SB Nation Atlanta - Thrashers Defeat The Ottawa Senators To Take Second Place In Southeast Divisionhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46601/atlanta-fave.png2010-12-13T22:09:21-05:00http://atlanta.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16377552010-12-13T22:09:21-05:002010-12-13T22:09:21-05:00Atlanta Thrashers Final Score: Thrashers Win 4-3 In Overtime Thanks To Bryan Little Overtime Goal
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<p>A messy third period almost cost the Thrashers. Thankfully, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silversevensens.com/">Ottawa Senators</a> were 0-4-2 in overtimes against Atlanta before tonight. <span>Chris Neil</span> potted a wrister past <span>Ondrej Pavelec</span> at 5:48 into the 3rd period to bring the Senators within one. <span>Jason Spezza</span> just under two minutes later was hooked by <span>Zach Bogosian</span> on a break away and was awarded a penalty shot. Ondrej Pavelec, who is atrocious on one-on-one situations such as penalty shots and shootouts, allowed Spezza’s goal easily.</p>
<p>The Thrashers were unable to convert in regulation, but just a little over a minute into overtime <span>Bryan Little</span> snapped one past Brian Elliot from the circles to give Atlanta the win. The defeat of the Senators in OT finally gave the Thrashers enough points (36) to leapfrog the idle <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rawcharge.com/">Tampa Bay Lightning</a> into second place in the Southeast. They’re now only two points behind the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.japersrink.com/">Washington Capitals</a> with a game on hand against them.</p>
<p>Tonight’s win also moves the Thrashers up to 5th place in the Eastern Conference. Going in to tonight’s game, the Thrashers were in 8th. Please don’t miss your next chance to see the Thrashers on Wednesday night as the Thrashers venture to Tampa Bay to make sure that not only do they stay in second place, but that they work their way into first.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/12/13/1874885/atlanta-thrashers-final-score-thrashers-win-4-3-in-overtime-thanks-toLaura Astorian2010-12-13T21:17:21-05:002010-12-13T21:17:21-05:00Atlanta Thrashers Score: Thrashers Up 3-1 On Ottawa Sentators; Dustin Byfuglien Sets Thrashers Record
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<p>So far so good. The first period saw the Thrashers jump out to a 1-0 lead on a deflection in off of <span>Jim Slater</span>’s skate by an <span>Eric Boulton</span> shot. Twelve minutes later <span>Bryan Little</span> netted a wrist shot to put Atlanta up 2-0, with <span>Chris Thorburn</span> and <span>Dustin Byfuglien</span> adding two assists. The Thrashers rebounded well after getting outshot 7-0 at the start of the first period to bring the shot total closer at 11-10 still favoring the Sens.</p>
<p>The second period involved the least exciting record setting goal possibly ever. Dustin Byfuglien shoved the puck past Ottawa goaltender Bryan Elliot before the whistle blew to put atlanta up 3-0. This was Buff’s eleventh goal of the year, setting a franchise record for goals by a defenseman in a season. It’s only December. I have a feeling that record might get significantly harder to break by the end of the season.</p>
<p><span>Daniel Alfredsson</span> scored his team-leading 9th goal of the season at 18:31 of the 2nd period after an awful mishandling of the puck by <span>Brent Sopel</span>. Somehow it managed to make it back to <span>Ron Hainsey</span>, who basically centered the puck for Alfredsson to push it past Pavelec.</p>
<p>Few worries, though. When leading after two, the Thrashers have a success rate of 75%. Atlanta has also scored 28 more goals on the year than Ottawa have through the end of the second period. The odds seem to be in their favor.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/atlanta-thrashers/2010/12/13/1874812/atlanta-thrashers-score-thrashers-up-3-1-on-ottawa-sentators-dustinLaura Astorian2010-12-13T15:06:10-05:002010-12-13T15:06:10-05:00Atlanta Thrashers Schedule: Thrashers Travel To Ottawa To Take On Slumping Senators
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<p>The <a href="https://www.silversevensens.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Ottawa Senators</a> and the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/teams/atlanta-thrashers" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Thrashers</a> have already met up once this season on November 9th, with the Thrashers walking away the proud owners of a 5-2 loss. That was before Ondrej Pavelec made his name known league wide for stellar play; <span>Chris Mason</span> was in net that night and most of the team was out to lunch. Just a week later, though, the Thrashers' would name <span>Andrew Ladd</span> captain and go on a winning tear that helped the team move comfortably into playoff contender territory.</p>
