Thrashers Involved in Three Way

Bet you didn't think you'd see that headline again once Andreas Karlsson retired, did you?

Yes, the Atlanta Thrashers, by virtue of a come from behind victory Monday night in Philips Arena against the Nashville Predators have moved into a three way tie with the New York Rangers and the Tampa Bay Lightning for fifth place in the Eastern Conference. The Bolts who have only played twenty seven games thus far take the tie breaker over the Thrashers who in turn have the tie breaker over the Rangers having played one fewer game than the Blueshirts.

The first period Monday night was unkind to the Thrashers who appeared to have difficulty finding a rhythm. Ondrej Pavelec was strong but saw goals by Colin Stewart and Steve Sullivan find their way past him. Atlanta remained calm and followed Craig Ramsey's game plan, drawing back to within one goal by the end of the second period thanks to Jimmy Slater's deflection goal.

Nashville goalie Anders Lindback stymied all Atlanta chances in the third until Captain Andrew Ladd suddenly remembered his Charlamagne. "Let my army be the rocks and the trees, and the" pucks in the net.

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The puck found Laddy's stick on his backhand after Lindback failed to corral a Byfuglien slapshot and the Captain buried it to even the score.

In overtime, Ben Eager (yes, Ben Eager was out there in overtime. Don't ask me why) was looking to dump the puck in and go for a change when he heard Zach Bogosian yell from the puck on the other side of the ice. Eager fed a beautiful pass across to the streaking Bogosian who then let loose a snap shot above the high slot and beat Lindback to the stick side and claim the victory.

The Thrashers have now won eight of their past nine, all with Ondrej Pavelec in net. Their only loss in that time was on December 2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins who have now won ten in a row.