Change is in the air for the Atlanta Thrashers.
Atlanta (1-2-0) will switch up three of its four lines and at least one of its defensive pairings and get back a key player when the team takes on the defensively-challenged Anaheim Ducks (1-3-0) on Friday night at the Honda Center (10:00 EDT, 680 “The Fan”, NHL Center Ice).
Thrashers coach Craig Ramsay didn’t like what he saw out of Atlanta’s top three lines in the club’s 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings. He put the players through the paces on Wednesday with a grueling practice focusing on hockey fundamentals.
By the end of it, new lines emerged for the Thrashers. Nik Antropov was moved alongside Rich Peverley and Evander Kane, while Anthony Stewart, Bryan Little and Andrew Ladd composed a second line.
Jim Slater practiced alongside Fredrik Modin and Nigel Dawes. The only pairing to remain the same was the Ben Eager-Alex Burmistrov-Chris Thorburn line, which has scored three of Atlanta’s eight goals and is plus-8 on the campaign. The rest of the team is minus-18.
Slater will return to the ice for the first time this season for the Thrashers. He finally was cleared to participate in contact practices for the first time since reporting to camp with a wrist injury.
Normally, the addition of Slater to Atlanta’s roster would require a roster move, since the club is at the maximum of 23 players. However, Ben Wright of the team’s Blueland Blog reports that defenseman Ron Hainsey has returned to Atlanta for the birth of his first son. He should miss the rest of the trip.
Under Rule 16.12 of the NHL's collective bargaining agreement, the Thrashers can treat a player such as Hainsey as a non-roster player for Friday’s game since he left the team for the birth of a child. However, they must get permission from the Commissioner’s office to do so. In light of what’s going on with the New Jersey Devils, permission for a legal move like this is merely a formality.
Atlanta may not be down just one defenseman on Friday. Zach Bogosian missed practice on Wednesday with a slight upper-body injury. He practiced on Thursday, but did not take part in defensive drills. His status for Friday is up in the air.
If Bogosian can’t go, Atlanta seemingly would need to keep both Freddy Meyer and Boris Valabik on the 23-man roster.
Eric Boulton has watched Atlanta’s first three games from the press box. All indications are that he may be joined there by Niclas Bergfors on Friday. Bergfors was taken off of a regular line on Wednesday and skated with Boulton the last two days of practice.
Chris Mason will get the start between the pipes for the Thrashers.
Atlanta faces an Anaheim team that has struggled this season. The club has been outshot by an average of 46-26 in their first four games and had two goals in their first three games. However, they are coming off of a 4-3 win in their home opener against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday where they were only outshot 39-32.
However, the Ducks’ defense should get a bit of a boost with the return of blueliner Toni Lydman. Lydman, who missed most of training camp with a case of double vision, was medically cleared to return to action. He is a stay-at-home defender who makes smart plays on the ice.
Remember folks, this game will not be televised on basic cable back in Atlanta. You will need digital cable or access to the NHL’s Center Ice package in order to watch the game from Anaheim’s feed. Center Ice is free until October 24 on most cable and satellite systems.
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