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Devils try to extend recent run of success vs. Thrashers

Jan 30, 2007 - 3:59 PM New Jersey (30-15-5) at Atlanta (28-16-8) 7:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Thanks to usually-reliable goaltender Martin Brodeur, the New Jersey Devils have vaulted to the top of the Atlantic Division.

Brodeur again is expected to be back in the net for the Devils, who look for their 12th victory in 16 games in Tuesday's encounter with the Atlanta Thrashers.

The league's second-winningest netminder with 476 victories, Brodeur is 30-14-4 this season with a league-high nine shutouts, which gives him 90 in his career. The two-time Vezina Trophy winner has 11 consecutive 30-win seasons.

Although he is 13-6-3 with three ties against the Thrashers, Brodeur dropped seven straight starts against them before a 2-1 victory on January 12.

The Devils slipped to 11-2-2 since December 26 with Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Florida Panthers. Brian Gionta scored his 23rd goal and John Oduya added his second of the season for New Jersey.

The Thrashers have won four of their last six contests and hold a six-point lead over the defending-champion Carolina Hurricanes in the Southeast Division.

Atlanta is coming off Sunday's 2-1 loss to Philadelphia, which snapped the Flyers' nine-game losing streak. Ilya Kovalchuk netted his 27th tally in the opening period.