Three goals in the first period of Game 1 got the 4th-seeded ’10-’11 Atlanta Thrashers off to good start. They took Game 1 by a final of 5-3 and defenseman Toby Enstrom helped lead the way from the point. He scored their game-winning goal in the second period and then set up their insurance goal halfway through the third period. The ’10-’11 Thrashers scored three goals in the first period of Game 2, as well. However, the 5th-seeded ’03-’04 Atlanta Thrashers put up a comeback after being down 5-1 late in the second period. Shawn McEachern scored a late goal in the second and again halfway through the third to bring the game to 5-3. Then, J.P. Vigier potted one to bring the ’03-’04 Thrashers within one. Less than a minute later, though, Nik Antropov would restore the two-goal lead for the ’10-’11 Thrashers and Ben Eager scored just over a minute left to ensure the victory and a 2-0 series lead.

The ’03-’04 Thrashers took an early 2-0 lead in the first period of Game 3 thanks to two goals from Ilya Kovalchuk, including a power play goal. After getting one back from Rob Schemp late in the opening period, the ’10-’11 Thrashers would score the next four goals, including three in the second period, and shutout the ’03-’04 Thrashers the rest of the way. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 47 of 49 shots in Game 3 for the win and a .959 SV%. In Game 4, a loss away from a sweep, the ’03-’04 Thrashers trailed 2-1 late in the third. However, a goal from Daniel Tjarnqvist tied it 2-2 at the 15:03 mark and then Vyacheslav Kozlov at the 17:44 mark would give them the lead. 3-2 would be the final. Pavelec would make sure that the series would not go to a sixth game by compiling 56 saves on 57 shots against for a .982 save percentage. Along with Pavelec’s stellar game, goals from Bryan Little, Rich Peverley and Andrew Ladd led the ’10-’11 Thrashers to a 3-1 win in Game 5 and a 4-1 series win. 

GAME 1:

GAME SUMMARY: ’10-’11 ATL – 5   ’03-’04 ATL – 4   (1-0 ’10-’11 ATL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: D – Toby Enstrom (’10-’11 ATL) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   4 S

2nd Star: RW – Anthony Stewart (’10-’11 ATL) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   2 S

3rd Star: RW – Blake Wheeler (’10-’11 ATL) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +1   3 S

GAME 2:

GAME SUMMARY: ’10-’11 ATL – 7   ’03-’04 ATL – 4   (2-0 ’10-’11 ATL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: C – Nik Antropov (’10-’11 ATL) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   +3   5 S

2nd Star: LW – Evander Kane (’10-’11 ATL) – 1 G   2 A   3 P   +3   8 S   2 PIM

3rd Star: C – Rich Peverley (’10-’11 ATL) – 2 G   1 A   3 P   Even   6 S

GAME 3:

GAME SUMMARY: ’10-’11 ATL – 5   ’03-’04 ATL – 2   (3-0 ’10-’11 ATL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Ondrej Pavelec (’10-’11 ATL) – W   2.00 GAA   .959 SV% (47 SV’s)

2nd Star: LW – Ilya Kovalchuk (’03-’04 ATL) – 2 G   0 A   2 P   Even   11 S

3rd Star: RW – Anthony Stewart (’10-’11 ATL) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +2   3 S

GAME 4:

GAME SUMMARY: ’03-’04 ATL – 3   ’10-’11 ATL – 2   (3-1 ’10-’11 ATL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Pasi Nurminen (’03-’04 ATL) – W   2.00 GAA   .960 SV% (48 SV’s)

2nd Star: LW – Vyacheslav Kozlov (’03-’04 ATL) – 1 G   1 A   2 P   +3   4 S

3rd Star: G – Ondrej Pavelec (’10-’11 ATL) – L   3.00 GAA   .933 SV% (42 SV’s)

GAME 5:

GAME SUMMARY: ’10-’11 ATL – 3   ’03-’04 ATL – 1   (4-1 ’10-’11 ATL)

STARS OF THE GAME:

1st Star: G – Ondrej Pavelec (’10-’11 ATL) – W   1.00 GAA   .982 SV% (56 SV’s)

2nd Star: G – Pasi Nurminen (’03-’04 ATL) – L   3.00 GAA   .956 SV% (65 SV’s)

3rd Star: RW – Blake Wheeler (’10-’11 ATL) – 0 G   2 A   2 P   +2   6 S   2 PIM

We are now halfway through the 1st Round of the 2015 Atlanta Thrashers Qualifying Tournament. Up next, tomorrow, is the 2-7 matchup between the ’05-’06 Atlanta Thrashers, who represented the franchise in the inaugural Ultimate NHL Playoff, and the ’07-’08 Atlanta Thrashers.