The Thrashers return from the All-Star break to play their final 30 games, beginning Tuesday night against the New York Islanders. They were once in the middle of the Eastern Conference standings. They held first place in the Southeast Division for a brief time.
However, the Thrashers limped into the five-day hiatus with just five wins in their previous 17 games. They hold the eighth and final playoff position in the East by a single point over Carolina. The Hurricanes have two games in hand, so the margin could be non-existent.
"It's definitely time for us to get back on board and start rolling," Thrashers All-Star defenseman Dustin Byfuglien said. "We have to get ourselves back up there in the standings because it's crunch time now. Teams have to start making pushes to be in the playoffs and teams have to start now."
If the Thrashers are going to return to the playoffs for the first time in four seasons -- and the second time in franchise history -- the next six weeks could determine their fate. They play 12 of 16 games against teams that currently have fewer points in the standings. Ten of them will be played at Philips Arena, where the Thrashers are 12-9-5.
During the 39-day stretch, the Thrashers do not play back-to-back games. They have three days off between games on four occasions.
"It doesn't matter what our schedule is going to be," captain Andrew Ladd said. "We had a pretty good schedule the last couple of weeks and haven't really done anything with it. We have to be desperate heading into these last 30 games."
The Thrashers are done with Tampa Bay and Washington, teams ahead of them in the division standings. Carolina must play those teams six more times.
Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay is not looking too far ahead, and prefers to live by an old adage.
“You have to play hard against everybody,” Ramsay said. “It doesn’t matter who we play. We need to win. We need to get points. We have to be focused. It’s not like you are looking at some distant future. Everything is right in front of you.
“If we take one game at a time, one period at a time, you can really focus in.”
Injury update
Left wing Evander Kane, who has missed the past four games with a mid-body injury, practiced on Monday. He will be re-evaluated following Tuesday's morning skate before a final decision is made on his playing status.
Goaltender Chris Mason, out with a right knee sprain, skated and faced some shots prior to the team's practice.
Center Jim Slater did not practice and there is no timetable on his return from a concussion. He has missed the past 11 games since the injury.
Byfuglien did not practice on Monday because he was returning from All-Star weekend in Raleigh.
PLAYOFF PUSH
The Thrashers play 12 of their next 16 games against teams that currently have fewer points. With 57 points, the Thrashers enter the resumption of play from the All-Star break in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and holding onto the final playoff spot.
Date/Opponent/Points/Place
Tuesday/vs. N.Y. Islanders/37/14th in East
Thursday/vs. Calgary/54/12th in West
Saturday/at Carolina/56/9th in East
Feb. 7/at Toronto/43/12th in East
Feb. 11/vs. N.Y. Rangers/61/6th in East
Feb. 13/vs. Carolina/56/9th in East
Feb. 17/at Phoenix/59/6th in West
Feb. 19/at Edmonton/38/15th in West
Feb. 23/at Buffalo/51/10th in East
Feb. 25/vs. Florida/49/11th in East
Feb. 27/vs. Toronto/43/12th in East
March 1/vs. Montreal/59/7th in East
March 3/vs. Ottawa/42/13th in East
March 5/vs. Florida/49/11th in East
March 9/at Carolina/56/9th in East
March 11/vs. New Jersey/35/15th in East
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