NHL Preview: ThrashersBy Rich Carlson 2005 record: 41-33-8 (90 points) 2005 offense rank: T-5th (3.37 goals per game) 2005 defense rank: 24th (3.29 goals allowed per game) Overview: Atlanta has one of the most dynamic first lines in hockey, with LW Ilya Kovalchuk, RW Marian Hossa and C Bobby Holik. Kovalchuk and Hossa are consistent 40-goal scorers, and will need to continue their offensive production to offset the loss of RW Peter Bondra and C Marc Savard, who was the team's second-leading scorer in 2005 with 97 points. LW Slava Kozlov, who scored 25 goals in 2005, could step into the scoring role vacated by Savard. Atlanta's power play ranked 7th in the league last year with an 18.9% conversion rate, but losing playmaker Savard and sniper Bondra will hurt its man-advantage attack. The Thrashers' defense ranked a dismal 24th in the NHL in goals allowed, but much of the blame lies with the goaltenders rather than the defenders. Niclas Havelid is an emerging star defender, Andy Sutton and Craig de Vries are solid on the blue line, and the Thrashers believe rookie D Braydon Coburn can be a star. Atlanta's penalty killing ranked 25th in the league last year, and that must improve if the Thrashers are to make any noise in the Southeast Division. Atlanta's goalkeeping situation was very unsettled in 2005, as projected No. 1 G Kari Lehtonen only played in 38 games, while backup Dunham was only able to play in 17 games. To help solidify their goaltending corps, the Thrashers signed Brathwaite and Hedberg in the offseason. wagerweb.com odds: +4800 to win the Stanley Cup --- by Rich Carlson at wagerweb.com on September 26, 2006
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