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Thrashers-Flyers Preview

Jan 28, 2010 - 3:22 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Atlanta (23-21-8) at Philadelphia (26-22-3), 7:00 p.m. EDT

Philadelphia Flyers coach Peter Laviolette feels several questionable calls contributed to the end of his team's home winning streak last weekend. A visit from the Atlanta Thrashers could help Philadelphia start a new one.

The Flyers will try to extend their home dominance of the Thrashers on Thursday night as they continue their season-high six-game homestand.

Philadelphia (26-22-3) won the first three games of this homestand to extend its winning streak at Wachovia Center to six. The run was halted with Sunday's 2-1 loss to Pittsburgh, as Matt Cooke deflected in the eventual winner with 1:47 to play after Kimmo Timonen's attempted clearance went over the boards for a delay of game penalty.

The Flyers, who lead the NHL with 876 penalty minutes, gave up their first-period lead following a high-sticking penalty to Simon Gagne. Laviolette didn't agree with the call and questioned much of the team's 23 penalty minutes.

"I'm frustrated because, for the last month and a half, we've been preaching discipline, preaching staying out of the (penalty) box, and we'll kill the ones that we have to take," Laviolette told the team's official Web site. "But going back and looking at this game, there were too many penalties (called) that didn't happen. Simon Gagne did not high-stick anybody, but it turns around and goes back the other way.

"Scott Hartnell did not, in my opinion, interfere with the goaltender (at 7:44 of the first period). I don't know if it's a reputation from the past, but you know we want to play tough, physical \2026we don't need to go to the box. But, we're still going there, and our players aren't taking penalties."

Philadelphia, which concludes this homestand Saturday against the New York Islanders, may be in ideal position to start a new winning streak with a visit from Atlanta (23-21-8).

The Flyers are 29-4-1 with three ties all-time against the Thrashers, including a 14-1-1 mark with two ties at home. However, Philadelphia lost 1-0 at Atlanta on Nov. 28, ending its 14-game winning streak in the series.

The Flyers have won six consecutive home matchups dating to a 6-5 overtime loss Nov. 18, 2005.

Jeff Carter has been a major part of Philadelphia's success against Atlanta with 10 goals and eight assists in 16 games, but he came up empty on four shots in the last meeting.

Carter has been hot of late, scoring six goals and setting up two others in five games to increase his team-leading totals to 22 goals and 46 points.

The Thrashers are looking to win consecutive games for the first time since Dec. 12-14. They beat Anaheim 2-1 on Tuesday, with Maxim Afinogenov scoring early in the third period to end Atlanta's 0-for-13 power-play drought spanning three games.

"The nice thing was that it was a power-play goal that won it for us," coach John Anderson said. "We talked about the importance of getting one goal a game on the power play. It really makes a difference."

Atlanta's recent struggles on the power play could be attributed to Ilya Kovalchuk's season high-tying three-game point drought. The left wing, who ranks among league leaders with 30 goals and 56 points, hasn't gone four games without a point since Jan. 17-22, 2008.

Kovalchuk was held off the scoresheet by the Flyers in November but has 17 goals and 14 assists in 29 career matchups.

"He and (Washington's Alex) Ovechkin are up there as the most dangerous wingers in the league because of their speed, their skill, and when they play the game they bring that skill," Laviolette said. "That makes it difficult to defend off the rush. They both have a really big shot, and you know it's obviously a challenge to play (against) top players like that."