<p>The Senators? Well, let's say that their current situation isn't as rosy. The only player on their roster with more than seven goals is <span>Daniel Alfredsson</span>. The Thrashers? <span>Dustin Byfuglien</span> and Andrew Ladd each have ten, while <span>Evander Kane</span> (nine), <span>Anthony Stewart</span> (eight) are also outscoring Alfredsson. Thrashers Nik Antropov, <span>Rich Peverley</span>, <span>Niclas Bergfors</span>, and <span>Bryan Little</span> all have seven goals apiece. The Senators' power-play is converting at only 18.3%, while Atlanta's is a very successful 23.1%. The Thrashers also average almost a full goal a game more than the Senators do (3.13 to the Sens' 2.19).</p>
<p>Offense isn't the Senators' only problem. Their penalty kill is 28th in the league at 78.9% effectiveness. This isn't something that's going to help much when you're playing against the league's fourth best powerplay. The whole team's struggling, including star player Alexei Kovalev, <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/preview.htm?id=2010020442&navid=sb:preview" target="_blank">who had this to say about his demotion to the fourth line</a>:</p>
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<p>"There's nothing I can do about it. I'm not the only one not playing well, and he decides to pick me. It's been happening my whole career. I accept that."</p>
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<p>The Thrashers will be putting Ondrej Pavelec out on ice to start tonight, while the Senators are trotting out Brian Elliot (who is 1-5-1 with a 3.44 GAA since I picked him up on several fantasy teams). Your goalie match up for tonight:</p>
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<thead>
<tr>
<th></th> <th>GP</th> <th>MIN</th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>EGA</th> <th>GA</th> <th>GAA</th> <th>SA</th> <th>SV</th> <th>SV%</th> <th>SO</th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2010 - <span>Ondrej Pavelec</span>
</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>1040</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>6</td>
<td></td>
<td>31</td>
<td>1.79</td>
<td>556</td>
<td>525</td>
<td>.944</td>
<td class="td-last">2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<p></p>
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<thead>
<tr>
<th></th> <th>GP</th> <th>MIN</th> <th>W</th> <th>L</th> <th>EGA</th> <th>GA</th> <th>GAA</th> <th>SA</th> <th>SV</th> <th>SV%</th> <th>SO</th>
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</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2010 - <span>Brian Elliott</span>
</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>1126</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>9</td>
<td></td>
<td>54</td>
<td>2.88</td>
<td>599</td>
<td>545</td>
<td>.910</td>
<td class="td-last">3</td>
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<p><br id="1292270330757"></p>
<p><a href="http://blogs.ajc.com/atlanta-thrashers-blog/2010/12/13/same-lineup-for-thrashers-eager-and-bergors-out-vs-sens/?cxntfid=blogs_atlanta_thrashers_blog" target="_blank">Freddy Modin and Tim Stapleton are in tonight again for Ben Eager and Niclas Bergfors</a>. I'm not sure how beneficial this is to the line-up considering that the team the past two games has been flat both with and without them. Coach Ramsay on the line-up tweaks:</p>
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<p>"Even though we haven’t carried a lot of extra players, players have to understand it’s not automatic [to get back in the lineup], Ramsay said. "The way our players are playing, if you get out, it might be difficult to get back in. So you have to perform. You have to be on top of your game. You can’t be looking to take nights off.</p>
<p>"I just think that Stapleton fit right in. I thought Freddy did a good job. He had some good forechecks, he held the puck and made some good plays defensively. I was very, very pleased with both of them. When a guy steps in and plays hard, he deserves a chance to play again."</p>
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<p>It'll be interesting to see when Coach Ramsay sees fit to bring Bergfors back. Hopefully it'll be by Saturday's game against the <a href="https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New Jersey Devils</a>.</p>
https://atlanta.sbnation.com/2010/12/13/2326279/atlanta-thrashers-schedule-thrashers-travel-to-ottawa-to-take-onLaura Astorian