With the new year upon us and the Thrashers fresh off a 4-3 win over the Canadiens, it's time to settle into 2011 and make a few resolutions for the Thrashers. While most resolutions include quitting smoking or losing weight, the Thrashers need nothing of the sort (would anyone want Dustin Byfuglien to lose weight?). Instead the Thrashers have a few more important tasks to take care as the calendar flips.
Resolution #1: Get healthy.
The Thrashers played 41 games in 85 days to start the season, including 14 games in December alone. As the Thrashers have been allotted 100 days to play their final 41, the Thrashers must began to rest up and get healthy before the stretch run. Jim Slater (concussion), Zach Bogosian (knee), Evander Kane (mid-body), Nik Antropov (hip), and Ben Eager (lower body) are all nursing various injuries and will need some rest to heal up the bumps and bruises. With more off days in the second half of the season, the team is afforded an opportunity to heal and ice the best team possible for a stretch run in March and April.
Resolution #2: Improve the penalty kill.
The Thrashers 79.9% penalty kill is good for 23rd in the league, a drop-off from last season when they finished 16th. The Thrashers have been shorthanded 144 times and have given up an eight-worst 29 power play goals; about one every four and a half periods. Of the top eight penalty-killing teams in the NHL, all of them are currently in a playoff position. Last season 7 of the top 8 were in playoff position, with lone exception being the St. Louis Blues. If the Thrashers want to make a legitimate playoff run they'll need to sure up their penalty kill.
Resolution #3:Sell out Philips.
Attendance is steadily improving, as the Thrashers have averaged 15,980 per game in the four games since mascot "Thrash" made headlines for "stealing" a zamboni. This is no coincidence, however; the Thrashers traditionally see an attendance increase after football season and with the Thrashers exciting play over the first half it's no surprise the fans are coming out. Should the Thrashers continue to progress, it's not unreasonable to see Philips Arena packed on a nightly basis as the team pushes for it's second playoff berth in franchise history.
Resolution #4:Finish the job.
As of January 2nd, the Thrashers have an 8-point lead in Carolina for the final playoff spot, despite Carolina having some games in hand. The Thrashers now control their own destiny over the final 40 games: win and they're in, and once in anything can happen. Atlanta has to continue their upward progression, starting with a series of games against Florida, Toronto, and Carolina that starts Wednesday. If hockey is going to grow in Atlanta, the first step is generating a buzz and nothing will do that like the Stanley Cup playoffs.
TC
