Man, I spent a good half-hour writing an insightful recap of last night's home opener, only to have it disappear when I tried to preview it. Here goes...
After ThrasherDan was tossed out of the CNN Center's makeshift rink for slashing a 6 year old girl who took the puck from him, we made our way in to the arena.
***Note to you broads out there*** Security is gonna wanna look through your purse. Don't act shocked, and don't get in line in front of me! Not only did the chick ahead of us in line have a suitcase for a purse, but she LOOKED suspicious. They shoulda hauled her away based on that alone....
With it being opeing night, the pregame festivities are in full effect. After Thrash drops from the rafters, the player introductions, an AMAZING bagpipes rendition of Amazing Grace, we are ready for some hockey!
Things picked up where they left off last year as the opposition scored early. Glen Wesley put the Canes on the board just over a minute in to the game with a powerplay goal. Though Milan Hnilicka was screened by Sami Kappanen, the fact that the Thrashers are prone to giving up an early goal has always chapped my can! Frank Kaberle tied the game late in the first with a nice backhanded wraparound that he put through Irbe's 5 hole. The first period ended tied 1-1.
The second period howevah, started off just like the first. Jeff "Sit Stand" O'Neill, who had four points on the night, got the first of his two goals in the first five minutes of the second period. The Canes were up 2-1 until Thrashers' team captain Ray Ferraro tied it up at the 11:01 mark. I hadn't finished celebrating Ray's goal when Sami Kappanen had a GREAT deflection of a Sandish Ozolinsh shot. It found it's way past Hnilicka, into the back of the net, and the Canes were up for good.
O'neill would score another and former Michigan State Spartan Rod Brind'Amour would add an empty netter as the dreaded Canes would remain undefeated against our beloved Smirkin' Chickens. Even though the night ended with a 5-2 loss, I was able to walk away with a Ray Ferraro Bobble Head doll. Errr, anyone want it?
* CONTACT THE THRASHERS * * SCORES *
* "Go Time" MALONE* * PICTURES * * MY LINKS *