Kovalchuk experiences soreness, will not return Thursday

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Ilya Kovalchuk will not be in the Thrashers' lineup Thursday against the New York Rangers.

The team captain experienced soreness in his right foot warming up before practice Wednesday, according to coach John Anderson, and left the ice.

After calling Kovalchuk's return to the lineup a "game-time" decision following the practice, the organization said several hours later that he would not travel to New York. His return for Friday's home game against Los Angeles has not been ruled out.

Kovalchuk has missed nearly three weeks with a broken bone near the top of his foot. He skated Monday for the first time since the injury and went through a full team practice Tuesday.

“It’s precautionary,” Anderson said of Kovalchuk leaving before the start of Wednesday’s practice. “... [There is] just a little soreness [after] two hard days of practice. It’s takes a lot out of you. ... When you feel good walking around, sometimes you don’t feel so good after you’ve worked out pretty hard. That’s probably what it is.”

Kovalchuk was not available to speak to the media Wednesday. He said following Tuesday’s practice that he would check with team doctors Wednesday before speculating on his return.

Anderson told the AJC on Tuesday that he was “95 percent” sure Kovalchuk would play Thursday. Asked Wednesday morning how sure he was that Kovalchuk would return, Anderson said “probably 90 [percent] now.”

That percentage became zero when the high-scoring forward was left off the team charter to New York.

Kovalchuk has missed six games because of the injury, which was originally expected to keep him out four to six weeks. The Thrashers (6-5-1, 13 points) are 3-3 in the games without Kovalchuk after he was hit by a shot in a game against San Jose on Oct. 24.

Kane update

Anderson said forward Evander Kane's will be a “game-time decision” Thursday after he was hit in the leg with a shot Sunday. Kane practiced Wednesday. The rookie missed Tuesday’s practice while he was examined by doctors.

Anderson said that the team would probably make a roster move should Kovalchuk and Kane not be able to play Thursday.

Goalie rotation

Anderson said that a goalie rotation has been set for the away-home, back-to-back games with New York and Los Angeles on Thursday and Friday. However, he would not reveal his plans.

“[New York Rangers coach John] Tortorella has enough scouts in the wings,” Anderson said.

Johan Hedberg has stopped 38 of 41 shots since relieving Ondrej Pavelec for the third period of Saturday’s game against the New York Islanders. He had 30 saves in Sunday’s 3-2 shootout win over St. Louis. Hedberg stopped both Blues’ shots in the shootout.

Getting Slava going

Slava Kozlov still is without a goal this season after scoring 26 last season. Anderson said he held player meetings Tuesday, and the subject came up with Kozlov.

“We had meetings yesterday with all the guys. To me, the way he played last game, he’s starting to go. He just hasn’t got the results yet. I think he’s going. Hopefully we’ll see that in New York, get a couple of goals on the board for him. To me, with [Bryan] Little and [Todd] White, things started to happen with flow as opposed to squeezing the stick too tight or thinking a half-second longer than normal when you shoot it. It’s just a progression thing.”

Anderson said he was encouraged by Kozlov’s shootout goal in Sunday’s win.

“It made me feel better,” Anderson said.