Thrashers And Canes Meet For First Time

by Cory Lavalette on Nov 8, 2008 9:18 PM EST

[caption id="attachment_2325" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Giant-sized thug Boris Valabik returns to the RBC."]

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Atlanta comes to Raleigh for the first of six meetings this season between the Southeast Division foes. Carolina owned the Thrashers last season, going 6-1-1 in the eight-game slate. It will be the Canes' first time facing new Thrashers head coach John Anderson.

Both teams are coming off big wins Friday, with Carolina coming from behind to beat Ottawa at the RBC Center 2-1, while Atlanta erased a Buffalo lead in the third period and won in overtime on a Jason Williams power play goal.

I'll try and leave comments tomorrow afternoon with the specifics about who will be in net (early reports say Kari Lehtonen will man the crease for Atlanta; I'm guessing Cam Ward will get the nod for Carolina), and any possible lineup changes (Matt Cullen practiced today; maybe he plays? Patrick Eaves did not skate with the team today).

The newest Thrasher, 39-year-old defenseman Mathieu Schneider, was not expected to make the trip with a hip flexor injury. Rookie Boris Valabik was called up a few days back and will play in his place. Valabik, at 6-7 and 240 pounds, played seven games with Atlanta last season — twice against Carolina — and is probably best remembered by Canes fans for piling up 29 penalty minutes for going after Joe Corvo — who, by the way, is on a four-game point streak — and starting a brawl in the waning minutes of the Hurricanes' 7-1 win March 28. He's accumulated 200-plus penalty minutes in four of his five full seasons in North America (he spent three years with the OHL's Kitchener Rangers and this is third in the Thrashers' organization, playing mostly with the AHL Chicago Wolves).

Eric Staal was the best Carolina player against Atlanta last season, scoring seven goals and nine assists. Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk was the Thrashers top scorer with three goals and eight assists in the 2007-08 series.

Surprisingly, Kovalchuk (5-7-12, minus-3) is only fourth in Thrashers scoring early in the season. Leading the way is center Todd White with four goals and 11 assists in 14 games, followed by veteran Slava Kozlov and second-year center Bryan Little, who both have eight goals and six assists.

Unfortunately, neither the Canes' or Thrashers' broadcast partners are televising the game, but you can listen in on 99.9 FM (streaming audio on top right of page) starting at 2:30 with a half-hour pregame show, with the game broadcast beginning at 3 p.m..

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Comments

I can’t believe it! I just checked the Center Ice schedule and it isn’t there either.

by AD on Nov 9, 2008 7:13 AM EST reply actions

I agree AD – when I purchased Center Ice, I just assumed that every game was on. Not the case, if neither team is broadcasting, then CI has nothing to pick up.

by Fred on Nov 9, 2008 8:01 AM EST reply actions

Yup … this has happened around the league a few times this season. You think the NHL would put something in place so it wouldn’t ever happen.

by Cory on Nov 9, 2008 8:29 AM EST reply actions

Center Ice only plays the broadcast of each team…. if neither team is broadcasting then it will not be on center Ice either….

I’m excited about the game this afternoon…..

by Mateo on Nov 9, 2008 10:14 AM EST reply actions

Stop complaining and go to the game.

by Ken on Nov 9, 2008 12:25 PM EST reply actions

Right Mateo. I just wish the NHL would notice the broadcast conflict and urge one team to broadcast it.

by Cory on Nov 9, 2008 12:25 PM EST reply actions

That’s not an option for everyone. For example, I have to work. Which would’ve been fine b/c I telecommute on Sundays and work from my couch. Alas, no television. Two, what about the Atlanta fans?

it’s a league-wide problem, not a Carolina problem.

by Cory on Nov 9, 2008 12:40 PM EST reply actions

Ken. Shut up!

by AD on Nov 9, 2008 3:08 PM EST reply actions

Well games over. Would have been a waste of money going.

Anyone care to chime up that this team, isn’t a team. They are broken.

Another crap game.

The Samsinov, Roddy goal was sweet, but all in all garbage play.

Those that keep whining about “well we got two points”. How many more two pointers you think it’s going to take to get into the money season? Do really think this team is at that level?

I gave up[ my season tickets and I am now not going to buy another ticket. It’s just like the government, wasting my money. Evryone knew these teams were so crappy no one bothered buying a TV feed. Now that was a smart choice.

I’m just disgusted. The Rats would of done a better job ande cost almost nothing in comparison.

A-just let down, again. We should of owned them.

by Paladin6 on Nov 9, 2008 5:44 PM EST reply actions

AD,
Stick to being an idiot. Clearly your good at what you do.

Love, Ken

by Ken on Nov 9, 2008 6:22 PM EST reply actions

Ken, If we could have gone to the game, we would not have been looking for a broadcast.

Who’s the idiot.

Kisses,

by AD on Nov 9, 2008 7:53 PM EST reply actions

Just got home from the game. Very disappointing. Staal did not play well tonight. I beg of you…. get a screen in front more often (please!!) and put the puck on net. Too much time spent trying to develop the perfect play and probing the defense with passes that end up being broken. Sammie was solid.

by SamsonovFan on Nov 9, 2008 8:39 PM EST reply actions

I am sure I am generalizing… but in my opinion the Canes goals-against are problems that often start in the offensive zone. I think the forwards are so skilled that they tend to over-develop their scoring chances. They lose the all-important Detroit puck possession when passes are broken…. back the other way toward Ward…. our D backing up…. grrrrr. Our D was giving just enough cushion to their forwards so that Ward was caught with a couple bad angled shots.

If there are some players who do not have the ferocity to play with consistent fire (or who lack the confidence to play ten-feet taller than they are), let them watch as guys who appreciate the opportunity and every minute tear up the ice. Conboy!! and LaCouture. And Ruutu. The guys who are out now (on D too) leaves a softer and more inconsistent team on the ice. The chemistry and mixture is the problem. It is that abstract thing you can’t quite put your finger on.

by SamsonovFan on Nov 9, 2008 9:11 PM EST reply actions