By Bud L. Ellis
The good news for the Atlanta Thrashers is, for now, the young team has survived – and even thrived – through a rough first 11 days of the National Hockey League season.
Even better news: goalie Ondrej Pavelec returned to the ice Tuesday, a week and a half after he fainted during the opening minutes of the Thrashers’ season opener at Philips Arena. (Read More…)
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 7:18 pm by bud
Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Chris Mason, Los Angeles Kings, National Hockey League, Ondrej Pavelec, San Jose Sharks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington Capitals
By Bud L. Ellis
Fighting to stay afloat in the crowded bottom two-thirds of the Eastern Conference, a power outage was the last thing the Atlanta Thrashers needed.
A three-game, 0-for-13 stretch on the power play hasn’t done anything to enhance the Thrashers’ playoff chances. But Tuesday night, locked in a 1-1 game in the third period with Anaheim at Philips Arena, Atlanta got what it hopes to be a goal that didn’t just win a game, but jump-starts its special teams.
Max Afinogenov popped home a power-play goal 4:03 into the third, breaking a 1-1 tie as the Thrashers won 2-1. The victory keeps the Thrashers on the edge of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East heading into Thursday’s road game at Philadelphia.
Colby Armstrong scored Atlanta’s first goal in the second period. Anaheim lit the lamp later in the second, but Johan Hedberg stopped the Ducks from there, recording 34 saves for the victory.
Starting with the game at Philly, the Thrashers play six of their next eight on the road leading into the Olympic break.
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Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 5:46 am by bud
Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Colby Armstrong, Johan Hedberg, Max Afinogenov, Philadelphia Flyers, Philips Arena
By Bud L. Ellis
These are the types of games the Atlanta Thrashers can ill-afford to lose if they want to reach the playoffs.
But Antero Niittymaki once again kept the Thrashers at bay, and after 65 minutes of dramatic hockey and five shootout rounds, Atlanta left Tampa with a bitter 2-1 loss.
Jeff Halpern beat Johan Hedberg in round five of the shootout, and Niittymak improved to 15-0 lifetime against the Thrashers, making 37 saves. As great as Hedberg was, Niittymak was better.
The loss moves the Lightning into a tie with the Thrashers for 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points, three behind the Rangers and Montreal, who occupy the final two playoff spots.
Nik Antropov scored the lone goal for the Thrashers at the 5:23 mark of the first period. Tampa tied the game two minutes later. The score then remained knotted at 1-1 the rest of the way, in a game that features playoff-type intensity and hard-fought play from both sides.
Atlanta looks to rebound Tuesday at Philips Arena against Anaheim.
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Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 1:18 pm by bud
Tags: Anaheim Ducks, Antero Niittymaki, Atlanta Thrashers, Jeff Halpern, Johan Hedberg, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Rangers, Nik Antropov, Philips Arena, Tampa Bay Lightning
