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Bruins-Thrashers Preview

Nov 18, 2009 - 6:43 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Boston (8-8-4) at Atlanta (10-6-1), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Boston Bruins appear in desperate need of a boost as they try to snap a three-game skid, and they may get it with two key players perhaps ready to return to action.

The Atlanta Thrashers, meanwhile, would prefer to keep things just as they are.

The Thrashers look for a fifth straight victory Thursday night as they host the struggling Bruins, who are hoping to have either Milan Lucic or Marc Savard - or both - back in the lineup.

Boston (8-8-4) has looked surprisingly mediocre this season after earning the Eastern Conference's top seed in 2008-09, and part of the problem has been the extended absences of two top-line forwards.

But both Savard (broken foot) and Lucic (broken finger) have returned to the ice and could play as soon as Thursday, with the gritty Lucic appearing a bit more likely to play than Savard.

"It's still going to be a game-time decision if I play or not," Lucic told the Bruins' official Web site. "... I got that mobility back. It's still not at 100 percent but it's almost to 100 percent, so now I am just working on trying to get my strength back."

The Bruins failed to score more than one goal for the ninth time Monday in a 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders. Boston again had problems on the power play, going 0 for 4 to fall to a league-worst 12.9 percent in that category.

The Bruins converted 23.6 percent last season to tie for fourth, and they never lost more than four straight - something they'll try to avoid Thursday.

A good penalty kill has helped keep Boston competitive, not giving up a power-play goal in six straight games and one in the last 13.

Still, the Bruins have slipped defensively after leading the NHL with a 2.32 goals-against average last season. Their last two opponents have scored 10 goals after the team allowed a total of seven in the previous seven games.

"Those little details that meant so much to us being successful aren't consistent right now," coach Claude Julien said. "There's not that confidence or determination we need to be successful. Right now we have to have our best players playing their best if we're going to turn it around."

Their task likely won't get any easier against the high-scoring Thrashers, who rank second in the NHL with 3.65 goals per game, totaling 17 during their four-game winning streak.

After Friday's 7-0 drubbing of Los Angeles, Atlanta (10-6-1) beat Edmonton 3-2 on Sunday on Slava Kozlov's first goal of the season midway through the third period.

"Obviously it was a slow start for me," Kozlov said. "Hopefully, I will pick it up. I tried to stay calm and just work hard. It feels good."

The Thrashers have been fine offensively even with Kozlov struggling. Rich Peverley had two assists Sunday and leads the team with 23 points, while Ilya Kovalchuk has 12 goals in 11 games.

Atlanta has been especially potent on the power play, going 5 for 11 in the last three games to improve to 26.5 percent for the season - among the best in the league.

The Thrashers now try to snap a six-game losing streak to the Bruins, but Boston goalie Tim Thomas has not been at his best at Philips Arena, going 2-2-0 with a 3.45 GAA in five appearances.