Anssi Salmela News

Shean Donovan of the Ottawa Senators skates by Anssi Salmela of the Atlanta Thrashers during first period action at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, October 10, 2009.

There was no Boris Valabik to get under Sidney Crosby's skin Saturday. The Thrashers defenseman is on a rehab assignment in Chicago after ankle surgery.

It took the Thrashers most of last season to adjust to new coach John Anderson 's system.

's absence --- most of it from their defensemen. The team's last seven goals have come from blueliners.

On Sunday night, the Thrashers hosted the St. Louis Blues in the Philips Arena. It's surprising just a few days ago I had written that the Thrashers needed to change up their defensive pairings, which would guide them to better defense and wins.

The Thrashers were willing to try anything to break their four-game home losing streak.

The Atlanta Thrashers will be raising Kane with the Russians as the road warrior Thrashers take on the New York Islanders on Saturday night .

Also on the active roster : D Anssi Salmela, G Johan Hedberg. Live Scoreboard Puck-rakers Blog Dispatch Blue Jackets beat reporters Aaron Portzline and Tom Reed keep you up to date with news and notes from on the ice and off.

A quick report from Thursday's morning skate. Nik Antropov participated in the skateA after missing three straight practices with a "nagging groin injury." Before the skate, goalie Johan Hedberg made defenseman Anssi Salmela get in goal so he could take a penalty shot.

Life without Ilya Kovalchuk begins now. The Thrashers host Washington Thursday, their first game without their star captain Kovalchuk, who is expected to miss four weeks with a broken bone in his right foot.

Evander Kane isn't at all surprised that he's in the NHL at just 18 years old and, according to the precocious Atlanta Thrashers rookie left wing, you shouldn't be either.

The Thrashers lost more than a game Saturday. They lost Ilya Kovalchuk. Hyosub Shin, hshin@ajc.com Thrashers forward Rich Peverley maintains possession of the puck as Sharks' forward Ryan Vesce moves in.

The Little-White-Russian line is back. Just back from the morning skate for tonight's key early season matchup between the Thrashers and Capitals.

The Thrasher won Saturday 4-2. They won Friday 4-2 in New Jersey. They lost 4-2 in Ottawa the game before that and won 4-2 in St.

There were plenty of people waiting to see Max Afinogenov when he returned to Buffalo on Saturday.

It's early in the season, but the Thrashers' attention to its penalty-kill unit is paying some dividends.

Yes, they still play hockey in Atlanta. The Atlanta Thrashers resume their 2008-09 schedule with a Friday night tilt against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center .

The game started wide open, but then Canada's capital city clamed down Hotlanta's offense.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored a pair of goals as Atlanta spoiled the home-opener for St.

ATLANTA The Atlanta Thrashers made a roster move on Tuesday, assigning forward Josh Gratton to the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League.