Pavelec to start Thursday, Hedberg to start Saturday

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As the Thrashers continue to use their two-goalie rotation of late, Ondrej Pavelec will start Thursday against Boston, and Johan Hedberg is scheduled to start Saturday against Pittsburgh.

“It makes tough decisions, but that means that’s a good thing,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said Wednesday of the goalie rotation. “You’ve got a tough decision to make on two good players. If you see our schedule, they’ll both get time.”

The Thrashers have won four consecutive games, with Hedberg (4-1) starting three of them. Hedberg is tied for sixth in the NHL with a .923 save percentage (entering Wednesday’s games) and has a 2.63 goals-against average. Against Pittsburgh, he will face the team for which he made his NHL debut and played 116 games over three seasons.

Anderson said he thought Hedberg would have “a little extra incentive” against the Penguins.

Pavelec (6-5) has started 12 games and has a .917 save percentage and a 2.90 goals-against average this season.

“A lot of teams don’t have the luxury of having two good guys like we do, and obviously three with [Kari Lehtonen] who is still injured. With a lot of teams, if they don’t play their No. 1 goalie, they are in jeopardy of losing that game. I don’t feel that way.”

Valabik sent to Chicago

The Thrashers sent defenseman Boris Valabik to their AHL affiliate in Chicago on Wednesday for a conditioning assignment.

Valabik had surgery in early October for a high ankle sprain after taking a fall in practice, and he was placed on injured reserve. He has not appeared in a game this season. He was a healthy scratch in the Thrashers’ season opener and has missed the past 16 games because of the injury.

Valabik can remain in Chicago for up to two weeks on the conditioning assignment.

[General manager] Don [Waddell], [Assistant GM] Larry [Simmons] and I talked about it,” Anderson said. “We felt he’s ready to play. Just like with [Zach] Bogosian last year, we wanted to give him a week or two of contact.”

Anderson would not speculate on what move the Thrashers will make when Valabik has concluded his assignment.

Injury update

*Forward Bryan Little and defenseman Pavel Kubina practiced Wednesday but remain “game-time decisions,” according to Anderson. Little has missed the past two games with a groin injury. Kubina missed Sunday’s game with lower-body soreness after being hit with a puck Friday.

Neither player practiced Monday.

*Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk, who returned last week from a broken bone in his right foot, was held out of practice Wednesday as a precaution.

“Just giving him a day off,” Anderson said. “I skated him very hard [Tuesday]. Just giving him a day to rest. He’ll play tomorrow, I’m sure.”