SB Nation Atlanta - Atlanta Thrashers at Los Angeles Kings: West Coast Trip Beginshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2010-10-13T11:08:41-04:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/15112762010-10-13T11:08:41-04:002010-10-13T11:08:41-04:00Face-Off Winning Percentages Shine In Thrashers' Loss
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<p>One other positive note to take away from the game, <a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2010/10/13/news-and-notes-from-loss-to-kings/" target="new">as pointed out by the AJC’s Chris Vivlamore</a>: <span>Rich Peverley</span> was 13 for 16 in the face off circle (81%) and <span>Alexander Burmistrov</span> was eight for 12 (67%). Winning face offs is key to puck control, especially in your own end. This could account for the Kings’ problems scoring in the first and second periods.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/13/1748863/face-off-winning-percentages-shine-in-thrashers-lossLaura Astorian2010-10-13T09:31:51-04:002010-10-13T09:31:51-04:00Thrashers Fall 3-1 To Kings In Third Period
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<p>There were positives to take away from this game. Goaltender Chris Mason was outstanding, allowing two goals on 34 shots, and the penalty kill went two for two. The fourth line of Eager-Burmistrov-Thorburn again continued to impress, oftentimes being the only line to put forth solid and consistent effort. Chris Thorburn scored the Thrashers lone goal at 2:26 of the second period, whapping in his own rebound. The drive of that line continues to impress. They averaged between twelve and a half and thirteen and a half minutes each, which was the most of any forward save for Andrew Ladd, who played 15:12.</p>
<p>Defensively, the only breakdown came on the first goal, which was a Ryan Smyth backhand while Zach Bogosian was tied up with Justin Williams. A goaltender interference penalty would not have been out of the question, considering that Williams fell on Mason and impeded his ability to play the puck, but the Thrashers did not get a powerplay or a disallowed goal out of it.</p>
<p>The powerplay was the weakest aspect of the game, going 0-for-5 in a game that saw the Kings play fairly undisciplined hockey up until the last period. Thus far this season the Thrashers are 1-for-14 on the power play, which is a significant issue that they need to address. Two shots on three powerplays in the first period is a major issue. <a target="_blank" href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2010/10/13/thrashers-fall-to-kings-to-start-road-trip/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_thrashers_blog">Coach Craig Ramsay addressed the problem after the game</a>:</p>
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<p>“That was not a good effort by our power play,” Ramsay said. “Our speed up the ice, at times, was just not good enough. Our entries were not good enough. … [The Kings] did a real good job on us and we didn’t recognize that our points were open. We didn’t get our shots through. We didn’t take shots when we had them. When you get a puck in the offensive zone and you get outworked on it, that’s not good enough. It’s a privilege to play on the power play. I put [Alexander] Burmistrov’s line out there with 30 seconds to go and they had the best entry of the night and that tells you how it works when people are really committed.</p>
<p>“Tonight they outhustled us down deep in our zone. We had opportunities to win battles and get it to the point and we didn’t get that job done. We’ve got some pretty good shooters back there but if you are not getting them the puck it doesn’t do you any good.”</p>
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<p>The Thrashers continue their road trip Friday night against the struggling Anaheim Ducks (0-3-0, with just two goals scored over three games), and conclude the trip against the San Jose Sharks (2-0-1). Both games are radio only, but NHL Center Ice's free preview runs through the end of the month, so your cable company should have the games available to watch.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/13/1748700/thrashers-fall-3-1-to-kings-in-third-periodLaura Astorian2010-10-13T00:40:21-04:002010-10-13T00:40:21-04:00Jarret Stoll Scores To Bring The Kings Up By One Over The Thrashers
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<p>Thrashers defenseman <span>Ron Hainsey</span> redirected a shot from <span>Jarret Stoll</span> to help put the puck in the net just seconds after <span>Ryan Smyth</span> scored to make it 1-1.</p>
<p>Hainsey and <span>Brent Sopel</span>, the weakest defensive pairing during the pre-season, are -1 for the game, and the third line of Kane-Peverley-Stewart is now -2.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/13/1748379/jarret-stoll-scores-to-bring-the-kings-up-by-one-over-the-thrashersLaura Astorian2010-10-13T00:37:05-04:002010-10-13T00:37:05-04:00Kings' Ryan Smyth Scores To Even Score Against Thrashers At One
