Thrasher earns spot on the scoring line

It wasn't the original plan to put Max Afinogenov with his Russian speaking counterparts on the Thrashers' top line. But he earned his way there --- quickly. The castoff from Buffalo, who made the Thrashers' roster on a pro tryout, has six goals and 10 assists this season. Three of the goals were highlight-reel worthy, prime examples of Afinogenov's speed and puck-handling skills. Along with Ilya Kovalchuk and Nik Antropov, the trio has developed into a potent scoring line for the Thrashers . Kovalchuk (17 points) and Afinogenov and Antropov (16 points each) are second and tied for third on the team in scoring. They have combined for six goals and seven assists in the past two games since Kovalchuk returned after missing six contests with a broken bone in his foot. "We originally thought it would be better for him to play with [Slava Kozlov]," Thrashers coach John Anderson said. "The way the injuries went and this and that, it ended up that way. He played well enough for me to have that confidence in him. ... He deserves that spot because that's not where he started off. He's gotten better and better." Afinogenov and Kovlachuk had two goals and two assists apiece in Friday's 7-0 win over Los Angeles. Afinogenov assisted on both of Kovalchuk's goals and Kovalchuk assisted on both on Afinogenov's goals. "He's unbelievable," Afinogenov said of Kovalchuk. "He can create for himself, set up his point partners. It's nice to play with him. The same with [Antropov]. He's playing very well. When you are open, he gets you the puck. It's unbelievable to play with those guys." The Thrashers are getting their money's worth from Afinogenov, who signed a one-year, $800,000 contract after making the roster. He already has as many goals and only four fewer assists than he had all of last season in Buffalo, when he played in only 48 games because of injuries. In nine seasons with the Sabres, the team that drafted him in the third round of the 1997 NHL draft, Afinogenov had 334 points (134 goals, 200 assists). Buffalo did not re-sign him, and he went searching for a team. Sabres fans even booed him on his return as a Thrasher earlier this year. The Thrashers offered more than a second chance. There was familiarity even this far from Russia. "Two things happened," Anderson said. "One, he had something to prove. He had a very down year last year. The second thing is, I think he feels comfortable, not so much in the Atlanta Thrashers environment, but certainly playing with [Kovalchuk] and [Antropov]." The trio talks to each other in Russian during games. Afinogenov says they will speak in their native language to set up plays before a faceoff. "We are getting better and better every day and having a lot more fun," he said. With the top line back in place, Anderson is able to strengthen the depth of his other lines. Leading scorer Rich Peverley has moved back to center Colby Armstrong and Evander Kane. The opposition can't send out its checking line to face just the Thrashers' top line. The Thrashers have other weapons. Afinogenov, who has a plus-minus rating of plus-1 this season, has recently started to see time on the Thrashers' penalty killing unit. The Moscow native might be a bargain this season but what about next season? Afinogenov said he likes playing for the Thrashers , but doesn't know what the future holds for his career. "Thank goodness I don't have to make that decision, that's management's decision," Anderson said. "But certainly, obviously, if he plays like [he has], we would want him back."