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Thrashers-Panthers Preview

Dec 4, 2009 - 9:48 PM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Atlanta (14-8-3) at Florida (11-13-4), 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Atlanta Thrashers have been an average home team. On the road, though, they've enjoyed much better results.

Looking to bounce back from a disappointing home loss, the Thrashers go for their fourth straight road win Saturday night when they face the struggling Florida Panthers.

Despite a first-period goal from Slava Kozlov that gave them a 1-0 lead, the Thrashers (14-8-3) had their four-game winning streak snapped with Thursday's 4-1 loss to the visiting New York Islanders.

Atlanta was undefeated in its 10 previous games in which it scored first.

"We lost a game at home again," Ondrej Pavelec said after making 23 saves. "We need to fight a little more for those two points in our building."

While the Thrashers are 6-6-2 at Philips Arena, they are among the league's best road teams with an 8-2-1 mark.

Atlanta will look to improve upon that record as it opens a four-game trip with a matchup against the Panthers, losers of six of seven.

Florida (11-13-4), which is trying to win consecutive home games for the first time this season, will look to avenge a 4-3 loss in Atlanta on Monday when Thrashers forward Maxim Afinogenov scored the winning goal with 6 seconds left.

The Panthers lost their season-high fifth straight in that matchup, and goalie Tomas Vokoun was carted off on a stretcher in the first period after getting hit in the head by teammate Keith Ballard's stick. Ballard swung his stick at the net following an Atlanta goal by Ilya Kovalchuk but inadvertently struck Vokoun, who was treated for a lacerated ear.

Vokoun has been out since that incident but could play Saturday.

"(The ear) feels fine," he told the Panthers' official Web site after practicing Friday. "I'm fine."

Scott Clemmensen hasn't been since replacing Vokoun on Monday. Making his second straight start, Clemmensen was pulled by coach Peter DeBoer in the first period of Thursday's 6-2 loss at Washington after giving up two goals on 11 shots.

Alexander Salak, in his second NHL appearance, replaced him and made 29 saves.

Florida, which was outshot 44-28, surrendered two third-period power-play goals after rookie forward Mike Duco was assessed 27 penalty minutes.

"It was undisciplined; we didn't play our system. When you are in the box for 30 minutes, you are not going to win many games," said defenseman Bryan McCabe, who assisted on Stephen Weiss' team-leading 12th goal.

Weiss looks to extend his point streak to six. He had a goal and an assist Monday to give him nine points in his last six games against the Thrashers.

Johan Hedberg stopped 35 shots in Atlanta's last visit to BankAtlantic Center, a 3-1 victory April 3. If Pavelec gets the start Saturday, he'll look to move to 3-0-0 in his career against the Panthers.

Florida has won six of its last nine at home versus Atlanta.