Kubina misses game with lower-body injury

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Pavel Kubina missed Sunday’s game against Edmonton with what the team announced as “lower body soreness.” The defenseman missed time at the end of Friday’s win over Los Angeles after he was hit by a shot.

Thrashers coach John Anderson said following the game that Kubina was “day-to-day.”

Forward Bryan Little was the Thrashers other scratch. He missed his second straight game with a groin injury.

*The Thrashers first two captains were in town with Edmonton. The Thrashers first captain, Kelly Buchberger, is in his second year as an assistant coach with the Oilers. Buchberger, who scored the Thrashers’ first franchise goal, was captain for the inaugural 1999-2000 season.

Steve Staios succeeded Buchberger as captain for one season. The defenseman, in his 14th season, has played eight games this year with four assists, one coming Sunday on the Oilers first goal.

*Ilya Kovalchuk played 23:18 Sunday, the most in his three games since being out with a broken bone in his right foot.

Anderson said he could see signs that Kovalchuk was tired.

“[He played] three [games] in four nights and he was off for three weeks,” Anderson said. “I think it finally got to him. When I look up and he wants to come off the ice, that’s usually an indication.”

Kovalchuk had an assist Sunday, his eighth point (three goals, five assists) in the three games.

*Rich Peverley added to his team-leading point total with two assists Sunday. He leads the Thrashers with 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) and has at least one point in 14 of the team’s 17 games this season.

*The Thrashers continue their five-game homestand Thursday when they host Boston.