Cats eat ‘birds to the tune of 8-4

Balanced scoring? It’s been talked about for years. Yesterday? Check this out:

• Peltonen (2g)
• Dvorak (1g, 2a)
• Campbell (3a)
• Booth (1g,1a)
• Skrastins (2a,+3)
• Bouwmeester (1g,+4!)
• Horton (1g,1a)
• Frolik (1 penalty shot g,1a)
• Zednik (2a)
• Stillman (1g)
• Cullimore (1a)/

And that’s just one game. The Cats have scored 27 goals in the past five games. The goaltending’s been there as well: Tomas Vokoun has won his last three starts, making 28 saves on Saturday.

Stanley C. has taken few prisoners this year.

At the other end, two-headed monster LehtoBerg allowed eigth goals on 29 shots, while Christensen, Kovy, Armstrong, and White all collected markers.

Can this man save Atlanta’s season? Or even himself?

“After (surrendering the lead in) the second period, we decided we have to go back to our game and getting the puck through the neutral zone. We just owned them again in the third.”

– Ville Peltonen

Going to take the lame way out and mention that there is a lot of coverage of this game in the Liners below.

DIVISIONALLY SPEAKING

Yes the numbers remain screwy; click here for the full rundown.

• Suddenly-soft Washington took a seat to the high-flying Habs as the Capitals dropped a 4-3 regulation decision in Montreal. Tomas Plekanec had two goals to rally the Canadiens.Eleven points now separate first- from third-place. Wishful thinking? Yeaaah, prolly. Japers’ Rink, Eyes on the Prize.
• Our good friends from Raleigh lost and lost big in Boston. The Hurricanes disintegrated 5-1 to the sleep-walking Broons. So I say again: thank you B’s. That’s two seriously important points you just gave Florida, cutting the ‘Canes’ lead to one. Paul Holmgren’s no Paul Newman, apparently./

THE CHASE FOR EIGHTH…AND BEYOND

• The Penguins continued their death-spiral, this time waving the white flag in Denver, 5-3. The Pittsburgh loss allowed the Panthers a two-point buffer over the tenth spot in the East. Pensburgh, Mile High Hockey.
• Buffalo gave up after the first, allowing host Detroit to glide to a 3-1 victory, though Ryan Miller remained hot. The Sabres, like Carolina, now hold a one-point lead over Florida. Die by the Blade, Winging it in Motown.
• Devils’ goaltender Kevin Weekes picked up the win as visiting New Jersey routed the Kings 5-1. The sixth-place Devs’ maintain a five-point lead over the boys from Sunrise. In Lou We Trust, The Battle of California./

TODAY KEEP AN EYE ON…

• New Jersey @ Anaheim. The Devils can increase their five-point lead over the Cats with anything other than a regulation loss, making catching them that much more difficult down the stretch. Der. In Lou We Trust, The Battle of California.

LITTER BOX LINERS

• Sun-Sentinel: Third proves prolific, Cats getting ahead on goals
• Miami Herald: Flurry at finish, Dvorak coming up big
• TC Palm: Panthers’ stars shine in Sunrise
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Thrashers give up eight, White/Kovy hot
• Wizbang Sports: Clipping their wings
• AP via NHL.com: game recap w/stats and video, SE All-Star power
• Panthers website
• Thrashers website

THE FAR REACHES OF THE BLOGOSPHERE

• Cat Scratch (FLA)
• Panthers on the Prowl (FLA)
• Do The Thrashers Have Large Talons (ATL)
• Blueland Chronicle (ATL)
• Blueland Blog (ATL)
• ThrashersBlog (ATL)
• The Anonymous Atlanta Thrashers Blog (ATL)

NEXT ON TAP FOR THE CATS

Zeds and Hartnell discuss geopolitics and stuff on January 16th of last year.

Florida has a ridiculously long layoff following today’s game. How long, you ask? Try next Friday night, as the Cats host Philadelphia. That’s a long period but look at the bright side: more games in hand.

Besides: they’ve earned it. Get comfortable and have a great week.