Valabik returns from conditioning stint

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Boris Valabik is back but is still waiting to make his season debut for the Thrashers.

The defenseman was scratched for Monday’s game against Florida after returning from a two-week conditioning stint with AHL Chicago. Valabik injured his ankle during an October practice after being scratched from the Thrashers’ season-opener. The injury required surgery.

Valabik participated in the team’s morning skate Monday.

Thrashers coach John Anderson said Valabik will get a chance to play in due time.

“We will see how he is reacting,” Anderson said. “He’s coming off a long-term injury and he played pretty good in Chicago. He will get in but it’s hard to put a new guy in when you are winning hockey games. We’ll have to make sure it’s the right time.”

The Thrashers will continue to carry the maximum of 23 active players for the immediate future, according the general manager Don Waddell.

Forward Jim Slater and defenseman Anssi Salmela were the other scratches.

Hedberg starts

Johan Hedberg was back in goal for the Thrashers after his 1-0 shutout of Philadelphia Saturday. He rewarded his team with a 4-3 win over Florida Monday.

“He had a great shutout the other night,” Anderson said. “We are blessed with two goalies and we are going to be in the middle of a lot of games in a very short time.”

Hedberg stopped all 34 shots against the Flyers for his 12th career shutout and second as a Thrasher.

Hedberg (6-2) had 25 saves against Florida to runs his record to 5-5 versus the Panthers in his NHL career.

“I't's a win," Hedberg said. "I've said before it's a game of bounces. The first two periods both teams were aggressive and then in the third period it was more of a sit back and wait for the other team to make a mistake. We happened to get that bounce and got a goal to go our way."

Etc.

Thrashers forward Eric Boulton and his family will join members of the U.S. Marine Corp Tuesday at the Toys for Tots warehouse in Marietta to prepare toys for distribution to underprivileged children and local charities in metro-Atlanta. The Thrashers will be collecting new unwrapped toys at their four home games between Dec. 3 and 19. Each person who donates will receive a voucher for two complimentary tickets to a future Thrashers game. ... Ilya Kovalchuk entered Monday’s game fourth in the NHL in shooting percentage. He now as 15 goals have come on 65 shots (23 percent).