November 30, 2008

Mathieu left tonight's lose midway through the 2nd period, after only 8 shifts and 7:06 of ice time. TSN reports that he suffered an "upper body injury."

Off-topic: A moment of silence please...

...for Brad Richards' penalty-free streak. Last night against the Sharks (w00t!), with only 15 seconds left in the game, he took his first penalty in 36 games (and his first since becoming a Star... in February). Come on refs, you couldn't have let that one slide 15 seconds left in a 6-2 debacle!?! Poor B-Rad.

Now back to our regularly scheduled Mathieu Schneider devotion. =)

November 28, 2008

No points and no penalties in tonight's 4-3 loss in OT. He was a +1, though. So there's that.

6th oldest

Just an aside: Ottawa's Luke Richardson was placed on waivers yesterday. He expects to clear and be assigned to the minors, at which point he says he will file retirement papers. So, come Monday (when the league offices open after the holiday), Mathieu will probably be the 6th oldest in the league.

November 26, 2008

Well, the Thrashers weren't able to carry the momentum from last night into tonight's game, and lost 5-3. Mathieu had an assist, a penalty, and was a +1. He also logged more ice-time (22:58) than any other player in the game. Game summary: Oystrick (White, Schneider), 12:28 of 3rd; (hooking), 17:59 of 1st.

Cool pic

Usually I'll let you check out jamd.com to see the latest action photos of Mathieu, but there was a particularly good one from last nights game I thought I'd point out. It's not a great shot of Mathieu, per se, but it is of Mathieu letting loose a great shot (he scored on this slapshot; or, at least that is what the caption said).

November 25, 2008

The Thrashers thrashed (huh huh) the Maple Leafs tonight in Toronto. Mathieu added an unassisted goal off a slapshot in the 6-3 game, and finished as a +3. Game summary: Schneider (unassisted), 07:30 of 3rd.

November 22, 2008

Another Thrashers lose. Mathieu had a great play to keep keep the puck in the zone and in a Thrashers' scoring opportunity, but the forwards were not able to convert. He was a -1, but that was for an empty-netter against.

He's back

Mathieu returned to the line-up tonight, sadly a 3-2 lose to the Penguins. He had 22:15 in ice-time, 2 shots, a penalty, and an assist on the 1st goal of the game. Game summary: Kozlov (Kovalchuk, Schneider), 4:41 of 1st (PP); (high-sticking), 2:56 of 2nd.

Almost ready

Mathieu made the road trip and skated before practice on Saturday (the first time he had done so in 16 days). The Thrashers have turned it on lately, so there they feel (and he feels) there is no need to rush back and risk further injury. He should be ready to return shortly.

Out for three games

Ouch. Mathieu missed tonight's game, an will not travel on the two game road trip due to a hip flexor injury, the team reports.

7th oldest, and counting

This is a little late (as are many of the updates); I've been traveling for work, and working when not traveling, and fighting against getting sick in those few moments I'm actually doing neither (although, I think I have lost that battle, sniffle sniffle)....

For those keeping score at home, Mathieu is 11 years older than the league average age, and the league's 7th oldest player (behind Chris Chelios, Gary Roberts, Mark Recchi, Curtis Joseph, Teppo Numminnen, and Luke Richardson). In a quote to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, he says he wants to be the oldest player in the league. He takes inspiration from Chelios:

“He trains like a mad man year-round. I don’t think I’ve met anyone who loves the game and loves to be around the rink as much as Chris does. He’s the first one at the rink every morning. He loves the game of hockey, and it’s contagious.”

Mathieu and Chelios have had he same workout regime for the last several summers, so maybe he has a chance to outlast his former (and current?) mentor.

November 2, 2008

Finally, Atlanta breaks their losing streak with a 5-3 winner over Florida. Mathieu was held without a point in 18:45 of total ice time. He recorded 3 shots, and finished with a +2.

November 1, 2008

Ouch. The Thrashers are now winless in the last six games, this time dropping 6-1 to the Devils. Mathieu was pointless, and a -3, in 20:27 of total ice-time.

October 30, 2008

Game summary: (cross-checking), 15:42 of 3rd.

October 28, 2008

Another ugly lose. This time, 7-0 was the final. Mathieu had no shots, and was a -2 with 26:52 of total ice time. This is going to be a long season, huh? =(

October 25, 2008

Atlanta may have lost, but Mathieu registered his first goal as a Thrasher and picked up another assist. Game summary: Schneider (Kovalchuk, Kozlov), 19:49 of 1st (PP); Kovalchuk (Schneider, Hainsey), 10:04 of 2nd (PP).

October 24, 2008

Revisiting Detroit tonight, Mathieu spoke glowingly of his time in there:

"The fans have been tremendous to me here. They always were. I think they booed me after I scored my last time in here, but that’s understandable. It’s just a tremendous sports town, one of the best sports towns I’ve played in and I think one of the best in the country. It’s a real fun city to play in and as a visitor it’s a fun city to come play in. It’s a great building to play in." (from Detroit Free Press)

With his new team, he had 17:47 of total ice time, no points or shots and was a -3.

Side note: For extra fun, you can read the stupid comments from Detroit fans ripping him for not "playing his cards right" and taking less money to stay in Detroit while arguing the team is better with Rafalski. Umm, is the guy the hero for allowing your team to pursue a "better" player or a goat for "abandoning" you more money from a team that is home for your family? It's just like my career. A good portion of the people in my chosen career suffer simultaneously from an inferiority complex and unbridled arrogance. It is beginning to make me crazy. I don't need this same exact mental disorder from my "leisure" activity, so personally, I'm glad he's out of Detroit.