2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers season
The 2007–08 Atlanta Thrashers season began on October 5, 2007. It was the Atlanta Thrashers' ninth season in the National Hockey League.
Key dates prior to the start of the season:
- The 2007 NHL Entry Draft took place in Columbus, Ohio, on June 22–23.
- The free agency period began on July 1.
Regular season
On December 23, 2007, Marian Hossa scored just 19 seconds into overtime to give Atlanta a 3–2 road win over the St. Louis Blues. Hossa tied Martin Erat, who also scored 15 seconds into the overtime period of the Predators' November 15, 2007, 5–4 home win over the Chicago Blackhawks, for the fastest overtime goal of the 2007–08 regular season.
Excluding six shootout goals, the Thrashers allowed 266 goals, tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning for the most in the NHL.
Divisional standings
Conference standings
Schedule and results
October
Record: 4–8–0; Home: 1–3–0; Road: 3–5–0# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
1 | October 5 | Washington | 3 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,707 | 0–1–0 | 0 | |
2 | October 6 | Atlanta | 2 – 5 | Tampa Bay | Hedberg | 19,220 | 0–2–0 | 0 | |
3 | October 10 | Ottawa | 3 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 12,751 | 0–3–0 | 0 | |
4 | October 11 | Atlanta | 0 – 6 | Buffalo | Lehtonen | 18,690 | 0–4–0 | 0 | |
5 | October 13 | New Jersey | 6 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 15,606 | 0–5–0 | 0 | |
6 | October 16 | Atlanta | 0 – 4 | Philadelphia | Hedberg | 18,933 | 0–6–0 | 0 | |
7 | October 18 | NY Rangers | 3 – 5 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 14,076 | 1–6–0 | 2 | |
8 | October 20 | Atlanta | 2 – 6 | Tampa Bay | Hedberg | 19,420 | 1–7–0 | 2 | |
9 | October 23 | Atlanta | 5 – 4 | Toronto | SO | Hedberg | 19,210 | 2–7–0 | 4 |
10 | October 25 | Atlanta | 0 – 3 | Nashville | Hedberg | 13,383 | 2–8–0 | 4 | |
11 | October 27 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | Chicago | Hedberg | 15,789 | 3–8–0 | 6 | |
12 | October 30 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | Montreal | SO | Hedberg | 21,273 | 4–8–0 | 8 |
November
Record: 7–5–0; Home: 3–3–0; Road: 4–2–0# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
13 | November 1 | Atlanta | 4 – 6 | Ottawa | Pavelec | 18,538 | 4–9–0 | 8 | |
14 | November 3 | Atlanta | 6 – 4 | Tampa Bay | Pavelec | 19,155 | 5–9–0 | 10 | |
15 | November 6 | Washington | 1 – 2 | Atlanta | OT | Pavelec | 15,530 | 6–9–0 | 12 |
16 | November 9 | Atlanta | 4 – 1 | Florida | Pavelec | 14,268 | 7–9–0 | 14 | |
17 | November 10 | Carolina | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Pavelec | 18,545 | 7–10–0 | 14 | |
18 | November 13 | Florida | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 12,599 | 8–10–0 | 16 |
19 | November 16 | Atlanta | 3 – 0 | Carolina | Hedberg | 14,632 | 9–10–0 | 18 | |
20 | November 19 | Tampa Bay | 3 – 4 | Atlanta | OT | Hedberg | 13,419 | 10–10–0 | 20 |
21 | November 21 | Atlanta | 5 – 1 | Washington | Hedberg | 11,669 | 11–10–0 | 22 | |
22 | November 23 | New Jersey | 3 – 0 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 18,545 | 11–11–0 | 22 | |
23 | November 24 | Atlanta | 0 – 5 | Pittsburgh | Pavelec | 17,132 | 11–12–0 | 22 | |
24 | November 29 | Toronto | 4 – 2 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 14,031 | 11–13–0 | 22 |
December
Record: 8–7–1; Home: 6–3–0; Road: 2–4–1# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
25 | December 1 | Atlanta | 4 – 0 | NY Islanders | Lehtonen | 15,355 | 12–13–0 | 24 | |
26 | December 2 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | New Jersey | SO | Hedberg | 14,978 | 12–13–1 | 25 |
