Thrashers’ playoff hopes take big hit

By Bud L. Ellis

For a franchise that’s played all of four postseason games since joining the NHL in 1999, the Atlanta Thrashers faced a playoff-type contest on Saturday at Buffalo.

But in a painful reminder of how thin the line is between the haves and have-nots, the Thrashers totally blew an opportunity to thrust themselves back into the race for the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Read More…)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at 7:08 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, National Hockey League, Toronto Maple Leafs

Thrashers hope OT win ignites late surge

By Bud L. Ellis

The Atlanta Thrashers’ slim hopes of making the NHL playoffs are just that. Slim.

But a few more wins like Saturday’s 4-3 overtime thriller over Florida at Philips Arena could ignite a much-needed late-season surge. (Read More…)

Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 8:04 pm by bud

Tags: Andrew Ladd, Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Blake Wheeler, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Chris Mason, David Booth, Florida Panthers, National Hockey League, Stephen Weiss, Toronto Maple Leafs

Thrashers fall flat in homecoming

By Bud L. Ellis

Coming home after two big victories on the road, the Atlanta Thrashers destroyed all that momentum inside one lackluster period Wednesday night.

Playing inside a quiet Philips Arena, the Thrashers mustered just two shots in the first period, fell behind and could not catch up. Despite a solid effort by Chris Mason in goal, the Thrashers were hammered 4-1 by Buffalo in a game that really wasn’t that close. (Read More…)

Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 6:27 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Buffalo Sabres, Chris Mason, National Hockey League, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tobias Enstrom, Washington Capitals

Thrashers sit at crossroads

By Bud L. Ellis

They often struggle in the first period, almost always get outshot by the opposition and their marquee player may be wearing another sweater by October (or March, for that matter).

Take all that into consideration, and it’s surprising that the Atlanta Thrashers are just three points out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Despite a miserable nine-game stretch that produced just three points in the standings (all coming on overtime losses), the Thrashers split their final four games of their most-recent homestand, losing 2-1 in OT to Buffalo on Thursday at Philips Arena.

So, what to make of the Thrashers as Atlanta hits the road for back-to-back Southeast Division road games Saturday at Carolina and Monday at Florida? With 36 games remaining on the schedule, the Thrashers have an opportunity to reach the playoffs for just the second time in franchise history.

But they’ll have to earn it.

The East is a jumbled mess once you get through the first four playoff spots. Boston sits in fifth with 53 points; Tampa Bay and Florida are tied for 12th, just seven points out of fifth.

Atlanta’s right in the midst of that, and when the Thrashers are right (as they were in the early weeks of the season), this is a solid team. The combo of Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg has been good in goal on more nights than not. Ilya Kovalchuk has not let his uncertain contract status hamper his play (he has 18 points in his past 21 games). A young defense, sparked by Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian and Evander Kane, provide promise.

But Atlanta fans have listened to promises for a decade, with just one playoff berth and zero postseason wins to show for it. The time for the Thrashers to make their move is now.

Fourteen games remain until the Olympic break, and Atlanta faces Southeast Division foes in half of those contests. Nine of the 14 are on the road, so it won’t be easy. But playing well now could pay big dividends in early spring for a team clearly sitting on the playoff bubble.

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Saturday, January 16, 2010 at 10:03 am by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Evander Kane, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, National Hockey League, Ondrej Pavelec, Philips Arena, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian

Late penalties too much for Thrashers to overcome

By Bud L. Ellis

It’s hard enough to win in overtime, when it’s 4-on-4 and one mistake can lead to an rush up ice.

But 4-on-3? That’s not any way to play in extra time, and it cost the Atlanta Thrashers dearly Thursday night.

Zach Bogosian took an elbowing penalty in overtime and the Buffalo Sabres made the Thrashers pay, Derek Roy beating Ondrej Pavelec on a slapshot midway through the extra time in a 2-1 Atlanta loss at Philips Arena.

The Thrashers played most of the final few minutes short-handed. Christoph Schubert took a holding call with 1:10 left in regulation. Atlanta killed off that two-minute disadvantage, but Bogosian was whistled for elbowing just 51 seconds after Schubert’s penalty ended.

Ilya Kovalchuk continued his good work, scoring the lone Atlanta goal at the 16:42 mark of the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Kovalchuck’s 18th point in his past 21 games came off assists from Slava Kozlov and Tobias Enstrom.

Roy’s goal, his 11th of the season, was his second OT game-winner against Atlanta this season.

The Thrashers travel to Carolina Saturday for the first of two Southeast Division road games. The Thrashers play Monday at Florida.

—30—

Friday, January 15, 2010 at 10:22 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Buffalo Sabres, Carolina Hurricanes, Christoph Schubert, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, National Hockey League, Ondrej Pavelec, Philips Arena, Slava Kozlov, Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian

Thrashers win first in regulation since November

By Bud L. Ellis

Forty-three days after winning a game in regulation, the Atlanta Thrashers re-discovered that winning in 60 minutes feeling on Tuesday.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored once and added two assists, and six Thrashers scored in a 6-1 rout of Ottawa at Philips Arena.

The victory marked the second time in five days the Thrashers won a game, after losing nine in a row. It also was the first victory in regulation for Atlanta since a 4-3 victory over Florida on Nov. 30.

Pavel Kubina scored the eventual game-winner 17:08 into the first period, snapping a 1-1 tie. Kovalchuk, who now has 17 points in his past 20 games despite the distraction of his ongoing contract negotiations, made it 3-1.

Eric Boulton scored the first goal for the Thrashers, who moved to within two points of the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference with the victory. Todd White snapped a 35-game goalless streak by lighting the lap. Bryan Little and Tobias Enstrom also scored for Atlanta.

In goal, Ondrej Pavelec made 30 saves for the Thrashers, who wrapped up a four-game homestand with a contest Thursday night against Buffalo.

—30—

Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 8:22 pm by bud

Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Bryan Little, Buffalo Sabres, Eric Boulton, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Ondrej Pavelec, Ottawa Senators, Pavel Kubina, Philips Arena, Tobias Enstrom, Todd White