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Thrashers-Hurricanes Preview

Jan 16, 2010 - 6:58 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Atlanta (20-19-7) at Carolina (14-25-7), 8:00 p.m. EDT

If the Atlanta Thrashers are going to make a serious run at a playoff spot, success in the next seven games could be key.

Atlanta begins that crucial stretch on Saturday night with a visit to the NHL-worst Carolina Hurricanes.

The Thrashers (20-19-7) have dropped 12 of 15 since they last won consecutive games from Dec. 12-14.

They had a chance to match that modest feat Thursday, but Ondrej Pavelec gave up a power-play goal to Derek Roy 2:27 into overtime of a 2-1 loss to Northeast Division-leading Buffalo. That came two nights after Atlanta won 6-1 over Ottawa to record its first regulation home victory in nearly two months.

"Out of the two teams that could afford the point the most, it wasn't us," coach John Anderson said. "We need every point we can get right now. We're not getting our share of breaks right now, but I know if we keep playing hard and as good as we are, good things will happen. The hockey world will even up."

The Thrashers are second in the Southeast Division, but 17 points behind first-place Washington. However, they're also 11th in the Eastern Conference, three points behind Ottawa and Montreal as those clubs are tied for seventh.

Atlanta appears to be in prime position to overcome that gap with its next seven games coming against teams outside the top eight in their respective conferences.

Following this game, the Thrashers will play Florida and Toronto ahead of a rematch with the Hurricanes on Thursday in Atlanta. Anderson's club then will face Tampa Bay and Anaheim before concluding the stretch Jan. 28 at Philadelphia.

In its only meeting this season with the Hurricanes, Atlanta scored five third-period goals on Nov. 27 in a 6-4 road victory. Ilya Kovalchuk had a goal and assist during the outburst to give him 18 and 17, respectively, in 21 games at Raleigh.

A member of the Russian Olympic team, Kovalchuk has two goals and two assists in his last two games after being held without a goal in a season high-tying three straight. He leads the Thrashers with 51 points, and also has 27 goals to tie San Jose's Dany Heatley for fifth in the NHL, four behind leader Patrick Marleau of the Sharks.

The Hurricanes return home after Thursday's 3-1 loss at Detroit halted their season-high three-game winning streak.

"We got within one but we weren't consistent enough," center Eric Staal said. "We didn't sustain anything long enough."

Staal had an assist against Atlanta earlier this season, and his 26 are the most against any opponent.

Ray Whitney failed to get a point Thursday after playing a big part during the three-game winning streak with three goals and two assists. Whitney leads Carolina (14-25-7) with 14 goals and 32 points, and has four goals in six games after failing to score in eight straight from Dec. 16-31.

Whitney has one goal in his last six games against Atlanta and didn't fare well in the last meeting, going minus-3 without a point.