27 | December 5 | NY Islanders | 3 – 4 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 14,018 | 13–13–1 | 27 |
28 | December 7 | NY Rangers | 2 – 4 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 18,204 | 14–13–1 | 29 | |
29 | December 8 | Atlanta | 3 – 6 | Washington | Lehtonen | 14,014 | 14–14–1 | 29 | |
30 | December 12 | Boston | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 14,265 | 14–15–1 | 29 | |
31 | December 14 | Toronto | 4 – 0 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,424 | 14–16–1 | 29 | |
32 | December 15 | Atlanta | 3 – 7 | Ottawa | Hedberg | 20,082 | 14–17–1 | 29 | |
33 | December 18 | Tampa Bay | 2 – 6 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,060 | 15–17–1 | 31 | |
34 | December 20 | Ottawa | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,085 | 16–17–1 | 33 | |
35 | December 22 | Montreal | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 17,153 | 17–17–1 | 35 |
36 | December 23 | Atlanta | 3 – 2 | St. Louis | OT | Lehtonen | 17,731 | 18–17–1 | 37 |
37 | December 26 | Atlanta | 0 – 2 | Columbus | Lehtonen | 15,726 | 18–18–1 | 37 | |
38 | December 27 | Florida | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,080 | 18–19–1 | 37 | |
39 | December 29 | Boston | 0 – 5 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,545 | 19–19–1 | 39 | |
40 | December 31 | Atlanta | 2 – 5 | Boston | Lehtonen | 17,565 | 19–20–1 | 39 |
January
Record: 5–4–3; Home: 3–2–2; Road: 2–2–1# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
41 | January 2 | Atlanta | 5 – 4 | Carolina | OT | Hedberg | 13,506 | 20–20–1 | 41 |
42 | January 4 | Carolina | 4 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,097 | 20–21–1 | 41 | |
43 | January 6 | Buffalo | 2 – 5 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 15,213 | 21–21–1 | 43 | |
44 | January 8 | Philadelphia | 4 – 1 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 13,047 | 21–22–1 | 43 | |
45 | January 10 | Florida | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 14,805 | 21–22–2 | 44 |
46 | January 12 | Pittsburgh | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 18,545 | 22–22–2 | 46 |
47 | January 15 | Atlanta | 5 – 1 | Detroit | Lehtonen | 17,408 | 23–22–2 | 48 | |
48 | January 17 | Montreal | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 16,181 | 23–22–3 | 49 |
49 | January 18 | Atlanta | 1 – 10 | Buffalo | Hedberg | 18,690 | 23–23–3 | 49 | |
50 | January 20 | Edmonton | 4 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,683 | 23–24–3 | 49 | |
51 | January 22 | Atlanta | 0 – 4 | NY Rangers | Lehtonen | 18,200 | 23–25–3 | 49 | |
52 | January 24 | Atlanta | 1 – 2 | NY Rangers | SO | Hedberg | 18,200 | 23–25–4 | 50 |
53 | January 30 | Pittsburgh | 1 – 4 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 14,070 | 24–25–4 | 52 |
February
Record: 4–6–2; Home: 3–3–0; Road: 1–4–2# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
54 | February 1 | Buffalo | 4 – 5 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 17,064 | 25–25–4 | 54 |
55 | February 2 | Atlanta | 2 – 0 | Washington | Lehtonen | 26–25–4 | 56 | ||
56 | February 5 | Philadelphia | 3 – 2 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 15,082 | 26–26–4 | 56 | |
57 | February 7 | Vancouver | 2 – 1 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,813 | 26–27–4 | 56 | |
58 | February 9 | Tampa Bay | 1 – 2 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 18,879 | 27–27–4 | 58 |
59 | February 13 | Washington | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Lehtonen | 15,285 | 28–27–4 | 60 |
60 | February 15 | Atlanta | 4 – 3 | New Jersey | SO | Hedberg | 14,475 | 29–27–4 | 62 |
61 | February 16 | Atlanta | 1 – 4 | NY Islanders | Lehtonen | 16,234 | 29–28–4 | 62 | |
62 | February 21 | Atlanta | 3 – 5 | Carolina | Lehtonen | 13,548 | 29–29–4 | 62 | |
