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Monday, February 23, 2009
Slater might return this week
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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Center Jim Slater practiced with the Thrashers today for the first time hurting his shoulder Jan. 20 against Montreal. (Incidentally, that was the team’s last home victory.) Slater and Jordan LaVallee skated as a fifth line, with another player joining them to complete three-man drills. (Eric Boulton returned to the fourth line after sitting out Saturday’s game at San Jose.)
“It actually felt good,” Slater said of the practice. “First time out there with the guys. Finally got to pass the puck a little bit and receive good passes. With one guy out there [the past couple of weeks], you can only do so many drills. It’s good to be out there with the guys. You can do a lot of different drills, especially with goalies out there.
“I don’t think I’m ready yet. I’m hoping by the end of this week. It’s a lot different once you get in a game. I feel good. It’s coach’s discretion, but hopefully by the end of the week I’ll be looked at.”
Coach John Anderson said he liked what he saw.
“It’s just a conditioning thing,” Anderson said. “He’s been cleared by the doctors. We’ll play it by ear and see how I feel about his conditioning. He usually in good shape all the time anyway. Maybe [he’ll play] by the weekend or just after.”
On a different subject, a couple of you were curious about Slava Kozlov appearing to chirp at Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky after Kozlov scored in the shootout Thursday night. Here’s what Kozlov said today about it: It wasn’t Gretzky he was talking to, but Coyotes associate coach Ulf Samuelsson.
“It had nothing to do with Gretzky,” Kozlov said. “I didn’t see Ulf for a long time. He was my teammate in Detroit. So that’s it.”
What to watch for
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Thrashers are back at Philips Arena for five of their next six games, beginning Tuesday night against Colorado
Some things to watch for:
—Can they play as well at home as they have lately on the road? They’ve lost four consecutive home games but won four of their last six road games and earned a point by taking one of the other two to a shootout.
—The trade deadline is March 4. Are guys playing better at the last minute in hope of finding another place to play? What moves will the Thrashers make? I would expect at least one more veteran defenseman to be traded.
—Thrashers fans get their first in-person look at Jordan LaVallee.
—Will Ilya Kovalchuk, Bryan Little and Slava Kozlov stay hot?
Also, I’d like to thank, and link to the page of, Jon Swenson. He’s got some great photos from Saturday’s game against the Sharks. Jon was the source of the quotes from Evgeni Nabokov about Ilya Kovalchuk that appeared in Sunday’s Thrashers Report; Jon lent me his tape of the postgame interview.
