Game Day: Florida Panthers at Atlanta Thrashers; Jay’s swansong?

Thrash forward Eric Perrin arrives at Philips Arena Tuesday for practice.

Cats at Thrash, 7p FSN-FL

Panthers: 32-23-8 72P, 2nd in SE Thrashers: 23-34-6 52P, 5th in SE

LAST 10: FLA: 6-4-0 ATL: 5-4-1

HOME & AWAY: FLA (A): 15-15-3 ATL: (H): 11-17-2

SEASON SERIES: Game 4 of 6 2-1 (FLA)

ALL-TIME: 28-20-5 (ATL)

This game is almost secondary to the subplots that surround it: tomorrow’s trading deadline (3p), and defenseman Jay Bouwmeester’s potential participation in it. How’d you like to be running this show? Talk about sleepless nights.

By now, everyone’s feelings are known on the situation, given the buildup to this single stretch of 30 or so hours. Will we be witnessing Jay’s final game in a Florida uniform?

IRONY IS SO IRONIC FACT: Roberto Luongo’s last game as a Panther was also against Atlanta…

Plenty of time to cover the deadline…back to the job at hand.

Q: How many alternating wins-and-losses has Florida strung together since February 13th?

A: They’ve done it Nine Times.

Notes: The Thrashers’ Ilya Kovalchuk has 16 goals in his past seventeen games. Eric Perrin will likely not see much ice timein Atlanta. Ever. Niclas Havelid was traded to New Jersey yesterday evening. Panthers’ David Booth will not play (upper body injury). Cory Stillman is probable. Vokoun (inner ear) practiced on Monday and may start in place of Craig Anderson. No Nick Boynton news; potentially some whiff of an update when the team returns to Sunrise. The Miami Herald’s George Richards has listed Colorado forward Ian Laperriere as a possible target of Martin (link below).

AT THE ENDS

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 – Kari Lehtonen	36	2062	13	19	3	4	109	3.17	1183	1074	.908	1

Lehtonen – another guy who may not know where he’ll be sleeping tomorrow – likely gets the nod for Atlanta.

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 – Craig Anderson	27	1396	12	6	5	0	64	2.75	836	772	.923	3

	GP	MIN	W	L	T	EGA	GA	GAA	SA	SV	SV%	SO
2008 – Tomas Vokoun	44	2418	20	17	3	8	97	2.41	1336	1239	.927	6

Take your choice, but considering the ear infection, money’s on Andy, though my record in picking Panthers’ starters is pretty poor.

LITTER BOX LINERS

Sun-Sentinel: Bouwmeester: no heed to trade talk
Miami Herald: Andy rebounds, Welcome to Atlanta…finally
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Havelid traded, Perrin hopes for trade, Amateur owners
AP via NHL.com: game preview
AccuScore via The Sporting News
Mirtle’s From the Rink: Playoff Push
Sports Club Stats: Panthers playoff picture
Panthers website
Thrashers website

THE FAR REACHES OF THE BLOGOSPHERE

Bird Watchers Anonymous (ATL) The Falconer’s SBNation blog
Cat Scratch (FLA)
Panthers on the Prowl (FLA)
Blueland Chronicle (ATL)
Blueland Blog (ATL)
ThrashersBlog (ATL)
The Anonymous Atlanta Thrashers Blog (ATL)

THE WARMUP

January 10th, 2009…you want offense? Enjoy!

Talking Points