Thrashers drop fourth straight

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Thrashers are headed in the wrong direction, and fast.

They dropped their fourth consecutive game with a 2-1 loss to Columbus on Thursday at Nationwide Arena. Just one week ago, the Thrashers occupied the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

They haven’t won since.

The Thrashers (28-28-10, 66 points) are tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference -- six points out of a playoff spot. They are tied with the Lightning, one point behind the idle Rangers, Friday’s opponent, for ninth place, and six points behind the Bruins for eighth.

“We are not getting the bounces, that’s for sure,” said goaltender Johan Hedberg, who made 19 saves. “There is no secret to winning. It’s just hard work. That’s what’s going to get it done. The team that works the hardest gets the right bounces. We’ve got to keep plugging away and get the bounce on our side.”

With 17 games in March, 12 at home, the Thrashers figured to make their big push for the playoffs. However, they are 2-4 this month.

The Thrashers have been outscored 14-4 in the four-game losing streak. When a team isn't scoring goals, every bad bounce is magnified. That was the case again. Defenseman Chris Chelios, making his Thrashers debut, made two mistakes and they were costly.

The Blue Jackets opened the scoring with a power-play goal early in the first period. With Nik Antropov serving an interference penalty, Columbus’ RJ Umberger tried to slide the puck across the crease. However, it deflected off Chelios’ stick and between Hedberg’s legs at the 6:36 mark.

“It just hit his stick,” Umberger said. “Sometimes that happens.”

The Blue Jackets, who have won five of the past six meetings with the Thrashers, including four consecutive, added a second-period goal on a fortunate bounce. They had a rush to the net when Chelios got caught pinching along the board. After Kris Russell fanned on a shot attempt in front of the Thrashers goal, Kristian Huselius rushed in and knocked the puck on net. Hedberg made the initial stopped, but the puck was deflected into the net in the flurry to clear it away.

“I was hoping to come in and give the team a shot of adrenaline,” Chelios said. “I’ve got to play better on the ice and make that transition and start helping out defensively. ... The first one, it just happens. I kind of got caught in between. The second one was the difference, and that’s where I’ve got to make better decisions pinching and get back.”

Johnny Oduya's goal, his first as a Thrasher, with 2:21 remaining avoided the shutout. The Thrashers played the final 1:25 with a 6-on-4 advantage with a power play and an empty net, but could not get the equalizer. Atlanta finished with third period with a 17-1 shots-on-goal advantage.

“We’ve lost four in a row and it’s not a good situation for us,” Antropov said. “I don’t think we were ready to play the first period and a half. They were two goals up and these days it’s hard to come back.”

The Blue Jackets were without leading scorer Rick Nash, who missed his second consecutive game because of injury.

There is little time to dwell on the loss. The Thrashers play again Friday.

“When it’s not going for you, it’s not going for you,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said. “We’re not getting any breaks right now. It’s a difficult loss.”