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Thrashers-Islanders Preview

Nov 7, 2009 - 4:11 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Atlanta (6-5-1) at New York (5-5-5), 7:00 p.m. EDT

While their play at home has left a lot to be desired, the Atlanta Thrashers' outstanding road record has more than compensated for that.

The Thrashers seek their third straight road victory Saturday night when they face the New York Islanders for the first time this season.

Atlanta hasn't been as sharp lately following a 4-1-0 start to the season, winning two of their last seven games (2-4-1). They have, however, continued to excel away from Philips Arena, going 4-0-1 since their only road regulation loss to Ottawa on Oct. 10.

That impressive road stretch started with 4-2 victories over New Jersey and Buffalo before the Thrashers lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Canadiens on Oct. 20. They followed with wins at Ottawa and Montreal despite the absence of star forward Ilya Kovalchuk - the team leader with nine goals who is expected to miss at least another two weeks with a broken right foot.

With its best player sidelined, Atlanta (6-5-1) needs offense from other sources and Rich Peverley has responded with two goals and four assists in four games without Kovalchuk. Also contributing is center Nik Antropov, who has four assists during that span and a team-leading 12 this season.

The Thrashers fell behind 2-0 and were unable to come all the way back in a 4-3 loss to visiting Columbus on Wednesday.

It was another poor start at home by Atlanta, which has been outscored 6-0 in the first period of its last three home games.

"This is the same press conference as the last games at home, and it's disappointing," coach John Anderson said. "It's not that we're playing horrible, but we don't initiate. We wait to see how the game goes and then we start to play."

The Islanders (5-6-5) managed few scoring chances again in a 2-1 loss at New Jersey on Friday - their second consecutive defeat following a four-game win streak.

"This was a game we could have won 1-0 and we gave them two opportunities and they took them," goaltender Martin Biron said.

Frans Nielsen's first-period goal is the Islanders' only tally in their last seven periods.

Poor road play continues to plague New York, which is 1-4-3 away from Long Island compared to 4-2-2 at home. The Islanders have outscored opponents 11-2 during three straight wins at Nassau Coliseum.

With Biron starting Friday, Dwayne Roloson will be back in net for New York. Roloson has helped the Islanders gain at least one point in seven of his eight starts, going 4-1-3 with a 2.70 goals-against average. He is 3-0-0 with a 1.66 GAA in his past three overall games, and 4-0-1 with a tie and a 2.60 GAA lifetime against Atlanta.

Islanders defenseman Radek Martinek won't play after he had to be helped off the ice in the third period Friday with a right leg injury. He likely will be replaced by Freddy Meyer.

The Thrashers won the first three meetings between the teams last season before the Islanders recorded a 5-4 road victory Jan. 29. Atlanta is 4-2-0 in its last six visits to Long Island.