Minnesota Wild @ Atlanta Thrashers: The Morning After

So, did we answer any of our questions?

1. Marian scored one goal, but led the forwards in ice time and really put the pressure on the Atlanta defense. On the power play, his unit controlled the ice, setting up shot after shot, only to be stonewalled by Kari Lehtonen, or to lose the puck thanks to horse**** Atlanta ice.

2. Wild power play 1/5. Wild PK 4/4. Nicely done boys. Could have easily had two additional PP goals if not for exceptional play by Lehtonen and a couple horrid bounces on the slop that passes for ice in the Southeast.

3. Martin Skoula wasn't noticeable. That's a good thing. Keep it up 41.

4. What is going on in Jacques Lemaire's head? It's been two games and he's not shifting everything around? I mean, yeah Nolan went out in the second and PMB got to experience the new Delta Airlines a bit before the others, but things have been pretty static thus far (even the Gaborik - Sheppard - Veilleux line, which I hate).

5. No. To quote Dan Patrick, you cannot stop Ilya Kovalchuk, you can only hope to contain him. Well, contain him, they did. One goal on two shots. That's not a problem. If Kovalchuk scores 82 goals, one per game, he'll have a great season, and the Thrashers will finish below 80 points, because nobody else on that team can score.

HW Three Stars:

Antti Miettinen (2G, 1A, 4 PIM in the 3rd period. Let's not do that again)
Andrew Brunette (1G, 1A)
Mikko Koivu (2A, +3)
So, where did Belanger go? Is he going to vanish already? Well ...

On the injuries, from Twin Cities.com

Sorry Shep

Coach John Anderson said the Thrashers appeared "discombobulated" in loss to Minnesota Tuesday at Philips. Goalie Kari Lehtonen let four slip in, while making 22 saves.

What do the NASCAR folks think?

Game story from the AJC sports section:

From the AJC blog section:

From a different section of the AJC

Those redneck rubes wouldn't know a neutral zone trap if it banged their sister on a Dale Earnhart memorial throw rug. Morons. Who allowed hockey in freaking Atlanta? It failed once, it'll fail again. Seriously, second home game and they draw 11,000? Pathetic. SHUT IT DOWN BETTMAN!!!

Game Highlights:

Unfortunately, there isn't any video of the post-game coverage. Sorry.

Up next: @ Florida Panthers, Thursday 10/16 at 6:30 CDT. Plenty of good seats available.