2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers season

The 2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers season was the 24th season of play for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 22, 1979, and 32nd season for the organization overall.

The season began with the highest expectations in franchise history, even with the off-season loss of their second-leading scorer, Marc Savard, to the Boston Bruins. Veteran centers Steve Rucchin, Niko Kapanen and Jon Sim were acquired in hopes help fill the loss of Savard. With NHL superstars Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk and a healthy goaltender, Kari Lehtonen, the Thrashers clinched the first playoff berth in franchise history following the Toronto Maple Leafs' 7–2 loss to the New York Rangers on April 1. They were eliminated from the playoffs on April 18, being swept by the Rangers in four straight games in the quarterfinals.

Regular season

Season standings

Playoffs The Thrashers qualified for the post-season for the first time in franchise history, while also capturing their first Southeast Division championship. Atlanta headed into the playoffs as the 3rd seed in the Eastern Conference. The Thrashers had a highly disappointing playoff series against the New York Rangers, as they were upset in a four-game sweep with losses of 4–3, 2–1, 7–0, and 4–2.

Schedule and results

Regular season

| 1 || October 5 || Tampa Bay || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 17,269 || 0–0–1 || 1 ||

| 2 || October 7 || Florida || 0 – 6 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,239 || 1–0–1 || 3 ||

| 3 || October 9 || Atlanta || 1 – 0 || Tampa Bay || || Lehtonen || 19,817 || 2–0–1 || 5 ||

| 4 || October 11 || Boston || 1 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 12,579 || 3–0–1 || 7 ||

| 5 || October 13 || Carolina || 4 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 13,106 || 3–1–1 || 7 ||

| 6 || October 14 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || Washington || OT || Lehtonen || 11,995 || 4–1–1 || 9 ||

| 7 || October 19 || Washington || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 12,719 || 5–1–1 || 11 ||

| 8 || October 21 || Florida || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,178 || 6–1–1 || 13 ||

| 9 || October 23 || Atlanta || 6 – 3 || Florida || || Lehtonen || 13,102 || 7–1–1 || 15 ||

| 10 || October 25 || Atlanta || 4 – 5 || Carolina || OT || Lehtonen || 15,008 || 7–1–2 || 16 ||

| 11 || October 26 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || SO || Lehtonen || 19,228 || 7–1–3 || 17 ||

| 12 || October 28 || Atlanta || 5 – 4 || Buffalo || SO || Lehtonen || 18,690 || 8–1–3 || 19 ||

| 13 || October 30 || Atlanta || 2 – 4 || Toronto || || Lehtonen || 19,285 || 8–2–3 || 19 ||

| 14 || November 1 || Carolina || 5 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,277 || 8–3–3 || 19 ||

| 15 || November 3 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || Washington || || Hedberg || 12,834 || 9–3–3 || 21 ||

| 16 || November 4 || Atlanta || 4 – 1 || NY Islanders || || Hedberg || 12,394 || 10–3–3 || 23 ||

| 17 || November 6 || Boston || 3 – 5 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 14,084 || 11–3–3 || 25 ||

| 18 || November 8 || Ottawa || 4 – 5 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,253 || 12–3–3 || 27 ||

| 19 || November 10 || NY Rangers || 5 – 2|| Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,545 || 12–4–3 || 27 ||

| 20 || November 11 || Atlanta || 3 – 5 || Tampa Bay || || Lehtonen || 20,034 || 12–5–3 || 27 ||

| 21 || November 17 || Dallas || 5 – 3 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 18,545 || 12–6–3 || 27 ||

| 22 || November 18 || Atlanta || 1 – 3 || Montreal || || Hedberg || 21,273 || 12–7–3 || 27 ||

| 23 || November 22 || Atlanta || 4 – 2 || Washington || || Hedberg || 11,284 || 13–7–3 || 29 ||

| 24 || November 24 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Tampa Bay || OT || Lehtonen || 19,922 || 13–7–4 || 30 ||

| 25 || November 25 || Florida || 0 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 17,053 || 14–7–4 || 32 ||

| 26 || November 28 || Atlanta || 5 – 4 || NY Rangers || OT || Lehtonen || 18,200 || 15–7–4 || 34 ||

| 27 || November 30 || Toronto || 0 – 5 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 15,092 || 16–7–4 || 36 ||

| 28 || December 2 || Atlanta || 3 – 1 || Florida || || Lehtonen || 13,333 || 17–7–4 || 38 ||

| 29 || December 5 || Atlanta || 5 – 2 || Toronto || || Hedberg || 19,507 || 18–7–4 || 40 ||

| 30 || December 7 || Atlanta || 0 – 8 || Tampa Bay || || Lehtonen || 17,704 || 18–8–4 || 40 ||

| 31 || December 9 || Pittsburgh || 4 – 3 || Atlanta || OT || Lehtonen || 18,687 || 18–8–5 || 41 ||

| 32 || December 13 || Anaheim || 2 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,028 || 18–9–5 || 41 ||

