With the surprise resignation of Montreal GM Phil Bauer, the Canadiens head into the playoffs against one of the Eastern conference powerhouse.
Atlanta (53-22-7-0) enter the playoffs as the highest scoring team and the only team not to lose in overtime. After trading away their scoring leader in Rod Brind'Amour, the Thrashers were led by Ales Hemsky with 99 points. Dany Heatley and Olli Jokinen finished 2nd and 3rd while providing a PPG average. The strength of the Thrashers lie with their goaltending, with Henrik Lundqvist and Ray Emery providing the best goaltending (ratings-wise) duo in the league. Ray Emery posted better numbers, a 2.51 GAA and .901 SV% whereas Lundqvist struggled with a 2.99 GAA and .888 SV%.
Montreal (37-33-7-1) traded away their franchise player at the deadline, before quickly acquiring Hossa as their new franchise player. Hossa became the leading scorer for the Habs, with Elias and Roy contributing to the Canadiens playoff push. Montreal went out and bought Khabibulin in the free agent market, however he hasn't performed to the standard. Though playing in 79 games, Khabibulin finished with 6 minutes to spare before hitting the goalie minute penalty. Khabibulin posted a 3.23 GAA and a .879 SV%.
Special Teams
Atlanta finished tops in both powerplay and penalty kill, Dany Heatley sparked up for 21 powerplay goals. Zdeno Chara racked up the shorthanded minutes but in special teams, you're not going to find a better team than Atlanta.
Montreal finished 18th in the powerplay department and 23rd in the penalty kill. If Montreal allows its team to become undisclipined, expect Atlanta to destroy the Canadiens.
In two regular season games between the Canadiens and Thrashers, the series was tied at 1-1-0. However, Atlanta outscored the Canadiens 10-6 however with the frequent trades only Ales Hemsky at 3 points as the leading scorer. Whereas Patrick Elias had 5 points to lead the Canadiens.
Where the series will be won or lost for:
Atlanta - Won - Special team battles - Lost - Though not in this series, if Kirk is determined to play Hemsky on the top line
Montreal - Won - Khabibulin to discover his NHL form for the Lightning - Lost - If they are undisclipined, if they let the series become a special teams battle
Predictions
As much as it pains me to say, I would put Atlanta as the best shot to win the cup. However, I feel that if Kirk is determined to play Hemsky on the top line, the Thrashers chances are diminished.
In their first round match-up the Coach Barry Trotz has changed up his line-up and new lines were seen practicing today in Atlanta in the morning skate..
When asked about the teams season and the hope of getting a chance to sip outta stanley's cup, the teams coach had this to say. "When i was brought hear in the beginning of the BRHL2 Atlanta Thrashers, it was clear we would be in the youth movement in year one and then our crafty G.M would be able to swing them young guys into some proven veterns. We had a horrible first season finishing 9th worst in the whole league. But during the offseason it was clear to me that this team had a chance to be somethin special, with the peices management was putting together bringing in Souray-Chara-Staios-Pandalfo to provide a vetern presence from the start of training camp on.. Throughout the early part of the year we were the top team overall until Heater and FBI44 went out with injury earlier in the year.. from their the guys in buffalo took the lead and never really gave us a chance to get back into the president's trophy race. With about 10 games left our G.M told me to make sure to rest up some of our vetern guys in order to make sure we are ready to go for the playoffs. Even with us vets seeing reduced icetime our team put together a nice stretch of 9 wins and only 1 loss. With that said, that is all behind us now, and were looking forward to the challenge of our first playoff game down hear in Atlanta and hope the building is packed and the fans can really help us win this first game of the series. "
When asked what his new lines where and why it was a closed doors practice. He responded bluntly, "The Canadians were alloud to cheat in the NHL for decade's landing every french born canadian and then getting a normal pick in the nhl entry (with the left over frenchies and the rest of the world) and with their history we didnt want to take any chances, that they could be cheating again being ran by the league :)....."
lol jk about the league cheating part.. any team can be upset. (proven by columbus's game one win)
but not joking about the nhl canadians cups all having a * beside them hahaha ole ole ole ole right on home tonight habbs fans...
after the teams original outburst they had a practice but ray emery showed up late and the team elected to stick with Henrik Lundqvist even after his poor performance in game 1.. Henrik stopped all 19 shots he faced in the teams 4-0 win against the habs..
the real star of the game however was olli jokinen he simply put the team on his shoulders with 3 goals and one assist... Helping to justify the trade the team made to bring him to town..
