manny
01-17-2006, 08:28 AM
Petrovicky, Larsen practice
Bondra also close to return
By JOHN MANASSO (jmanasso@<hidden>)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/17/06 Injured forwards Ronald Petrovicky and Brad Larsen are expected to play with the Thrashers on their two-game trip to Dallas and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday.
Right wing Peter Bondra is not far behind, coach Bob Hartley said Monday.
http://www.ajc.com/shared-local/images/1pix_trans.gifAll three participated in practice Monday for the first time since being injured, although Larsen took part in the team's morning skate Friday before being sent to Chicago (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
While they, along with center Bobby Holik (broken foot), have been injured, Hartley has had to rely more on call-ups from the minor leagues, as well as Eric Boulton, who averages only 4:30 per game and sat for 10 of 28 games before Larsen went out.
With the team 12-2-3 since Dec. 9 to pull into seventh in the Eastern Conference — one point behind sixth-place Toronto — Hartley said the return of those players will create internal competition to keep the team sharp.
"It's not to disrupt anything," he said. "It's mainly from an accountability factor. Right now we're in a situation that we're going to be good, especially at this time of the year. Hard work obviously has to be our No. 1 priority, and respecting the team game, and I think we've done that.
"So I think it's going to keep everyone on their toes. There's only a certain amount of ice time. In order to get everyone going the right way, some people will have to fight for their ice time and fight to get some, and some others will have to fight to keep some."
Petrovicky strained an oblique muscle Jan. 4 at Carolina but missed only four games. At the time, he was playing on the team's top line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Marc Savard. Scott Mellanby has filled in at right wing in Petrovicky's absence.
Larsen, who has spent his career battling groin injuries, has missed 12 games with a groin strain that he injured Dec. 19 in practice. At the time, he had been a mainstay on an effective checking line with J.P. Vigier and Holik, who got hurt on New Year's Day.
Bondra, who turns 38 in a few weeks, has been out the longest — 19 games — after straining groin and abdominal muscles Dec. 3 at Anaheim. When Bondra got hurt, his 13 goals and 15 assists in 27 games ranked him fourth on the team in points.
At the end of Monday's practice, Hartley put the team through rigorous skating drills. Hartley said he would put Bondra through more today after practice, and that he would work with strength and conditioning coach Ray Bear while the team is away.
Asked if Bondra could return for Saturday's home game with Tampa Bay, Hartley responded, "Could be."
Bondra said he was relieved he did not need surgery that would have been "devastating to my career."
Initially, he realized the injury created questions regarding his participation in the Olympics for Slovakia next month. This likely will be Bondra's last chance for the Olympics.
"My goal is to get back, play a decent amount of games and go to the Olympics," he said.
NEXT FOR THRASHERS
• Opponent: Dallas Stars
• When; where: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday; American Airlines Center, Dallas
• Radio: 680 AM
Bondra also close to return
By JOHN MANASSO (jmanasso@<hidden>)
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 01/17/06 Injured forwards Ronald Petrovicky and Brad Larsen are expected to play with the Thrashers on their two-game trip to Dallas and Los Angeles on Wednesday and Thursday.
Right wing Peter Bondra is not far behind, coach Bob Hartley said Monday.
http://www.ajc.com/shared-local/images/1pix_trans.gifAll three participated in practice Monday for the first time since being injured, although Larsen took part in the team's morning skate Friday before being sent to Chicago (AHL) on a conditioning assignment.
While they, along with center Bobby Holik (broken foot), have been injured, Hartley has had to rely more on call-ups from the minor leagues, as well as Eric Boulton, who averages only 4:30 per game and sat for 10 of 28 games before Larsen went out.
With the team 12-2-3 since Dec. 9 to pull into seventh in the Eastern Conference — one point behind sixth-place Toronto — Hartley said the return of those players will create internal competition to keep the team sharp.
"It's not to disrupt anything," he said. "It's mainly from an accountability factor. Right now we're in a situation that we're going to be good, especially at this time of the year. Hard work obviously has to be our No. 1 priority, and respecting the team game, and I think we've done that.
"So I think it's going to keep everyone on their toes. There's only a certain amount of ice time. In order to get everyone going the right way, some people will have to fight for their ice time and fight to get some, and some others will have to fight to keep some."
Petrovicky strained an oblique muscle Jan. 4 at Carolina but missed only four games. At the time, he was playing on the team's top line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Marc Savard. Scott Mellanby has filled in at right wing in Petrovicky's absence.
Larsen, who has spent his career battling groin injuries, has missed 12 games with a groin strain that he injured Dec. 19 in practice. At the time, he had been a mainstay on an effective checking line with J.P. Vigier and Holik, who got hurt on New Year's Day.
Bondra, who turns 38 in a few weeks, has been out the longest — 19 games — after straining groin and abdominal muscles Dec. 3 at Anaheim. When Bondra got hurt, his 13 goals and 15 assists in 27 games ranked him fourth on the team in points.
At the end of Monday's practice, Hartley put the team through rigorous skating drills. Hartley said he would put Bondra through more today after practice, and that he would work with strength and conditioning coach Ray Bear while the team is away.
Asked if Bondra could return for Saturday's home game with Tampa Bay, Hartley responded, "Could be."
Bondra said he was relieved he did not need surgery that would have been "devastating to my career."
Initially, he realized the injury created questions regarding his participation in the Olympics for Slovakia next month. This likely will be Bondra's last chance for the Olympics.
"My goal is to get back, play a decent amount of games and go to the Olympics," he said.
NEXT FOR THRASHERS
• Opponent: Dallas Stars
• When; where: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday; American Airlines Center, Dallas
• Radio: 680 AM