LW Kovalchuk returns for Thrashers

Feb 6, 2008 - 12:37 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Things continue to get better for the Atlanta Thrashers.

In the midst of a three-game winning streak, Atlanta on Tuesday welcomed superstar left wing Ilya Kovalchuk back to the lineup for its game against the Philadelphia Flyers.

After representing the host Thrashers in the 56th NHL All-Star Game on January 27, Kovalchuk suffered a knee injury as a result of a knee-on-knee collision with Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu in a 4-1 victory on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Russian, who scored a goal earlier in that win, missed Atlanta's next two contests - both triumphs.

Entering Tuesday, Kovalchuk is second to Washington's Alex Ovechkin with 38 goals and seventh in the league with 64 points. Drafted first overall in 2001, the former Maurice Richard Trophy winner has 240 tallies and 443 points in 439 career games.

The reigning Southeast Division champion, Atlanta - which opened the season with six straight losses - began Tuesday's contest tied with the Carolina Hurricanes for first place in the division with 56 points.