The several hundred Thrashers fans who made it to Philips Arena for the team’s preseason home opener got to witness the debut of the team’s top line of Ilya Kovalchuk, Bryan Little and newcomer Nik Antropov.
They had to wait but were rewarded with a small taste of the promise for the season ahead. The line combined on a pretty third-period goal that provided the highlight of the game. Attendance was announced as 4,126 but looked far smaller than that, as the rain and flooding kept many fans at home.
With three assists from Antropov, the Thrashers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-2.
“I like it a lot,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said. “Hopefully, I don’t think goal scoring will be a problem.”
Kovalchuck and Little were the team’s top two goal scorers last season. Antropov is the free-agent acquisition from the Rangers expected not only to provide the Thrashers size and scoring punch but also to help persuade Kovalchuk, heading into the final year of his contract, to re-sign with the team.
Antropov had two first-period assists, one on a goal by defenseman and fellow newcomer Pavel Kubina and the second on a goal by defenseman Mark Popovic. The latter came with linemates Kovalchuk and Little on the ice.
In their first action together, the three did not generate a consistent threat, sometimes appearing out of sync and often spending much of their shifts in the Atlanta end. They delivered in the third period.
With the score tied at 2-2, Antropov carried the puck into the offensive zone, then dropped it for an onrushing Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk zipped a pass to Little as he darted to the net, where he redirected the pass past goalie Michael Leighton.
Rookie defenseman Paul Postma continued to play well in his bid to make the roster. A seventh-round draft pick in 2007, Postma also assisted on Popovic’s goal and showed a nice passing touch.
After the team’s morning skate Monday, Thrashers coach John Anderson said he had seen a “big difference” in Postma’s play, even since the team’s prospect tournament earlier this month
Said Anderson, “I think it’s just a matter of not whether he can or can’t play — we believe he can play — it’s just a matter of feeling good enough about himself to play at the National Hockey League level on a consistent basis.”
Kubina, acquired in an offseason trade from Toronto, had a good showing. He buried Antropov’s pass from the slot for the Thrashers’ first goal on a power play and played disruptive defense in the Thrashers’ end.
Cuts coming
Anderson said the team will make more cuts after Wednesday’s game against Nashville, anticipating getting down to about 27 players. The team must reach their 23-player roster by the end of the preseason.
Anderson gave first-round pick Evander Kane a break from action on Monday. He will play Wednesday against Nashville at Philips.
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