Atlanta Thrashers Schedule
Tuesday
2/7/2012
7:30PM
Winnipeg Jets vs Toronto Maple Leafs
Thursday
2/9/2012
7:00PM
Washington Capitals vs Winnipeg Jets
Saturday
2/11/2012
2:00PM
Pittsburgh Penguins vs Winnipeg Jets
NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
The Atlanta Thrashers, trying desperately trying to jumpstart their playoff push before they fall too far out of the eighth and final spot in the NHL’s Eastern Conference, were busy on Monday’s trading deadline day.
The Thrashers traded for Radek Dvorak from Florida, sending Niclas Bergfors and Patrick Rissmiller to the Panthers for the 33-year-old forward. (Read More…)
Monday, February 28, 2011 at 8:24 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Brett Feasterling, Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Drew MacIntyre, Florida Panthers, Fredrik Modin, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Niclas Bergfors, Patrick Rissmiller, Radek Dvorak, Rob Schremp
By Bud L. Ellis
Usually, it takes the Atlanta Thrashers a period or so to come to life.
Thursday night at Philips Arena, the Thrashers had plenty of jump in the game’s first three minutes, putting five shots on goal against Carolina. But then, the air went out of the balloon, Eric Stahl scored the first of his three goals and the rout was in motion.
Sure, the 5-2 final score didn’t look bad, but trust me, it was. Many inside Philips Arena left during the early stages of the third period, when Atlanta had three power plays and couldn’t muster much of a charge, down at that stage 4-1 to the team with the worst record in the NHL.
Colby Armstrong gave the home crowd a glimmer of hope, cutting the deficit to 4-2 with under nine minutes to play. But Carolina was too strong, and Stahl capped his hat trick with an empty netter in the final minutes.
Rich Peverley put Atlanta on the board midway through the second period. But by then it was 4-0, thanks to two quick Carolina goals three minutes apart in the first half of the first period, and two power-play goals 1:53 apart in the opening minutes of the second period.
The loss keeps Atlanta out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East. The Thrashers remain at 51 points, tied for 10th with Montreal, three points behind the Islanders and Bruins, who are tied for seventh.
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Thursday, January 21, 2010 at 9:34 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Colby Armstrong, Eric Stahl, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Philips Arena, Rich Peverley
By Bud L. Ellis
A furious rally at the finish couldn’t help the Atlanta Thrashers overcome yet another sluggish start.
A Gregory Campbell goal midway through the second period turned out to be the only score of the game, as the Thrashers fell to Southeast Division rival Florida on Monday, 1-0.
The loss drops Atlanta (21-20-7) three points behind the Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot in the crowded Eastern Conference standings. With 49 points, Atlanta is tied with Philadelphia for 11th.
Johan Hedberg did his part between the pipes for Atlanta, making 23 saves. Campbell’s goal came at the 7:18 mark of the second period, and Hedberg’s vision was partially blocked on the play.
It’s unfortunate, as that would be the difference in part because the Thrashers once again struggled offensively in the early part of the game. The Thrashers mustered just 13 shots on goal combined in the first 40 minutes.
In the third, the Thrashers finally found their offensive rhythm enough to take 14 shots on goal and keep the pressure on Florida’s defense and goaltender Tomas Vokoun. But Vokoun was too tough, and Atlanta wasn’t able to capitalize on a 6-on-4 advantage in the final 1:19.
Atlanta looks to bounce back with a quick turnaround, taking on Toronto on Tuesday at Philips Arena.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:02 am by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers, Gregory Campbell, Johan Hedberg, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Philips Arena, Tomas Vokoun, Toronto Maple Leafs
By Bud L. Ellis
This is the type of performance the Atlanta Thrashers need more of if they want to be in contention for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored the go-ahead goal just 44 seconds after Carolina had tied the game, and the Thrashers added a Nik Antropv empty-net tally with time running down to secure a 5-3 victory at Carolina on Saturday.
The win moves Atlanta one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot, in the jumbled Eastern Conference standings. The Thrashers are 21-19-7 for 49 points, tied with Philadelphia and one point behind the Islanders and Montreal. Florida, where the Thrashers play Monday, is one point behind Atlanta.
Ondrej Pavelec stopped Eric Stahl on a penalty shot midway through the second period of a 1-1 game. Atlanta responded with goals from Jim Slater and Rich Peverley just 72 seconds apart later in the period, and the Thrashers carried a 3-1 advantage into the final period.
