Something new on the Program is going back to last night’s NHL Arena Game Of The Week. Hockey “tradition” says 3 this and 3 that….well we are doing something different. We are going to go with the number 4. So why 4, you may ask? Because there is always that unsung player that doesn’t get noticed. Sure three stars would be great….but there’s always room for one more….time to get to it. Since Strongbow English Cider is my drink of choice right now….we will go with ciders this week.
4th Cider — Bobby Holik (Atlanta Thrashers Center)
Why? Well this is the first time in weeks I have seen Holik play his normal checking line center game. He played solid D…and didn’t take the dumb penalties that he has been synonymous for. His assist and a +1 didn’t hurt either. The biggest thing was he held down Guerin, Satan, and company. Now this may not seem hard and yes the Isles are snakebitten but give credit where credit is due.
3rd Cider — Marian Hossa (Atlanta Thrashers Wing)
Marian Hossa does all the little offensive things great. But when you can make moves like he can…it opens the ice up….see the Thrashers first goal…but Hossa scored the 3rd Atlanta goal in the first period actually. I do think he deked Hilbert right out of his pads. Damn I sure do love watching him…even when he was in Ottawa.
2nd Cider — Niclas Havelid (Atlanta Thrashers D)
Havelid had one of those games where being at the right place at the right time doesn’t hurt. It also doesn’t hurt that he had a great two way effort last night. That being said…Havelid made two solid passes which set up the eventual goals by Kovalchuk and Hossa. More importantly he made the defensive presence this team desperately needs. The crafty 34 year old vet turned back the clock to the old days where he was a pretty darn good defenseman.
AND NOW………….
The First Cider Goes To…….Ilya Kovalchuk (Atlanta Thrashers Wing)
Kovalchuk had a darn good night at the Isles expense last night. More than the +2 and 6 shots on goal. Kovalchuk simply set the tone….scoring the GWG last night just 34 seconds into the game. Never has 225 pounds of pure hockey player moved so fast yet so powerful…scary combo. Dublewicz didn’t have a prayer on that shot at all. Then Kovalchuk later added an assist on the Hossa goal. He was a beast that whole first period and then he played a little defense. Defense has still been a bit of a knock against the 2001 #1 pick. You know what though…he is a respectable +4.
Well come back next week as we do another Fab Four on the NHL Arena Game Of The Week…have a good afternoon everyone.
