Well..

I think I called tonight's game pretty much the way it ended up. If the Thrashers didn't come out to play the Capitals would win.. and that is what they did. The Thrashers played well no doubt but we just couldn't pull it out. Was there a specific problem? Maybe, but I see it as more of an overall breakdown in the offense and the defense.
Im sitting here watching the replay of the game on Sports South. It's late and I should be in bed but I'd like a better view to see exactly what went wrong. The 1st goal was scored by Ovechkin on a Capitals powerfully. The Caps played the PP almost perfectly, they moved the puck in a way that made our defense scramble and we left Ovie open right in front of the net. That's a dangerous place to leave Alex Ovechkin alone. Another thing the Capitals capitalized on (pun sort of intended) was a Thrashers penalty on JP for delay of game. The Capitals pulled Johnson which gave the Caps a 6 on 4 advantage and it worked. Alex the great notched his 2nd goal of the night and tied the game up (with 30 seconds left I might add).
I don't really want to go into the rest of the gory details but I feel I have to.. The great 8 got his 3rd goal of the night 6 seconds in to OT, he took the puck from Havelid and no one was near him. I want to say Kari wasn't ready for it because the puck went right past him. Tough break...... moving on.
I really enjoyed the energy in the arena tonight (even though it died somewhere in the third) and it really felt like the fans were behind their team tonight. The players were throwing some big hits and sending everyone on a heart attack ride with some chances on goal (both teams). As a Thrashers fan (yes, I do love Ovechkin and Caps but most of you know they are my number 2) I would have much rather seen the numbers go the other way.. our way.
One thing I absolutely love about Ovechkin is the way he always gets his own rebounds. The Thrashers AS A TEAM have trouble getting rebounds but Ovie can get his own. I see that as a problem. "I just try to shoot the puck and just score goals, and today I had luck," Ovechkin said after tonights game as reported on NHL.com. I would say Alexander had A LOT of luck tonight... but besides just him its always refreshing to see a player or team who really looks like they want to win... not just the Stanley cup game but EVERY game. I'm not saying the Thrashers aren't like that but lately I haven't seen that spark.
I am excited to see the atmosphere in the Devils arena on the 19th. It will be cool to experience another away game and see what the Devils and their fans have to offer. I just hope the Thrashers have a late (by one day) birthday present to offer me.. A WIN!!
Thrashers take on the Islanders tomorrow and the Devils on Tuesday (yay, look for me and the girls we will be cheering the boys on)!!

In GOOD news, The Gladiators beat the Pensacola Ice pilots tonight with a score of 5 to 3. The win didn't do much for the boys standing wise but hopefully Florida will lose a game and bump the Glads back up to that number 2 spot.
The Wolves also won tonight with a ridiculous score of 9 to 1 in Chicago. That win of course kept the boys in first but gave them an even sweeter lead with 41 points while the number 2 team only has 34 points (the number 2 team is the team they beat).
Congratulations to them and too bad their "fathers" and "grandfathers" aren't doing the same thing..