kluttz13
02-05-2006, 12:00 PM
Savard, Bondra put end to streak
By John Manasso
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/content/sports/thrashers/index.html)
Published on: 02/05/06
After their seventh straight loss Friday, the Thrashers held a team meeting and talked about accountability. When he visited with reporters, Thrashers center Marc Savard took credit for a costly turnover, saying, "I'm as guilty as anyone."
One day later, Savard played his best game since the Thrashers began their losing ways. His three-point night was a major reason why they got back into the win column for the first time since Jan. 18.
Savard assisted on goals by Scott Mellanby and Ilya Kovalchuk and helped revive a dormant power play with a goal in Saturday's 6-4 win over Florida before a sellout crowd of 18,652 at Philips Arena.
Peter Bondra also had two goals — his first in six games since returning from injury after missing 22 games.
Coach Bob Hartley reunited the team's top line of Ilya Kovalchuk, Savard and Scott Mellanby after demoting Kovalchuk for one game to the third line. The effect was revelatory.
"He played very well," Hartley said of Savard. "That's your role. When you're in a leadership role and you're getting 18 to 22 minutes of ice time per game, you can be the difference — 'Kovy,' 'Savy,' [Marian Hossa] and company — the guys who get that ice, it's the same on any team. Yes, it's a team sport but those guys are the ones who carry the load."
Said Savard: "I feel like I owed the guys a good game tonight. I feel like I played as hard as I could and I feel like I played hard last night, it's just one little play and it cost. That's the way the bounces have been going lately, but I kept with it and my linemates played good and the team played well."
Savard set up Mellanby for the team's first goal with a pass from the corner and he also assisted on Kovalchuk's second-period score. Both came at even strength, no insignificant detail considering the line had been on the minus side of late. Savard was plus-2 and Mellanby and Kovalchuk each were plus-1 Saturday.
Despite leading the league in goals, Kovalchuk has struggled lately, going without a goal in six straight games before Saturday. After scoring, he did not unleash one of his wild celebrations since he did not see the puck go in the net. He said a defenseman knocked it in for his 36th.
Regardless, he said he was happy to be reunited with Savard and Mellanby. He reiterated Hartley's comment about needing to perform when given the minutes.
"We're playing pretty good together and we didn't play together for the last two games, I think, but before that we're playing well," Kovalchuk said. "If the coach give you the ice time, you have to do something for the team."
And one night after the power play went 1-for-11 to extend a 3-for-41 (7.3 percent) run of futility during the losing streak, the Thrashers converted 2 of 5.
"Whenever your power play scores, you know your big guys will be good 5-on-5," Hartley said.
Nonetheless, the win underscored how difficult their playoff chase will be now. The Thrashers entered the night 11th in the East but only three points out of a playoff berth. However, two teams in front of them won, including eighth-place Toronto, which maintained a three-point lead over Atlanta.
"There's lots of time and lots of games to be played," Hartley said. "Two points has the same value now as in April. It's going to be a tight finish and we have to capitalize on every win we can."
By John Manasso
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (http://www.ajc.com/thrashers/content/sports/thrashers/index.html)
Published on: 02/05/06
After their seventh straight loss Friday, the Thrashers held a team meeting and talked about accountability. When he visited with reporters, Thrashers center Marc Savard took credit for a costly turnover, saying, "I'm as guilty as anyone."
One day later, Savard played his best game since the Thrashers began their losing ways. His three-point night was a major reason why they got back into the win column for the first time since Jan. 18.
Savard assisted on goals by Scott Mellanby and Ilya Kovalchuk and helped revive a dormant power play with a goal in Saturday's 6-4 win over Florida before a sellout crowd of 18,652 at Philips Arena.
Peter Bondra also had two goals — his first in six games since returning from injury after missing 22 games.
Coach Bob Hartley reunited the team's top line of Ilya Kovalchuk, Savard and Scott Mellanby after demoting Kovalchuk for one game to the third line. The effect was revelatory.
"He played very well," Hartley said of Savard. "That's your role. When you're in a leadership role and you're getting 18 to 22 minutes of ice time per game, you can be the difference — 'Kovy,' 'Savy,' [Marian Hossa] and company — the guys who get that ice, it's the same on any team. Yes, it's a team sport but those guys are the ones who carry the load."
Said Savard: "I feel like I owed the guys a good game tonight. I feel like I played as hard as I could and I feel like I played hard last night, it's just one little play and it cost. That's the way the bounces have been going lately, but I kept with it and my linemates played good and the team played well."
Savard set up Mellanby for the team's first goal with a pass from the corner and he also assisted on Kovalchuk's second-period score. Both came at even strength, no insignificant detail considering the line had been on the minus side of late. Savard was plus-2 and Mellanby and Kovalchuk each were plus-1 Saturday.
Despite leading the league in goals, Kovalchuk has struggled lately, going without a goal in six straight games before Saturday. After scoring, he did not unleash one of his wild celebrations since he did not see the puck go in the net. He said a defenseman knocked it in for his 36th.
Regardless, he said he was happy to be reunited with Savard and Mellanby. He reiterated Hartley's comment about needing to perform when given the minutes.
"We're playing pretty good together and we didn't play together for the last two games, I think, but before that we're playing well," Kovalchuk said. "If the coach give you the ice time, you have to do something for the team."
And one night after the power play went 1-for-11 to extend a 3-for-41 (7.3 percent) run of futility during the losing streak, the Thrashers converted 2 of 5.
"Whenever your power play scores, you know your big guys will be good 5-on-5," Hartley said.
Nonetheless, the win underscored how difficult their playoff chase will be now. The Thrashers entered the night 11th in the East but only three points out of a playoff berth. However, two teams in front of them won, including eighth-place Toronto, which maintained a three-point lead over Atlanta.
"There's lots of time and lots of games to be played," Hartley said. "Two points has the same value now as in April. It's going to be a tight finish and we have to capitalize on every win we can."