Can the Thrashers Find Inspiration in the Winter Classic?

Tonight as the Thrashers prepare to take on the Buffalo Sabres at the HSBC Arena at 7:30 pm, we as fans can only hope that there is some positive chatter in the lockeroom regarding the experiences of current Thrashers Colby Armstrong and Maxim Afinogenov, who both played in the inaugural Winter Classic played in Orchard Park, NY on January 1, 2008. Colby, then a Penguin, and Maxim, then a Sabre, have probably chatted at length Army chases Finny (Harry How, Getty Images) about their shared experience of playing in the now super-hyped, NHL marketing boon-game as members of their former teams. Perhaps that chatter and good-natured ribbing (by Colby of course) will lead to some renewed vigor and determination from their fellow Thrashers, who surely witnessed the Boston Bruins rally late in the third period to overcome a ready and physical Philadelphia Flyers team 2 to 1 in O.T.

As the New Year begins for the Thrashers, it would be a mistake to think that an instant paradigm shift will have occurred between Wednesday evening, when the most lackluster effort (if it can be called that), of the season produced a 4 - 0 thumping at the hands of the Bruins, and tonight when they do battle with a solid Sabres team who make very few mistakes. But there is a chance that a player like Colby Armstrong, who is so good in the "room", can draw on his elevated passion to rally the troops and get them fired up to face Ryan Miller, the likely starting back-stop for the U.S. Olympic Team. If you're a fan of hockey like most of these players, who grew up dreaming of big games like the Winter Classic, then how could you possibly come out of the tunnel and "dog it" for 60 minutes?? Surely there is no way, right?

And then there is Max Afinogenov, who has followed up an amazing November with a less-than inspiring December in which he managed just 2 goals, 8 assists and a very frightening -10 plus/minus rating that featured a horrible -13 for the first 19 days of the month!! If he can somehow summon up some of the same fervor that helped him produce an important and spectacular break-away goal against his former team in his first game back in Buffalo as a Thrasher, then perhaps the rest of the team will feed off of his passion and energy. Max, as flawed as his game can be, plays with a certain child-like exuberance which can be contagious for his fellow mates, for it comes from within a place deep inside his heart. And heart and passion have been sorely lacking for this team over the last couple of weeks.

I would hate it for my special friend, SabreCraig, if the Thrashers somehow managed to find their collective "mojo" playing against their favorite foe of late, the Buffalo Sabres. For those counting at home, the Thrashers have beaten the Sabres in six straight games since getting thrashed by the Sabres 10 - 1 on January 18, 2008. But if the Thrashers have any chance of turning things around before it's too late, tonight could be the perfect setting for them to re-ignite some familiar flames of passion against the Sabres, a team with which the Thrashers seem to match up well. If they are to beat the Sabres, they will need a renewed and more committed approach to team defense so Johan Hedberg doesn't face 42 shots -- 40 of which he deftly thwarted -- like the last time the Thrashers defeated Buffalo 4 to 2 in October.

Perhaps film of that game was studied in great detail as to highlight a time when the Thrashers were playing a more concerted team game with an earnest commitment to the game's finer nuances. Here's to hoping that such is the primary New Year's resolution of your Atlanta Thrashers.