| 33 || December 15 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Lehtonen || 16,920 || 18–9–6 || 42 ||

| 34 || December 16 || Atlanta || 0 – 6 || NY Islanders || || Hedberg || 10,452 || 18–10–6 || 42 ||

| 35 || December 19 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || New Jersey || SO || Lehtonen || 10,116 || 19–10–6 || 44 ||

| 36 || December 21 || Pittsburgh || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 17,328 || 20–10–6 || 46 ||

| 37 || December 23 || New Jersey || 2 – 5 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 17,548 || 21–10–6 || 48 ||

| 38 || December 26 || Tampa Bay || 1 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,356 || 22–10–6 || 50 ||

| 39 || December 27 || Atlanta || 4 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || Lehtonen || 17,132 || 23–10–6 || 52 ||

| 40 || December 30 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || Buffalo || || Lehtonen || 18,690 || 23–11–6 || 52 ||

| 41 || January 1 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Ottawa || OT || Lehtonen || 19,707 || 24–11–6 || 54 ||

| 42 || January 2 || Atlanta || 1 – 5 || Minnesota || || Lehtonen || 18,568 || 24–12–6 || 54 ||

| 43 || January 5 || Phoenix || 5 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 18,545 || 24–12–7 || 55 ||

| 44 || January 6 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Washington || OT || Lehtonen || 15,642 || 24–12–8 || 56 ||

| 45 || January 9 || Atlanta || 2 – 4 || Montreal || || Lehtonen || 21,273 || 24–13–8 || 56 ||

| 46 || January 12 || Atlanta || 1 – 2 || New Jersey || || Lehtonen || 13,249 || 24–14–8 || 56 ||

| 47 || January 13 || Atlanta || 4 – 3 || Carolina || SO || Lehtonen || 18,639 || 25–14–8 || 58 ||

| 48 || January 16 || Los Angeles || 2 – 6 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 13,205 || 26–14–8 || 60 ||

| 49 || January 18 || Montreal || 4 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,025 || 26–15–8 || 60 ||

| 50 || January 20 || Atlanta || 3 – 1 || NY Rangers || || Lehtonen || 18,200 || 27–15–8 || 62 ||

| 51 || January 26 || NY Islanders || 4 – 5 || Atlanta || OT || Lehtonen || 18,089 || 28–15–8 || 64 ||

| 52 || January 28 || Philadelphia || 2 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,598 || 28–16–8 || 64 ||

| 53 || January 30 || New Jersey || 4 – 5 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 12,162 || 29–16–8 || 66 ||

| 54 || February 1 || NY Islanders || 5 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 13,543 || 29–17–8 || 66 ||

| 55 || February 3 || Philadelphia || 5 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,622 || 29–18–8 || 66 ||

| 56 || February 6 || Buffalo || 4 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 17,881 || 29–18–9 || 67 ||

| 57 || February 8 || Atlanta || 6 – 3 || Colorado || || Lehtonen || 17,428 || 30–18–9 || 69 ||

| 58 || February 10 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Vancouver || || Lehtonen || 18,630 || 30–19–9 || 69 ||

| 59 || February 11 || Atlanta || 1 – 5 || Edmonton || || Hedberg || 16,839 || 30–20–9 || 69 ||

| 60 || February 13 || Atlanta || 1 – 4 || Calgary || || Lehtonen || 19,289 || 30–21–9 || 69 ||

| 61 || February 17 || Atlanta || 3 – 5 || Ottawa || || Lehtonen || 19,881 || 30–22–9 || 69 ||

| 62 || February 20 || Atlanta || 3 – 1 || Carolina || || Hedberg || 16,228 || 31–22–9 || 71 ||

| 63 || February 22 || Tampa Bay || 5 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 16,032 || 31–22–10 || 72 ||

| 64 || February 24 || Carolina || 4 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,774 || 31–23–10 || 72 ||

| 65 || February 26 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Boston || || Lehtonen || 16,417 || 32–23–10 || 74 ||

| 66 || March 2 || Ottawa || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,190 || 33–23–10 || 76 ||

| 67 || March 4 || Carolina || 1 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 17,783 || 34–23–10 || 78 ||

| 68 || March 6 || Florida || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 12,566 || 35–23–10 || 80 ||

| 69 || March 8 || Montreal || 2 – 6 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,528 || 36–23–10 || 82 ||

| 70 || March 10 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Florida || || Lehtonen || 17,927 || 36–24–10 || 82 ||

| 71 || March 12 || Washington || 2 – 4 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 14,041 || 37–24–10 || 84 ||

| 72 || March 15 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Philadelphia || || Lehtonen || 19,122 || 37–25–10 || 84 ||

| 73 || March 16 || NY Rangers || 1 – 2 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 18,457 || 38–25–10 || 86 ||

| 74 || March 18 || Buffalo || 3 – 4 || Atlanta || OT || Lehtonen || 18,602 || 39–25–10 || 88 ||

