Kovalchuk won't play vs. Rangers

By CHRIS VIVLAMORE

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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

The Thrashers captain experienced soreness in his right foot warming up prior to practice on Wednesday, according to head coach John Anderson, and left the ice.

After calling Kovalchuk's return to the lineup a "game-time" decision following the practice, the organization made the decision 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. The organization said the soreness was not considered a setback.

Kovalchuk has missed nearly three weeks with a broken bone near the top of his foot. He skated for the first time since the injury on Monday 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 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 due to the injury, originally expected to keep him out four to six weeks. The Thrashers (6-5-1, 13 points) are 3-3 in the games without their Kovalchuk after he was hit by a shot in a game against San Jose on Oct. 24.