63 | February 23 | Atlanta | 1 – 3 | Toronto | Lehtonen | 19,390 | 29–30–4 | 62 | |
64 | February 26 | Atlanta | 1 – 5 | Montreal | Lehtonen | 21,273 | 29–31–4 | 62 | |
65 | February 28 | NY Islanders | 5 – 4 | Atlanta | OT | Lehtonen | 16,332 | 29–31–5 | 63 |
March
Record:2–4–2; Home:2–3–0; Road:0–1–3# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
66 | March 1 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Boston | OT | Hedberg | 17,565 | 29–31–6 | 64 |
67 | March 2 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Pittsburgh | SO | Lehtonen | 17,132 | 29–31–7 | 65 |
68 | March 5 | Carolina | 6 – 3 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 13,032 | 29–32–7 | 65 | |
69 | March 7 | Minnesota | 2 – 3 | Atlanta | SO | Hedberg | 18,709 | 30–32–7 | 67 |
70 | March 8 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Florida | OT | Lehtonen | 16,614 | 30–32–8 | 68 |
71 | March 11 | Colorado | 5 – 2 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 14,089 | 30–33–8 | 69 | |
72 | March 13 | Calgary | 4 – 6 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 16,244 | 31–33–8 | 70 | |
73 | March 14 | Atlanta | 1 – 4 | Washington | Lehtonen | 18,208 | 31–34–8 | 70 | |
74 | March 16 | Atlanta | 1 – 3 | Florida | Hedberg | 15,704 | 31–35–8 | 70 | |
75 | March 18 | Atlanta | 2 – 3 | Philadelphia | Lehtonen | 19,564 | 31–36–8 | 70 | |
76 | March 19 | Carolina | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Hedberg | 13,251 | 31–37–8 | 70 | |
77 | March 21 | Washington | 5 – 3 | Atlanta | Lehtonen | 18,562 | 31–38–8 | 70 | |
78 | March 27 | Atlanta | 3 - 2 | Florida | 32–38–8 | 72 | |||
79 | March 28 | Atlanta | 1 - 7 | Carolina | 32–39–8 | 72 | |||
80 | March 31 | Atlanta | 2 - 0 | Tampa Bay | 33–39–8 | 74 |
April
Record:1-1-0; Home:1-1-0; Road:0-0-0# | Date | Visitor | Score | Home | OT | Decision | Attendance | Record | Pts |
81 | April 1 | Florida | 3 - 2 | Atlanta | 33–40–8 | 74 | |||
82 | April 5 | Tampa Bay | 1 - 4 | Atlanta | 34–40–8 | 76 |
Playoffs
A year after winning the Southeast Division, the Thrashers failed to qualify for the playoffs.Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutesGoaltenders
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice ; W = Wins; L = Losses; OT = Overtime/shootout losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against averageAwards and records
Records
Milestones
Transactions
The Thrashers have been involved in the following transactions during the 2007–08 season.Trades
Free agents
Player | Former team | Contract terms |
Todd White | Minnesota Wild | 4 years, $9.5 million |
Eric Perrin | Tampa Bay Lightning | 2 years, $1.15. million |
Ken Klee | Colorado Avalanche | 2 years, $2.5 million |
Alexandre Giroux | Washington Capitals | 2 years, $925,000 |
Player | New team |
Jon Sim | New York Islanders |
Greg de Vries | Nashville Predators |
Eric Belanger | Minnesota Wild |
Shane Hnidy | Anaheim Ducks |
Derek MacKenzie | Columbus Blue Jackets |
Andy Sutton | New York Islanders |
Draft picks
Atlanta's picks at the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in Columbus, Ohio.Round | # | Player | Position | Nationality | College/junior/club team |
3 | 67 | Spencer Machacek | Right wing | Vancouver Giants | |
4 | 115 | Niclas Lucenius | Center | Tappara | |
6 | 175 | John Albert | Center | U.S. National Team Development Program | |
7 | 205 | Paul Postma | Defense | Swift Current Broncos |
Atlanta will pick third in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, behind the Tampa Bay Lightning and Los Angeles Kings, after failing to move up in the draft lottery. The Thrashers will also have the first round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins, received in the trade for Marian Hossa.