Thrashers back home for two-game homestand
By Bud L. Ellis Back home after winning the final two games of a tough four-game early-season road trip, the Atlanta Thrashers have plenty of reason to smile.This young team, devoid of stars but full – at this early stage of the season – of tough, team-minded players, got another reason to be happy on Tuesday, when goaltender Ondrej Pavelec returned to practice. Pavelec dropped to the ice just two minutes into Atlanta’s season opener Oct. 8 at Philips Arena. It looked far worse than it was: Pavelec fainted, nothing caused by any major medical issue. He did suffer a concussion when his head hit the ice, but he was back at practice Tuesday. His team comes into a two-game homestand starting Wednesday against Buffalo feeling good. The Thrashers beat Anaheim in a shootout on Friday, then won for the first time at San Jose on Saturday. Atlanta plays host to Tampa Bay Friday, then travels to Washington on Saturday. —30—
