Thrashers lose final preseason game, are 1-5

Ready or not, next time it’s for real.

And once again Saturday night, the Thrashers didn’t look very ready for a regular season that begins in less than a week.

Their final exhibition game bore an unfortunate resemblance to those that preceded it: Too few goals scored, too many penalties taken.

The 4-1 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Philips Arena extended the Thrashers’ losing streak to five games. Their 1-5 exhibition record is the NHL’s worst of 2008, and their lone victory came in the exhibition opener, so long ago that three of their four goals in that game were scored by players no longer with the team.

Of course, exhibition success is no guarantee of good things to come, as the Thrashers proved by starting the 2007 season 0-6 after going 5-2 in exhibition games. But new coach John Anderson entered the preseason looking for victories to help him lift the team’s attitude and instead came away with a steady dose of downers.

“I don’t think we’ve helped team morale,” Anderson said.

For a few players, though, morale is about to shoot through the roof. Anderson said he and general manager Don Waddell expect to make the final cuts sometime today or Monday. By the time the players get back on the ice for practice on Tuesday, they’ll be down to the NHL roster limit of 23, perhaps even 22.

They’re at 26 now, after Saturday’s announcement that the Thrashers had sent forward Grant Stevenson, defenseman Arturs Kulda and goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to their minor-league affiliate in Chicago and released defenseman Jamie Rivers.

There could be good news for defenseman Nathan Oystrick, a 25-year-old looking to make his NHL regular-season debut. Oystrick played Saturday night, and Anderson said Saturday night’s lineup was indicative of who would play for the Thrashers during the regular season. There are eight defensemen still on the roster; Anderson plans to keep seven.

“It would mean everything [to make the roster],” Oystrick said. “I’ve been battling it my whole life. It was my childhood dream. There was a lot of things said about my commitment the last few years. Just to be able to come in and show that I am committed, and I do want to be here and I want to be part of this team and part of this organization, it would mean a lot to me, and it would mean a lot to my family.”

Oystrick played for Anderson last season in Chicago. So did Brett Sterling, who scored the Thrashers’ lone goal Saturday night. Sterling opened last season with the Thrashers but played most of it in Chicago.

“It would be huge [to stay with the Thrashers],” Sterling said. “It’s tough as a rookie when your team goes 0-6, you’re one of the first ones to go. But I had a lot of good experience for my hockey career. … The ultimate goal is to be here. It would really mean a lot to me. This is where I want to be and play.”

The Thrashers are carrying 16 forwards, and Anderson said he might not cut to 13 until he knows the extent of injuries to Jason Williams, who did not play Saturday night, and Bryan Little, who played and got hurt.

Friday night, the Thrashers play the Washington Capitals in a game that counts.

Ready or not.