But Carolina responded with two goals in a 70-second span, Ray Whitney’s slap shot tying the game at 3-3 at the 9:09 mark of the third.
Kovalchuk needed just 44 seconds to put the Thrashers back in front. He blasted a slap shot in for his 28th goal of the season, off assists from Tobias Enstrom and Antropov.
Kovalchuk finished with a goal and an assist, giving him 20 points in his past 22 games. Slater finished with a goal and an assist, as did Antropov and Zach Bogosian, who scored Atlanta’s first goal 2:29 into the first.
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Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 4:34 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Eric Stahl, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jim Slater, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Nik Antropov, Ondrej Pavelec, Philadelphia Flyers, Ray Whitney, Rich Peverley, Tobias Enstrom, Zach Bogosian
By Bud L. Ellis
For most, there is no place like home. For the Atlanta Thrashers, there is no place like away from home.
The Thrashers improved their stellar road record to 9-2-1, earning a 2-1 shutout victory at Florida to open a four-game road trip.
It looked like Atlanta, which saw its three-game winning streak snapped by the Islanders Thursday night at Philips Arena, was heading to a second-consecutive loss. Stephen Weiss beat Johan Hedberg early in the third period, snapping a scoreless duel between Hedberg and Florida netminder Tomas Vokoun.
But Ilya Kovalchuk found the net with 64 seconds left in regulation, off assists from Max Afinogenov and Toby Enstrom, Kovy’s 16th of the season tying the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless overtime, Rich Peverly scored the game winner in the shootout for Atlanta, which won for the fifth time in its last six outings.
Encouraging for Atlanta is the fact the Thrashers outshot the Panthers 38-31
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Saturday, December 5, 2009 at 11:13 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Johan Hedberg, Max Afinogenov, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Philips Arena, Rich Peverly, Stephen Weiss, Toby Enstrom, Tomas Vokoun
By Bud L. Ellis
Playing from an unfamiliar position early Thursday night, the Atlanta Thrashers ended up in an unfamiliar position.
Staked to a 1-0 lead midway through the first period, the Thrashers couldn’t build on the quick start as Matt Moulson’s hat trick led the New York Islanders past Atlanta 4-1 at Philips Arena, ending the Thrashers’ three-game winning streak.
The Atlanta offense, averaging nearly 3.5 goals per game so far this season, got the Thrashers out to an early lead. Slava Kozlov scored his fifth, off assists from Bryan Little and Todd White at the 9:01 mark.
Used to playing from behind and starting slow, the Thrashers didn’t handle their reversal of fortune well. In the second, Moulson scored his first goal 1:47 into the period. He then broke the tie with a power play goal with four minutes left in the period.
The Thrashers couldn’t capitalize on a power play midway through the third, and shortly after the Isles killed off the power play, Moulson tipped in a shot to make it 3-1.
John Tavares scored an empty netter with one second left, as the Thrashers ended a three-game homestand on a down note.
Now Atlanta hits the road for a four-game swing, starting Saturday night at Florida. The Thrashers then play Monday at Toronto, Wednesday at Northwest Division leader Calgary, and Thursday at Vancouver.
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Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 9:09 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Bryan Little, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, Matt Moulson, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Philips Arena, Slava Kozlov, Todd White, Toronto Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks
By Bud L. Ellis
After losing three games in a row, it appeared maybe the Atlanta Thrashers would revert to their normal form.
But instead, the Thrashers have responded in a way that is atypical of the franchise’s woebegone history.
Atlanta has ripped off four consecutive wins, including a shutout win at Detroit, a furious comeback at Carolina, and a thrilling win against Florida during which Max Afinogenov scored the game-winning goal with five seconds left.
And now, as December dawns, the Thrashers find themselves just seven points behind Washington in the Southeast Division. Atlanta, which takes on the Islanders on Thursday at Philips Arena, looks every bit like a team that wants to stay in the postseason hunt long past Christmas.
The combo of Ondrej Pavelec and Johan Hedberg in goal has been solid (Pavelec posted the shutout win at Detriot; Hedberg shut out the Flyers Saturday night in Atlanta). First-round draft pick Evander Kane has played well beyond his 18 years of age. And of course, Ilya Kovalchuk continues to do his thing on the offensive end.
The Thrashers look like a playoff team. Yes, it’s early December, but this team is played well and getting things done on both ends of the ice.
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Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 10:26 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Detriot Red Wings, Evander Kane, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Johan Hedberg, Max Afinogenov, National Hockey League, New York Islanders, Ondrej Pavelec, Philadelphia Flyers
