Slater gets back in the lineup

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jim Slater returned to the Thrashers' lineup Thursday after being a healthy scratch the past seven games. With Ilya Kovalchuk out with a broken bone in his foot, the forward was in the lineup for the first time since the season opener Oct. 3 .

“It’s been awhile,” Slater said. “It’s been three, three and a half weeks since I’ve played a game. Hopefully I can step right in and get up to speed. ... You can practice all you want, but once you get out there it’s game speed. It might take a shift or two, but I’ll pick it up right away.”

Slater skated on the team’s fourth line with Eric Boulton and Chris Thorburn.

Defenseman Mark Popovic and forward Jason Krog, called up from the AHL when Kovalchuk was put on injured reserve, were scratched.

Antropov returns

Nik Antropov returned Thursday after missing three practices this week. Antropov felt tightness in his groin Sunday, the day after the Thrashers lost to San Jose. Antropov said he felt fine after taking part in Thursday morning’s practice, but still needed to be cleared to play by team doctors.

Antropov played left wing on a line with Rich Peverly and Max Afinogenov.

Watch out for the wounded

Before Thursday’s game, Washington coach Bruce Boudreau wasn’t about to chalk up a win against the Kovalchuk-less Thrashers.

“I think [it makes them more dangerous],” Boudreau said. “It’s always a rally around the injured guy. I would have hoped they had two games by now. It’s also their first game since [Saturday] and the second game since we beat them in this building. ... I think it’s going to be a really difficult game.”