Ilya Valeryevich Kovalchuk (Russian: Илья́ Вале́рьевич Ковальчу́к ; born April 15, 1983) is a Russian professional ice hockey left winger currently playing for SKA Saint Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League.
 He debuted in the Vysshaya Liga with Spartak Moscow, before continuing his career in the National Hockey League (NHL).
 Drafted first overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers, he began his NHL career with them in 2001–02.
 After eight seasons with the Thrashers, he was traded to the New Jersey Devils in February 2010, and later signed a 15-year, $100 million contract during the off-season after a 17-year, $102 million was rejected by the league as being an attempt to circumvent salary cap restrictions.
 Three years later, he retired from the NHL on July 11, 2013, having played 11 seasons.
 Kovalchuk is fifth all-time in overtime goals scored (14), and 18th all time in goals per game average (.511).
 He is the seventh highest scoring Russian in NHL history.
Martin Procházka (] , born March 3, 1972 in Slaný, Czechoslovakia) is a retired professional ice hockey player who played for HC Kladno in the Czech Extraliga.
 Procházka was drafted 135th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 1991 NHL Entry Draft and played 32 games in the National Hockey League for the Leafs and Atlanta Thrashers.
 In his NHL career, he scored two goals and five assists for seven points, collecting eight penalty minutes.
 He tallied an assist on the first goal in Atlanta Thrashers history, a 4-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Oct. 2, 1999, his only point as a Thrasher.
 He has also had spells in the Swedish Elitserien for AIK Hockey and the Russian Super League for Avangard Omsk Oblast and Khimik Voskresensk.
 He won a Gold Medal with the Czech Republic in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.
The 2011–12 Winnipeg Jets season was the 13th season for the National Hockey League franchise and the first in Winnipeg, Manitoba, after 12 seasons as the Atlanta Thrashers.
 The franchise played in Atlanta since the 1999–2000 NHL season, and relocated to Winnipeg following the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL season.
 The relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg was confirmed by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on May 31, 2011, and approved by the NHL Board of Governors on June 21, 2011.
 The 2011 season also marks the first appearance of the Winnipeg Jets name in the NHL since the previous franchise moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996.
 At the end of the year, the team failed to qualify for a playoff spot.
The 2006–07 Atlanta Thrashers 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.
 The Thrashers had a highly disappointing playoff series against the New York Rangers, as they were swept with losses of 4–3, 2–1, 7–0, and 4–2.
The Atlanta Thrashers were an American professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia.
 Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season.
 They were members of the Southeast Division of the NHL's Eastern Conference, and played their home games at Philips Arena in downtown Atlanta.
 The Thrashers qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs only once, during the 2006–07 season in which they won the Southeast Division, but were swept in the first round by the New York Rangers.
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
 They were members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL).
 The Thrashers joined the NHL in 1999 as an expansion franchise, and over 200 players have worn a Thrashers uniform since that time.
 The Thrashers won the Southeast Division and reached the playoffs for the first time in team history in 2006–07.
Anthony Stewart (born January 5, 1985) is a Canadian ice hockey player who plays for Jonquière Marquis of the Ligue Nord-Américaine de Hockey.
 He was born in Quebec, and his family moved to Toronto while he was a child.
 Stewart played minor hockey in Toronto, winning three all-Ontario championships.
 After his minor hockey career, he was selected by the Kingston Frontenacs in the first round of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) draft.
 After two seasons with Kingston, he was drafted by the Florida Panthers in the first round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, at 25th overall.
 He spent four years in the Panthers' system, dividing his time between the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL), after which he joined the Atlanta Thrashers for two years.
 When the Thrashers moved to Winnipeg to become the new Winnipeg Jets, they did not offer him a new contract, and he signed with the Carolina Hurricanes as a free agent.
 After one season in Carolina he was traded to the Kings, but spent most of the season in the minor leagues.
 He signed a professional tryout contract with the San Jose Sharks to begin the 2013-14 NHL season, but was not offered a contract.
 He subsequently signed with Avtomobilist Yekaterinburg in the KHL.
 His younger brother Chris also plays in the NHL, for the Minnesota Wild.
The Atlanta Thrashers were an American professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia.
 They played in the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Hockey League (NHL) for its entire history.
 They moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2011 and became the 2nd Incarnation of the Winnipeg Jets.
 The team joined the NHL in 1999 as an expansion team.
 The Thrashers played their home games at the Philips Arena since their inaugural season.
 The Thrashers were owned by Atlanta Spirit, LLC, and Rick Dudley was their general manager.
Yuri Gennadievich Butsayev (born October 11, 1978) is a Russian former professional ice hockey winger.
 He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) with the Detroit Red Wings and the Atlanta Thrashers.
 He was drafted in the second round, 49th overall, by the Red Wings in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.
 Yuri is the brother of the former NHL player Viacheslav Butsayev.
The 1970 Miami Dolphins season was the team's fifth, and first in the National Football League (NFL).
 The 1970 season marked the team's first winning season, and their first playoff appearance.
 The 1970 season was also the first season under head coach Don Shula, as he would be the head coach of the franchise until 1995, a span of 25 years as head coach.
 The team improved on their 3-10-1 record from 1969, and finished the season 10-4, second in the newly aligned AFC East to only eventual champion Baltimore.
 The Dolphins would get off to a fresh start, starting 4-1 before losing 3 straight to even their record at 4-4.
 However, Miami would whip off 6 straight to end the season and clinch their first ever winning season and playoff berth.
 In their first playoff game, they lost 21-14 in the Divisional Round to the Oakland Raiders, ending Miami's season.

Question: Which Russian NHL player helped lead the Atlanta Thrashers to their first playoff appearance?
Answer: Ilya Kovalchuk