Thrashers’ five must-see dates: February-March-April

Aug 02 2008

Published by bud006 at 11:00 pm under Uncategorized Edit This

By Bud L. Ellis
thrashers.today.com

We conclude our look at the Thrashers’ 2008-09 schedule today with five must-see games during the final three months of the season:

Feb. 15, Thrashers at Ducks: A killer stretch of four straight West Coast road games begins in Anaheim. The Ducks won 47 games last season after winning the Stanley Cup the previous season.

Feb. 21, Thrashers at Sharks: A 4 p.m. Saturday start for the final game of the West Coast swing pits the Thrashers against the second-best team in the league last season (108 points). Joe Thornton is one of the top players in the league, and the Sharks gave up the second-fewest goals in the NHL last season.

March 8, Flames at Thrashers: Whenever Calgary returns to the city where the franchise played from 1972-1980, plenty of fans – and quite a few former Flames who made their homes in the Atlanta area after their playing days – reminisce about the eight seasons the Flames called Atlanta home. Nostalgia aside, it’s a chance for Atlanta fans to see Jarome Iginla, one of the top players in the NHL.

March 20, Red Wings at Thrashers: Not only is it the defending Stanley Cup champions’ only visit to Philips Arena this season, it’s Marian Hossa’s return to Atlanta. Expect a warm ovation for Hoss, and plenty of folks wearing Wings’ jerseys in the seats.

April 11, Lightning at Thrashers: Two years ago, these two teams met in the final game of the regular season, the Thrashers winning to finish off the most successful regular season in franchise history. Maybe this game will mean something this time around; both teams hope so, as both Tampa Bay and Atlanta were at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season.