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Crosby, Penguins play host to Thrashers

Dec 28, 2010 - 4:16 PM (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Thrashers are in the midst of their longest losing streak of the season and the Penguins recently suffered just their third loss in 18 games.

Both clubs will be aiming to get back in the win column tonight, when the Thrashers visit Pittsburgh at CONSOL Energy Center.

The Thrashers have dropped three straight games, matching their longest skid of the year. It's the third three-game slide of the year for Atlanta, which hasn't dropped four consecutive outings since April 1-9 of last season.

Pittsburgh, meanwhile, had won three straight heading into the league's Christmas break, but the Pens were dealt a 3-1 setback Sunday night in Ottawa. The loss dropped Pittsburgh, which is tied with Detroit for the NHL lead with 50 points, to 17-3-1 in its last 21 games.

The Thrashers have lost a pair of regulation games to the Penguins this season and the most recent defeat came Dec. 2 in Pittsburgh. The Pens won that game 3-2 behind a hat trick from Sidney Crosby, who has 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists) in 20 career games against Atlanta.

The Penguins have won 10 of 11 and 12 of the last 15 meetings with the Thrashers and Atlanta has lost eight straight and 10 out of 13 in Pittsburgh.

Despite a loss in his club's last game, Crosby was still able to extend his career-best point streak to 24 games by scoring Pittsburgh's lone goal in Sunday's loss to the Senators. However, Crosby's NHL-leading 30th goal of the year came late in the third period after Pittsburgh was already down, 3-0.

"It's pretty clear, we had a terrible start," Crosby said. "In the second and third we had some pretty good chances, but we dug ourselves a deep hole."

Crosby, who has 24 goals and 46 points during his amazing run, is riding the NHL's longest point streak since 1992-93 when Mats Sundin put together a 30- gamer for the Quebec Nordiques.

The Penguins fired 45 shots Brian Elliott's way on Sunday, but the Ottawa goaltender stopped every one except the shot that resulted in Crosby's goal. Marc-Andre Fleury allowed all three goals on 24 shots for the Penguins.

Pittsburgh is 12-6-1 as the host this year and is playing three of its next four games on home ice. One of the home games during that stretch will be Saturday's Winter Classic matchup against the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field.

Atlanta had lost consecutive regulation contests before the Christmas break, but the Thrashers gained a point in Sunday's overtime loss against visiting Tampa Bay. Vincent Lecavalier's second goal of the game came 1:13 into OT to give the Lightning a 3-2 decision at Philips Arena.

Zach Bogosian and Freddy Modin each had a goal for the Thrashers, while Ondrej Pavelec stopped 31 shots in the loss.

"We had our chance to win the game," Pavelec said. "We just gave it to them. A point is very good though."

Atlanta has a 9-6-3 record as the guest this year and will play four of its next five games on the road.

Thrashers forward Nik Antropov has missed the last two games with a hip injury and is doubtful for tonight's test.

Forward Arron Asham (lower body), goaltender Brent Johnson (groin) and defenseman Ben Lovejoy (face) are all questionable for the Penguins tonight.