Atlanta Thrashers Schedule
Tuesday
9/21/2010
7:00 PM
Atlanta Thrashers vs Columbus Blue Jackets PRE
Saturday
9/25/2010
7:00 PM
Atlanta Thrashers vs Carolina Hurricanes PRE
Monday
9/27/2010
7:00 PM
Nashville Predators vs Atlanta Thrashers PRE
NEWS
By Bud L. Ellis
Now that the Atlanta Thrashers had filled the veteran portion of their goaltending rotation, it was time to sign the young netminder the organization feels can be a star one day in the National Hockey League.
Ondrej Pavelec and the team agreed on a two-year deal Thursday that reportedly will pay the 22-year-old $2.3 million. (Read More…)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at 7:38 pm by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers news, Atlanta Thrashers schedule, Atlanta Thrashers tickets, Chris Mason, Detroit Red Wings, Ondrej Pavelec
By Bud L. Ellis
Down two goals on the road against one of the top teams in the NHL, the Atlanta Thrashers dug deep and entered the Olympic break with momentum.
The Thrashers scored three times in the second period, fought hard through overtime and eventually lost in a shootout Saturday night at Chicago, 5-4. Despite the loss, Atlanta wrapped up a difficult Midwestern road trip with four points in three games.
The burst to close the pre-Olympic part of the schedule moves the new-look Thrashers to within two points of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta traded franchise all-time leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk and former No. 1 goaltender Kari Lehtonen in separate deals last week.
In Chicago to face the Blackhawks, who are third in the NHL with 85 points, Atlanta fell behind 3-1 in the first. Jim Slater scored at 3:41 of the first before the Blackhawks ripped off three goals in six minutes against Ondrej Pavelec.
But the Thrashers fought back in the second, getting goals from Evander Kane, Max Afinogenov and Tobias Enstrom to take a 4-3 lead entering the final period.
Chicago beat Pavelec early in the third on a Dave Bolland goal to tie the game. In the shootout, Jonathan Toews scored the only goal to give the Blackhawks the win.
Still, it was a strong finish to the pre-Olympic break for Atlanta. The Thrashers resume pursuit of their second playoff berth in franchise history on March 2 at home against Florida.
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Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 11:30 am by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Chicago Blackhawks, Dave Bolland, Evander Kane, Florida Panthers, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jim Slater, Jonathan Toews, Kari Lehtonen, Max Afinogenov, National Hockey League, Ondrej Pavelec, Tobias Enstrom
By Bud L. Ellis
After an initial burst put them in a 2-0 hole, the Atlanta Thrashers fought back. As per the case so many times in his brilliant career, Ilya Kovalchuk led the charge.
The Thrashers’ sharpshooter scored twice, his first two-goal game since Nov. 13, and goals from rookie Evander Kane and Rich Peverley gave the Thrashers all the offense needed in a 4-3 victory over Toronto on Tuesday at Philips Arena.
With the victory, Atlanta moves into a tie for ninth with Philadelphia in the Eastern Conference standings with 51 points, one point behind the Islanders for the eighth and final playoff spot.
Toronto scored twice in a 32-second span of the first period, putting the Thrashers in a 2-0 hole just five minutes into the contest. But Ondrej Pavelec steadied himself in goal, and in the second period Atlanta rallied.
Kovalchuk started it with a goal at the 2:43 mark. Kane scored 10 minutes later to tie the game at 2-2. In the third, Peverley converted on a power play for the game-winner at 1:58, and Kovalchuk scored at the 4:20 mark.
Toronto would score again to cut the margin to one, but Pavelec and the Atlanta defense held up. Kovalchuk finished with the two goals and an assist.
The Thrashers play host to Carolina Thursday.
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Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 5:26 am by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Evander Kane, Ilya Kovalchuk, National Hockey League, Ondrej Pavelec, Rich Peverley, 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
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
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.
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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
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.
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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
By Bud L. Ellis
One night after a disappointing loss at Florida, the Atlanta Thrashers kept battling.
In the end, the effort paid off. Rich Peverley scored the game-winning goal 1:16 into overtime Thursday night, the Thrashers rebounding to knock off the Dallas Stars 6-5 in overtime at Philips Arena.
Peverley led the offense with a goal and an assist for Atlanta, which moved into fifth place in the Eastern Conference with the victory
Twenty-four hours after giving up a late third-period goal in losing at Southeast Division rival Florida, the Thrashers took advantage of their few chances in the offensive zone. Outshot 47-25, Atlanta got goals in regulation from Peverley, Max Afinogenov, Nik Antopov, Ilya Kovalchuk and Jim Slater.
The win marks the first time in franchise history the Thrashers have beaten the Stars at Philips Arena.
Faced with an onslaught of shots, Ondrej Pavelec was just good enough to earn his first victory in net since late November. Pavelec allowed the game-tying goal to Loui Eriksson with only 72 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, but turned away plenty of good scoring chances for the Stars.
Atlanta plays host to New Jersey Saturday, then welcomes in Montreal on Monday to wrap up a three-game homestand.
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Saturday, December 19, 2009 at 12:01 am by bud
Tags: Atlanta Thrashers, Dallas Stars, Ilya Kovalchuk, Jim Slater, Max Afinogenov, Montreal Canadians, National Hockey League, New Jersey Devils, Nik Antopov, Ondrej Pavelec, Philips Arena, Rich Peverley
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
