Byfuglien "earned" alternate captaincy

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Dustin Byfuglien “earned” the right to wear an ‘A’ Saturday in Washington, if only for two periods.

Byfuglien served as the Thrashers' alternate captain in place of Nik Antropov, who was a healthy scratch against the Capitals.

“I thought Buff has shown a lot of courage in the games,” coach Craig Ramsay said. “I thought he’s really tried to make a difference in each and every game that he’s played. I talked about rotating [the alternates] and we haven’t made a change yet ... but he earned a chance to have an ‘A’ on his sweater and to be one of our leaders. Most guys are going to have a shot at it and it’s going to be fun. When you put it on for the night, you should enjoy that and recognize that the coaching staff is recognizing you for a big effort.”

Byfuglien did not last the entire game after a game misconduct at the 17:32 mark of the second period. He was sent off the ice after getting a five-minute charging penalty on Capitals’ goaltender Michal Neuvirth. The defenseman had just come out of the penalty box (tripping) and took the puck on a breakaway when he hit Neuvirth near the side of the goal.

“I think it was a little too much,” Byfuglien said Monday. “A five-minute and game [misconduct], I’m not that type of guy. I didn’t put my head down and just bury him. It was just kind of a shot. I’m going so fast I didn’t have time to do anything. I tried my best to miss him. It is what it is. But it was a little much. It’s over with now and we just got to move on.”

Byfuglien received no supplementary discipline from the NHL for the game misconduct.

Ramsay said it was difficult to play the final period down a defenseman. The team rotated the remaining five blueliners in the 4-3 overtime loss. He again questioned the two-minute interference penalty on Washington’s Alexander Ovechkin in the third period after he hit Thrashers goaltender Chris Mason.

“It was hard when you lose a guy like Dustin,” Ramsay said. “... He was playing so well, jumping up ice. That was a big plus for us and to suddenly come out of the penalty box [on a rush] and it might be a 3-1 lead and it turns into a three-minute shorthanded situation and him out of the lineup, that hurts. We don’t like that. It comes back to it’s hard that they can run over our goalie and it’s only two [minutes]. These things happen. It’s a tough situation to have happen to your hockey club when they are so involved in the game.”

As for getting a chance to wear the ‘A,’ Byfuglien said: “Oh yeah, for a couple of periods, it was all right.”

Pavelec activated, could return Saturday

The Thrashers activated Ondrej Pavelec from the injured reserve list Monday, clearing the way for him to return to the lineup. The team re-assigned goaltender Peter Mannino to AHL Chicago.

Pavelec has been out since he lost consciousness and collapsed in the Thrashers season opener on Oct. 8.

Pavelec said he felt fine following Monday’s practice, his first full workout since being cleared from concussion symptoms. He said he still needs another practice or two to get fully used to the speed of the game again.

The Thrashers have three games this week: Wednesday at the Rangers, Friday versus the Sabres and Saturday at the Blues. Ramsay said it looks like Pavelec’s return could come against the Blues.

“We haven’t made up our mind yet, but, possibly, St. Louis would make some sense,” Ramsay said. “I haven’t made a final decision but I’m guessing that’s where we are heading.”

Etc.

Defenseman Freddy Meyer and forward Alexander Burmistrov missed practice Monday. Ramsay said Meyer was visiting a doctor for a “mid-body” injury. Burmistrov was attending to immigration paperwork. The rookie will also miss Tuesday’s practice and join the team in New York for Wednesday’s game against the Rangers. ... Defenseman Zach Bogosian participated fully in Monday’s practice but is still day-to-day. He has missed the past five games with a shoulder injury.