Ondrej Pavelec was back in Chicago on Saturday. This time he started in goal for the Thrashers against the Blackhawks at the United Center and not for the AHL Wolves at the Allstate Arena in suburban Rosemont.
Pavelec made his first NHL start in Chicago on Saturday. He spent two seasons with the Wolves, winning the Calder Cup championship in 2007-08.
Pavelec started three of the Thrashers’ past 10 games and lost all of them.
Thrashers coach John Anderson wanted Pavelec to make this start.
“Pavs has played in [AHL] Chicago,” Anderson said. “We are hoping he takes part of that, is stellar and hopefully steals us a game.”
• The Thrashers' top line of Nik Antropov, Niclas Bergfors and Bryan Little have piled up points in the four games. They have combined for 16 points (seven goals, nine assists).
• Johnny Oduya has two assists in the past three games.
• Former Thrasher Marian Hossa has 34 points (17 goals, 17 assists) and was a plus-17 in 37 games for the Blackhawks before Saturday. Hossa remains the only Thrashers player to register a 100-point season. He had 43 goals and 57 assists in 2006-07.
• Forward Slava Kozlov (healthy) and defenseman Mark Popovic (upper body) were the Thrashers’ scratches Saturday. Kozlov has sat out eight of the past 10 games since having his franchise record 251 consecutive games played streak snapped. Popovic missed his second game with the injury. Arturs Kulda, called up from the AHL on Thursday, played in Popovic’s place.
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