The well wasn't dry

When you're hounding a team for a third team within a month, chances are you're not going to have the best of days. By then, the players start to recognize you. And, if you've had good luck during the first two trips, you'll likely have very little left for them to sign.

On Saturday, before the Atlanta Thrashers scored an impressive 6-4 comeback victory over the reeling Tampa Bay Lightning, we beat those odds to add another 35 autographs to the collection.

The biggest haul came on a team helmet, where 22 players, coaches or team personnel signed. Notable names include Ilya Kovalchuk, Slava Kozlov, Bobby Holik and Alexei Zhitnik. Really, the only big names I missed were Marian Hossa and Johan Hedberg, neither of whom signed at game time.

Among the 12 cards signed (shown above, clockwise, from top left): Niclas Havelid, Darren Haydar, Alexei Zhitnik and Bobby Holik.

In something of a surprise, Kovalchuk signed before boarding the bus. In Atlanta's last trip to Tampa, Kovie ignored multiple requests to sign before the game. Besides the team helmet (a future post will have photos, I promise), he signed his Thrashers mini jersey (top photo and, in detail, at left) for Colin.

Thankfully, it'll be another four months before the Thrashers come back to Tampa. By that time. I'm sure we'll have restocked the Thrashers pantry. Perhaps, too, I'll have better luck getting Hedberg, Hossa and Kari Lehtonen, who didn't make the trip because of an injury, to complete the helmet.