With superstar winger Ilya Kovalchuk gone, the Atlanta
Thrashers will try to avoid a fourth straight loss when they welcome the
Florida Panthers for tonight's battle between Southeast Division foes at
Philips Arena.
The Thrashers have dropped three straight and five of their last seven games,
while Florida has been only slightly better recently, losing three of four and
five of its last eight. The Panthers are tied for ninth in the Eastern
Conference with 57 points, while Atlanta is just one point back in the
standings.
The Panthers and Thrashers have split four meetings so far in this year's
season series. Florida has taken two straight and five of the last eight
matchups overall and has also won five of seven in Atlanta.
Atlanta was dealt a third consecutive regulation loss on Friday in Washington,
as Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom each had a goal and assist to lead the
first-place Capitals to a 5-2 triumph.
Ondrej Pavelec allowed four goals on 31 shots for Atlanta, which was playing
its first game since Thursday's blockbuster deal that sent Kovalchuk to the
Devils. Kovalchuk left Atlanta as the franchise's all-time leader in virtually
every offensive category, posting 328 goals and 287 assists in 594 games.
Tobias Enstrom and Rich Peverley had the goals for the Thrashers in Friday's
loss. Rookie forward Nicklas Bergfors and defenseman Johnny Oduya, who were
part of the deal that sent Kovalchuk to New Jersey, made their Thrashers debut
against Washington.
"They're a skilled group," Peverley said of the Capitals. "They play well in
their systems. They're getting good goaltending, too, right now. Like I said,
they're a confident group. Hopefully someone will beat them soon."
Atlanta is 12-10-4 as the host this year and has lost six of its last nine on
home ice.
Florida, meanwhile, has lost its last three road games and is just 12-14-3 as
the guest this year. The Panthers will complete a brief two-game road trip
Tuesday in Carolina.
The Panthers were dealt a home loss Friday by Calgary as Mark Giordano's
power-play goal late in the second period proved to the difference in the 2-1
decision.
Dennis Seidenberg had the lone goal for Florida, whose offense continues to
struggle. The Panthers have scored just 10 goals over their last nine games
(4-4-1), never scoring more than twice in any of those contests.
Tomas Vokoun allowed both goals on 40 shots in the setback.
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