In Game three in Montreal the Thrashers wanted to play a physical game and punish the little french Canadians. During the game both Trent Hunter and Jeff Halpern got hurt on different hits, Hunter was hammered by Chara in the 1st period which knocked Hunter out for the game and possibly the next couple. In the middle of the third Halpern got hurt from team Captain Sheldon Souray's impression of randy jones on Patrice. New comer Olli Jokinen continues to dominate as a Thrasher, getting the game winner late in the third period to go along with his two assist's. He has 7 points in his last two games... Management was worried with how this Fin who had never been to the playoffs would respond to the pressure of the playoffs, and the team is pleased to see he picks up his game this time of year which is a big bonus..
After the game the league came down hard on FBI44 (souray) and gave him a THREE game suspension.. When asked about it this is what FBI44 had to say, "this is brutal man, i go to hit a guy and he turns and then i have no choice as im already in the hitting motion.. sure he landed in a bad spot and hit the boards and got hurt, but the league needs to realize ACCIDENTS, can happen. Were out hear going 100miles an hour and trying to stay one step ahead and the league thinks we have time to stop in the middle of a play and say hold on wait he COULD be turning i cant hit him.. In my eyes me and jeff are equally to blame i was going for a hit, he turned, and the results are what they are. I could maybe see a 1 game suspension IF anything, but as it stands its a 3 game suspension and that is bull****, i just hope the guys can win these games that im going to be gone.."
Sources from the league have indicated that the actions of Sheldon Souray in Game 3 against Montreal were disgusting, one source that wishes to remain unnamed was quoted "Souray took advantage of a player in a vulnerable position and in one replay could be seen to grinning as he checked Halpern into the boards. Follow-up views of Souray shown that he was laughing about it with Chara."
Though wishing to remain off-the-record, there seemed to be evidence that the attack was premeditated as Halpern had apparently said something to Atlanta coach Barry Trotz which incensed him and immediately making his way down to Souray. The league's media relations manager stated, "contrary to public knowledge, there has been no decision upon repealing the suspension. However, we show our support and congratulate the referees for recognizing the premeditated attack upon Mr. Halpern. We would also like to show our disgust that this is now being fought in the media because of the leak from Atlanta."
In game four of this series the Thrashers dominated in the third scoring 3 goals to win the game 5-1..
The teams stars.. the Hemsky-Heatley-Cole line was responsible for 3 goals. both hemsky and cole had a goal and assist.... the second line scored 2 of the 3rd period insurance goals, jokinen and hecht had solid night but shane doan was held off the score sheet..
so far this playoffs the teams scoring has come from all over only 4 players on the roster havent scored yet, Souray-Chara-Doan-Franzen. every other player has at keast found the net once. we hope to keep this balance up and close out the habs in the dog pit back home in hotlanta.
After dominating the Canadians 5-1 the Atlanta Thrashers are very excited to advance into the second round of the eastern conference playoffs, the team will now wait to see if they either play the hurricanes or the flyers in the next round..
When asked about what its like being hear from the start to the first taste of playoff victory, and assistant captain Ales Hemsky had this to say, "Last year was tough, we struggled all year finished bottom 10 teams it was really hard.. This year we come in with better players and continue to upgrade players all season always bringing in good team guys who bought into coach Trotz system, and with our new and more skilled players coach's system works alot better.."
When asked about his dominant regular season where he lead the most prolific scoring team in points with 99 points Ales responded, "the regular season is behind us this is the playoffs this is where the stars have to shine, and i consider myself a star and love putting that pressure on myself to be at the top of my game every night, Dany and I have been teamed together all year and we have such good chemistry it makes it so much easier and lets you be so much more creative in the offensive zone.."
