Anderson wanted amends against Islanders

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Thrashers coach John Anderson hoped his team learned a lesson from its 6-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Nov. 7. They did not.

Anderson called that game the team’s worst performance of the season, so bad it prompted meetings with players and coaches.

“We had meetings on top of meetings after that game,” Anderson said Thursday morning before a 4-1 loss in the rematch. “Give the Islanders some credit. They played very well in that game. They were like rats on cheese with that puck. We couldn’t get near it. ... It was a little bit of a reckoning that we can’t just can throw our sticks and skates on the ice and expect to win hockey games."

The Thrashers were without captain Ilya Kovalchuk in the first meeting with the Islanders. It was one of six games he missed with a broken bone in his foot. They couldn't win with him Thursday.

"One thing that they do is they are very disciplined," Anderson said following the latest loss. "If they don't have everybody on that same page the chances of winning are diminished. ... They are all buying in to what the have to as a team to give themselves a chance to win as much as possible."

*Thrashers defenseman Noah Welch, recovering from offseason knee surgery, was assigned to AHL Chicago on Thursday, after clearing waivers. He will begin to practice with the Wolves as he continues his rehabilitation.

Welch, 26, signed with the Thrashers in July. He played in 40 NHL games last season with Florida and Tampa Bay. He has been inactive all season.

*Boris Valabik returned after missing Wednesday’s practice. The defenseman had a screw removed from his ankle after undergoing surgery in October. He was scratched Thursday, along with forward Jim Slater and defenseman Mark Popovic.

*The Thrashers have 84 goals this season. The 3.36 goals-per-game average is third in the NHL. Also, 38 of the goals have come in the third period, tops in the league.