the Thrash take a 1-0 lead into the break.
Jay Bouwmeester tied it at ones half way through the second on a setup by Marian Hossa before Shanahan potted his own goal 20 seconds before the end of the period. This allowed the Thrash to hold a 2-1 lead going into the third.
Zdeno Chara took a double minor for High Sticking Marian (Im not a girl) Hossa at 1:47 of the 3rd period and Patrice Bergeron tied the game just before the double minor ended. The rest of the period saw little to no action and the teams went to overtime. The Oilers took 3 shots from cenbtre ice and killed off a penalty to Bouwmeester in OT and the two teams skated off with a lacklustre 2-2 tie.
Blechhhhhhhh
Goalie Statistics Martin Brodeur (OIL), 28 saves out of 30 shots, T, 48-14-4
Patrick Lalime (THR), 30 saves out of 32 shots, T, 47-16-3
Power Play Conversions
OILERS 1 for 5
THRASHERS 0 for 5
Game Stars
1 - Patrick Lalime (THR)
2 - Martin Brodeur (OIL)
3 - Peter Bondra (THR)
Thrashers next game vs the Flyers in Philadelphia tomorrow night for their 4th game in 5 nights.
Bird Poop
Rumors were leaked that a member of the press overheard GM Peterson in a heated discussion with Goalie Patrick Lalime after the game. It is rumored that the GM had told Patty that a deal had been reached to trade him to a team out of the playoff race for a young and upcoming goalie. Nothing further could be heard.
Scott Niedermayer could resume skating as early as today.
Niedermayer had the meniscus removed from his right knee on February 13 after playing in pain since injuring it in mid-December. While he had what he called a "setback" a few days ago when swelling reappeared, Niedermayer said he is happy with the progress. "We're going to do our thing every day," he said. "Try not to do too much but try to test it as well." The original recovery period was expected to be three or four weeks. Niedermayer says he believes he's right on schedule. Nieds anticipates being back in the Thrashers lineup before their last regular season game vs the Penguins.