| 75 || March 22 || San Jose || 5 – 1 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 16,367 || 39–26–10 || 88 ||

| 76 || March 24 || Atlanta || 1 – 2 || Pittsburgh || || Lehtonen || 17,132 || 39–27–10 || 88 ||

| 77 || March 28 || Atlanta || 2 – 3 || Florida || SO || Lehtonen || 12,864 || 39–27–11 || 89 ||

| 78 || March 29 || Toronto || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || OT || Hedberg || 17,062 || 40–27–11 || 91 ||

| 79 || March 31 || Atlanta || 3 – 2 || Boston || || Lehtonen || 16,218 || 41–27–11 || 93 ||

| 80 || April 4 || Washington || 3 – 2 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,783 || 41–28–11 || 93 ||

| 81 || April 6 || Atlanta || 4 – 1 || Carolina || || Hedberg || 17,158 || 42–28–11 || 95 ||

| 82 || April 7 || Tampa Bay || 2 – 3 || Atlanta || SO || Lehtonen || 18,756 || 43–28–11 || 97 ||

Legend:

Playoffs

| 1 ||April 12 || NY Rangers || 4 – 3 || Atlanta || || Lehtonen || 18,857 || 0–1 ||

| 2 ||April 14|| NY Rangers || 2 – 1 || Atlanta || || Hedberg || 18,803 || 0–2 ||

| 3 ||April 17|| Atlanta || 0 – 7 || NY Rangers || || Lehtonen || 18,200 || 0–3 ||

| 4 ||April 18|| Atlanta || 2 – 4 || NY Rangers || || Hedberg || 18,200 || 0–4 ||

Legend:

Player statistics

Scoring Position abbreviations: C = Center; D = Defense; G = Goaltender; LW = Left wing; RW = Right wing = Joined team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, signing) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Thrashers only. = Left team via a transaction (e.g., trade, waivers, release) during the season. Stats reflect time with the Thrashers only. Player Regular season Playoffs 18 RW 82 43 57 100 18 49 4 0 1 1 −6 6 13 LW 81 28 52 80 9 36 4 0 0 0 −6 6 17 LW 82 42 34 76 −2 66 4 1 1 2 −1 19 19 RW 69 12 24 36 −9 63 4 0 0 0 −2 4 14 LW 77 17 12 29 −1 60 4 0 0 0 −1 0 16 C 82 11 18 29 −3 86 4 0 1 1 0 0 9 C 57 12 16 28 9 20 7 D 82 3 21 24 −3 66 4 1 0 1 −2 4 20 C 47 5 16 21 −4 14 28 D 77 3 18 21 −2 52 4 0 2 2 −5 0 23 C 74 5 14 19 8 62 4 0 0 0 −2 2 5 D 46 4 12 16 4 24 25 D 55 2 14 16 6 76 4 0 0 0 −2 10 22 C 24 9 6 15 0 12 4 1 0 1 −6 12 8 LW 18 7 8 15 8 34 4 1 2 3 2 12 77 D 18 2 12 14 4 14 4 0 0 0 −4 4 29 LW 72 7 6 13 −11 39 4 0 2 2 1 0 11 RW 72 5 8 13 0 27 39 C 60 4 9 13 −12 20 34 D 72 5 7 12 15 63 4 1 0 1 −1 0 3 D 52 3 9 12 −5 31 2 D 58 2 8 10 2 56 4 0 0 0 −1 6 36 LW 45 3 4 7 2 49 4 0 0 0 −1 24 9 LW 17 3 2 5 −6 4 4 1 2 3 2 4 10 C 14 1 3 4 3 6 4 D 29 0 4 4 1 30 12 LW 3 1 0 1 0 0 1 G 21 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 0 0 32 G 68 0 1 1 6 2 0 0 0 0 6 D 3 0 1 1 1 0 38 RW 4 0 0 0 0 0 21 C 4 0 0 0 1 0

Goaltending Player Regular season Playoffs 32 Kari Lehtonen 68 34 24 9 2075 183 2.79 .912 4 3934 2 0 2 73 11 5.59 .849 0 118 1 Johan Hedberg 21 9 4 2 500 51 2.89 .898 0 1057 2 0 2 69 5 2.55 .928 0 117

Awards and records

Awards

TypeAward/honorRecipientRef League(in-season) NHL All-Star Game selection Bob Hartley (coach) Marian Hossa NHL First Star of the Week Ilya Kovalchuk (October 29) Vyacheslav Kozlov (November 12) Kari Lehtonen (March 4) NHL Second Star of the Month Ilya Kovalchuk (October) Marian Hossa (November) NHL Third Star of the Week Marian Hossa (December 3) NHL YoungStars Game selection Kari Lehtonen Team Community Service Award Scott Mellanby Dan Snyder Memorial Trophy Vyacheslav Kozlov Players' Player Award Johan Hedberg Team MVP Marian Hossa2014–15 Winnipeg Jets Media Guide, p.223 Three Stars of the Game Award Marian Hossa

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