ROSEMONT, ILL--- The Chicago Wolves have kept opponents limited to just one goal in 125 minutes of play this weekend. Compare that to the 23 goals scored against the team in the other six games played this season. A 7-1 win over the Heat. Sweet.
The Wolves came out of the darkness, perhaps led by 47 year-old Chris Chelios or perhaps by the shock of having a new coach. It was a three point weekend, more points than the team has gained the rest of the season combined.
And there were moments of brilliance too, on the part of Abbotsford, that the defense of the Wolves crushed. This is the weekend when the depth of the team seemed to be unveiled, causing our eyes to blink in disbelief. It is the team that was forecast to play, suddenly stepping on the ice.
The Wolves, coming off of a shootout loss to the Manitoba Moose on Friday night showed spark on the offense and discipline and control on the defense. It was a dominant performance with goals in each period. Goals, shots on goal and assists were scattered throughout the team.
In the newspaper the talk is all about Chris Chelios. He was awarded two points on Saturday, his first points tallied in Wolves colors. But Chelios is on a PTO, an assignment that maxes out at 50 games. He is looking good, in fact, he is looking very good. And isn't that what he wants so that an NHL team will swoop in and take him away to play elsewhere?
The other discussions all take place in Atlanta. We could start with the situation of the Thrashers: loaded with three goalies. Because, at some point Atlanta, let's call them hot, because for Atlanta, a second place, with two games in hand, is about the best they've seen in Sherman's favorite city. Atlanta will sooner or later have to make a decision about goaltenders.
But that's not what we're going to hear next from the gateway to Central Georgia. The discussion tonight and tomorrow will be about Ilya Kovalchuk. The first reports I received were that Kovalchuk was injured while at practice and was taken off the ice on a stretcher. That is incorrect. Kovalchuk was injured during the 4-3 loss Saturday to San Jose. Atlanta Head Coach John Anderson says he is out, and the team is sending him to a doctor for more information on Monday.
Here's the relevant part of the report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution:
Thrashers coach John Anderson said Kovalchuk would visit a doctor Monday to determine the next course of action. "He'll have a scan and an X-ray, and we'll figure out what it is," Anderson said. "He was walking, but tentatively, otherwise he would have come back and played."
What to take from this? Kovalchuk is out and will not return soon. With that in mind, let's return to our game in Chicago. Jason Krog scored four points with a goal and three assists. Krog, captain of the Wolves, is the leading candidate to be recalled to play in the Atlanta Thrashers to replace Kovalchuk. Brett Sterling is the leading candidate. Please see the comments below w/ a thanks to reader Axecrew Why? The Thrashers have just 19 healthy skaters after the loss of Kovalchuk. A full roster carries 18 skaters. That, and an examination of the Wolves roster. We can assume that the Thrashers will need to replace Kovalchuk with another center. So why Krog?
If you need to think about this consider that the Wolves carry seven players on their roster at center:
(The newspaper story said Spencer Machacek was a leading candidate with Krog. Machacek is a forward and probably not a leading candidate as a result).
We can forget about Pohl, Doell and Anderson, who are under contract to the Wolves, not Atlanta. They are not going up to Atlanta for the moment. That might happen, but it's not likely to happen immediately. That leaves four candidates. One has leadership, nearly as many points as the other four combined and more shots on goal than the other four combined: Krog.
Expect him to be on a plane to Atlanta shortly. And if Chelios continues to look good, he'll be following him to another place too. Our gain, shortly our loss.
5 Comments
Patrick Boylan said:
The latest on the Kovalchuk injury is that Don Waddell told the CBC that Kovalchuk will be getting a CAT scan on Monday afternoon.
axecrew said:
Patrick just wanted to tell you that Kovy is a left wing and that would change the call-up.
Patrick Boylan said:
Axe,
You're right, I apologize for the error. I'll correct the text later, but as Axe points it, it will be between Brett Sterling, Andrew Kozek and Josh Gratton. Jordan Smotherman was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets and the rookie Michael Forney was sent down to the Gwinnett Gladiators.
So, between the three, it should be Sterling who gets another look at big ice... Thanks Axe
Patrick Boylan said:
After all that indecision on my part, the Atlanta Thrashers announced that they had called Jason Krog up, not Brett Sterling. I guess points are more important than position?
Here's the link to Blueland Blog: http://www.bluelandblog2.com/2009/10/27/krog-recalled-practice-lines/ Ben Wright says the Thrashers have Krog on practice line with Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn. But that could change.
WolfKeeper said:
Great, Krog inserted in between two goons. I would hope that would change, but with Atlanta, some things never change.
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