Thrashers take first post-Kovy home game

By Ken Sugiura

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In their first home game without franchise player Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers' two newest players provided a glimmer of hope.

Forward Niclas Bergfors, one of three players acquired from New Jersey in Thursday's Kovalchuk trade, delivered the game-winner in the Thrashers' 4-2 win over Florida on Saturday at Philips Arena. The Thrashers moved ahead of the Panthers in a crucial Southeast Division contest, which followed three consecutive Thrashers losses. The team is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference at 58 points, one point out of eighth.

"Leaving ‘Kovy' out of it, I thought we just played very, very hard," coach John Anderson said. "We had a very difficult day today and then getting down 2-0 on a couple of weird plays, I like our resolve and the fact that we don't quit. I think we became a bit of a team tonight."

The trade aside, the game was played under unusual circumstances. The Thrashers had to delay the start of the game nearly an hour after arriving in Atlanta at about 5:45 p.m. because of the mid-Atlantic snowstorm trapping them in Washington on Friday night. The team bused to Richmond on snowy roads and got in an accident with a truck, Anderson said.

"Thank goodness the players were in the back," Anderson said after the game. "They couldn't see what was going on. It was a pretty scary ride."

After falling behind 2-0 in the first period, the Thrashers showed energy in the second period, producing goals from Max Afinogenov and Bryan Little. Bergfors scored the game-winner at 15:34 of the third period after the Thrashers had missed a number of chances.

"It was a weight lifted off when we finally scored, because we had so many chances," defenseman Ron Hainsey said. "It was like, here we go again."

Said Bergfors, "I tried to shoot it high, and it worked out."

The announced crowd of 16,743 was the fourth-largest of the season.

"The building was hot tonight," Hainsey said. "They stayed with us after we fell behind early, and we were able to get a big win here tonight."

Before the game, general manager Don Waddell held a "town hall" meeting for season-ticket holders, attended by roughly 500 fans, to field questions about the trade.

While he wore a blue Kovalchuk jersey, season-ticket holder Jason Whitker was understanding of the trade, but was frustrated by the team's lack of progress. He believed that was a factor in Kovalchuk's unwillingness to sign with the team.

"I don't believe it was all about money," he said. "I'd be very shocked if Kovalchuk doesn't sign with a playoff contender for less money [than the Thrashers offered]. I think this is the same scenario we had with [former Thrasher Marian] Hossa."

In the arena's central souvenir shop, Kovalchuk T-shirts, jerseys, name plates, hats, pucks, bobblehead dolls and pins were on sale at the store's entrance.

"You don't need a red Kovalchuk jersey," a woman told her elementary school-age son. "You have a blue Kovalchuk jersey that's no longer of any use."