Thrashers Look to Spay the Kitties in the Season Premiere of "The Price is Wrong Pussies!"

Tonite. At the Bulb. Where Marietta Street crosses Centennial Olympic Blvd. Passers-by may hear some hair-raising hisses, gnashing of fangs and mee-OWWWs of terror as the Atlanta Birds of Prey forcibly spay the visiting Kitties just like our esteemed and venerable pal, Bob Barker, advised us to do for 35 years on the Price Is Right. Unfortunately for the Florida Pussy Cats, there won't be any nice parting gifts or door-prizes for their troubles.

In the first installment of 6 games pitting the Brown-headed Thrashing Birds and the Hissing Panther Pussies this season, the Thrashers look to continue their winning ways and extend their current streak to four. Doing so would extend the Panthers' recent string of frustration to five games and deliver a real blow to their surely feeble collective pysche. Give them pardon or mercy and you give them hope and confidence for the return affair in Sawgrass, FL this coming Saturday, December 5th. The Panthers were trying to turn their season around in November, but have recently hit the skids with a 4-game losting streak in which they have not only struggled to score goals -- only 11 goals in their last 5 -- but also failed to dispose of a wretched Maple Leafs squad in a game that saw them surrender 6 goals.

HOWEVER, the Panthers are a division foe who can be a pesky, determined bunch against which to play. The Thrashers must be willing to match their intensity level as they will be desperate for a win and the spoils of a 4-point swing in the bunched Eastern Conference standings. Just 10 short days ago the Panthers were able to outlast their prey with a hard-fought 2 - 1 OT win against the Red Wings. And in the game before that, they completely tore apart a very stingy defense with an eye-opening 6 - 2 ass-thumping of the Sabres, who have cooled off considerably themselves lately. Regardless, a win tonite over the slumping Kitty Kats would mean more than just 2 points in the standings.

As for Mr. Barker, we can only wonder if Bob's Beauties are ever-longing for their Big Daddy Lion to return to the pride.