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	<channel>		<title>RUWT? News</title>
		<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com</link>
		<description>RUWT? News for Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Atlanta Thrashers 4/11/2009</description>
		<language>en-us</language>
		<copyright>Copyright 2006-2007 areyouwatchingthis.com</copyright>
		<lastBuildDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:51:16 GMT</lastBuildDate>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Nov 2009 18:51:16 GMT</pubDate>
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				<title><![CDATA[Kovalchuk helps Thrashers top Lightning in season finale]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[ATLANTA (AP) -- Ilya Kovalchuk waited until the day after last 
year's season finale to call for an improved roster.

Now that he's three months into his role as team captain, 
Kovalchuk spoke out immediately after the Atlanta Thrashers 
closed another season by missing the playoffs.

"I don't want to compete just for the playoffs," he said. "I 
want to compete for the (Stanley) Cup. I know for sure we need 
some more players."

Kovalchuk scored his 43rd goal, and the Thrashers snapped a 
three-game skid with a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning 
on Saturday night in final game of the season for both teams.

Colby Armstrong scored twice, Eric Perrin, Ron Hainsey and Colin
Stuart added goals. Kari Lehtonen made 24 saves.

Tampa Bay rookie Steven Stamkos, the No. 1 overall draft pick, 
scored his 23rd goal early in the third period, and Matt 
Pettinger added a goal. The Lightning closed the season with a 
nine-game winless streak, dropping the last four in regulation.

Alternate captain Martin St. Louis didn't mask his 
disappointment in being associated with the NHL's second-worst 
team, just a one spot improvement after finishing at the bottom 
of the league standings last year.

"That's the only positive I take from this year, that we have 
some young guys to build some depth," St. Louis said. "We rushed
some guys, and I think that will help us in the long run. It's 
hard. There's nothing like being in the playoffs."

The Thrashers won 12 of their final 18 game, including nine of 
13 at home, under first-year coach John Anderson.

"I feel like we can play with any team," Anderson said. "The 
great thing about our team is we were very young."

Lightning interim coach Rick Tocchet, who took charge after 
Barry Melrose was fired after just 16 games, went 19-33-14.

"Monday, we're going to roll up our sleeves and start working 
toward next year," Tocchet said. "Who's kidding who? There's no 
secret. It is what it is."

Added alternate captain Jeff Halpern, who assisted on 
Pettinger's goal, "Sixty-six points is not enough. We have to be
better individually."

Kovalchuk, whose wrister on a breakaway gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead 
midway through the second period, scored the 32nd goal in his 
last 42 games.

"It's easy to win when you're out of the playoffs," he said. 
"You can loosen up."

After seven years with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk has advanced to 
the playoffs just once, in 2007, when he shared scoring 
responsibilities with Marian Hossa and Keith Tkachuk. As 
frustrated as Atlanta's fans could be, Kovalchuk insists his 
will to win is even greater.

"They appreciated what we did tonight," he said. "But I don't 
think they appreciated what we did all season long."

Tampa Bay's Mike McKenna and Karri Ramo combined to make 29 
saves, but McKenna was on the wrong end of two redirected scores
by Armstrong.

"I got a couple of really ugly ones," Armstrong said of his 21st
and 22nd goals. "Our line played pretty good tonight. We got to 
the net and made some things happen."]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nhl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nhl/news/93723-Kovalchuk-helps-Thrashers-top-Lightning-in-season-finale</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nhl/news/93723-Kovalchuk-helps-Thrashers-top-Lightning-in-season-finale</guid>
				<pubDate>Sun, 12 Apr 2009 03:02:23 GMT</pubDate>
			</item>
		
			<item>
				<title><![CDATA[Thrashers, Lightning square off in finale of disappointing seasons]]></title>
				<description><![CDATA[By Anthony Giornalista
Stats Senior Writer

Tampa Bay (24-39-18) at Atlanta (34-41-6), 7:00 p.m. EDT

ATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Thrashers and Tampa Bay Lightning 
have been two of the league's worst teams this season.  They're 
certainly playing the part down the stretch.

Losers of three straight, the Thrashers look to deal the 
Lightning their ninth consecutive defeat in the teams' season 
finale Saturday night.

Tampa Bay (24-39-18), the only club that will finish below 
Atlanta (34-41-6) in the Southeast Division, has lost eight 
straight and 11 of 12.  The Lightning are in danger of matching 
their longest skid of the season, set from November 23-December 
10.

"It's been a long season," promising Tampa Bay rookie Steven 
Stamkos said.  "Hopefully, we can learn from this season.  Learn
how it feels to lose and hopefully not have that feeling ever 
again."

Only the New York Islanders will end up with fewer points this 
season than the Lightning, who will miss the playoffs for the 
second straight season after a four-year postseason run that 
included a Stanley Cup in 2004.

Atlanta, meanwhile, has been left out of the playoffs for the 
eighth time in nine seasons since entering the league.  The 
Thrashers, who will finish 13th in the Eastern Conference, have 
suffered three straight regulation losses.

Zach Bogosian has been one of Atlanta's few bright spots.  He 
scored twice in the Thrashers' 3-2 loss to Florida on Thursday 
night.

Atlanta failed to convert 21 straight power-play opportunities 
before Bogosian scored his first goal.

Bogosian, 18, leads all rookie defensemen in goals (nine) 
despite playing just 46 games.  He also has nine assists since 
being called up from Chicago of the American Hockey League on 
January 13.

"He's playing real well," Thrashers leading scorer and captain 
Ilya Kovalchuk said.  "He's got some confidence.  He's skating 
with the puck, and he knows how to skate, so he'll be scary good
in a couple of years."

Bogosian was the third overall pick in last year's draft, when 
Stamkos was selected No. 1 overall.  Stamkos set a Tampa Bay 
rookie record with his 22nd goal in a 4-2 loss to Washington on 
Thursday night.

The 19-year-old center had shared the record with Brad Richards,
who had 21 goals in 2000-01.  Stamkos has settled down after 
struggling early in the season, posting 26 points (16 goals, 10 
assists) in his last 29 games.

"He's obviously a goal-scorer," Lightning interim coach Rick 
Tocchet told the team's official web site.  "He's got a great 
shot and great hands.  Can you imagine if he continues playing 
the way he's played in the last two months?"

Stamkos had two goals in a 4-3 shootout loss to Atlanta on March
21 as the Thrashers took a 3-1-1 lead in the season series.

Tampa Bay will have another high draft pick, no lower than 
third, after a terrible season due partly to injuries.

The Lightning recalled defenseman Kevin Quick from Norfolk of 
the AHL prior to Thursday's contest, and he became the 22nd 
different defenseman used by the team this season.  Tampa Bay 
has used 50 players overall, five short of the NHL single-season
record set by Boston in 1991-92.]]></description>
				<category><![CDATA[nhl]]></category>
				<link>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nhl/news/93596-Thrashers-Lightning-square-off-in-finale-of-disappointing-seasons</link>
				<guid>http://areyouwatchingthis.com/nhl/news/93596-Thrashers-Lightning-square-off-in-finale-of-disappointing-seasons</guid>
				<pubDate>Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:48:05 GMT</pubDate>
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