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<p><span>Ryan Smyth</span> scores on a screen of <span>Chris Mason</span> to even the score of the game. <span>Zach Bogosian</span> lost track of Smyth at the side of the net, and when <span>Justin Williams</span> fell on Mason after being checked, Smyth knocked it into the net. The goal was scored at 3:53 of the 3rd period.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/13/1748375/kings-ryan-smyth-scores-to-even-score-against-thrashers-at-oneLaura Astorian2010-10-13T00:19:05-04:002010-10-13T00:19:05-04:00Thrashers And Kings Tied After The Second Period
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<p>The Kings outshot Atlanta 13-9 in the second period, but the disciplined Thrashers maintained their 1-0 lead through limiting quality scoring chances.</p>
<p>The highlight of the period comes courtsey of Paul Bissonnette, tough guy for the Phoenix Coyotes. He and Thorburn played junior hockey together, and he had this to say regarding his old captain:</p>
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<p>@<a target="_blank" class="twitter-atreply" data-screen-name="TSNBobMcKenzie" href="http://twitter.com/TSNBobMcKenzie">TSNBobMcKenzie</a> he was our captain. He can smoke a cigar in the shower his nose is so big.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; color: #111111;">Chris thorburn is a gem. Still talk to him after games when we play each other. He doesn't swear. He says frig instead of f bombs. Good Christian boy from the soo.</span></p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/13/1748349/thrashers-and-kings-tied-after-the-second-periodLaura Astorian2010-10-12T23:44:32-04:002010-10-12T23:44:32-04:00Chris Thorburn Scores First To Make It 1-0 Thrashers Over Kings
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<p><span>Chris Thorburn</span>’s tenacity makes the difference, driving to the net, catching his own rebound off the pads of <span>Jonathan Quick</span>, and shooting it into the open net.</p>
<p>Thorburn currently has three shots on goal and is leading the fourth line to another game where they’re both defensively and offensively responsible.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/12/1748311/chris-thorburn-scores-first-to-make-it-1-0-thrashers-over-kingsLaura Astorian2010-10-12T23:26:45-04:002010-10-12T23:26:45-04:00Atlanta Thrashers And Los Angeles Kings Tied At Zero After One
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<p>The Thrashers benefited from some extremely lucky bounces, especially one depriving rookie <span>Brayden Schenn</span> of his first <span class="caps">NHL</span> goal. They also benefited from three Kings penalties within the first nine minutes of the first period, but could not convert thanks to the Kings harder hitting style.</p>
<p>So far the Thrashers have twelve shots on Kings goaltender <span>Jonathan Quick</span>, and the Kings have managed nine shots on Chris Mason. This is a drastic defensive improvement for the Thrashers, who had allowed twenty shots on goal after one period in Tampa Bay on Saturday night.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/12/1748292/atlanta-thrashers-and-los-angeles-kings-tied-at-zero-after-oneLaura Astorian2010-10-12T18:37:12-04:002010-10-12T18:37:12-04:00Atlanta Thrashers Line Combinations For 10/12/10.
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<p>Coach Craig Ramsay’s sticking with what’s worked so far:</p>
<p><span>Andrew Ladd</span> – <span>Bryan Little</span> – Niclas Bergfors<br>
Freddy Modin – <span>Nik Antropov</span> – <span>Nigel Dawes</span><br>
<span>Evander Kane</span> – <span>Rich Peverley</span> – <span>Anthony Stewart</span><br>
<span>Ben Eager</span> – Alex Burmistrov – <span>Chris Thorburn</span></p>
<p><span>Johnny Oduya</span> – <span>Zach Bogosian</span><br>
<span>Dustin Byfuglien</span> – <span>Tobias Enstrom</span><br>
<span>Brent Sopel</span> – <span>Ron Hainsey</span></p>
<p><a href="http://lakingsinsider.com/2010/10/12/movement-on-the-left/" target="new">From Rich Hammond, the LA Kings’ beat writer/blogger</a>:</p>
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<p>Three of the Kings’ four lines will get new looks at left wing tonight, with <span>Andrei Loktionov</span> joining the first line, <span>Ryan Smyth</span> moving to the second line and <span>Brad Richardson</span> moving to the fourth line. The odd man out in this scenario is <span>Kyle Clifford</span>, the rookie who played seven capable minutes in each of his first two <span class="caps">NHL</span> games. Clifford can still be returned to his junior team before his 10th <span class="caps">NHL</span> game (before the Kings burn a year off his contract), but Terry Murray said the move wasn’t a reflection on Clifford. Richardson has been a lineup staple, <span>Brayden Schenn</span> has had two strong games and Murray likes having an enforcer — <span>Kevin Westgarth</span> — in the lineup.</p>
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https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/10/12/1747810/atlanta-thrashers-line-combinations-for-10-12-10Laura Astorian