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Thrashers host Panthers in clash between struggling teams

Mar 5, 2011 - 4:21 PM (Sports Network) - A chance at a postseason spot is getting smaller and smaller for the Panthers and Thrashers due to some struggling offense. The good news is that one club will pick up a much-needed two points this evening when Atlanta hosts Florida at Philips Arena for the second time in eight days.

The Thrashers come into this game sitting at 11th place in the Eastern Conference, eight points back of a playoff spot with 17 games left to play, while the Panthers are 13th in the East and 12 points out of a postseason berth with 18 contests to go.

Neither club has helped its cause as of late. Atlanta has lost seven of eight and is just 2-9-2 since Feb. 1, while Florida has gone 5-11-5 in its last 21 games.

Despite unleashing at least 40 shots in five straight games, the Thrashers have been held to a single goal in four of those contests and have a 3.3 shooting percentage (7-for-214) in that span. They scored just once on 43 shots in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Senators.

Dustin Byfuglien matched a career high set with Chicago in 2007-08 with his 19th goal of the season, while Chris Mason made 24 saves.

"It's very somber in the room," Thrashers head coach Craig Ramsay said. "That was a game we felt we should win."

Mason was making his third straight start and fourth appearance in a row with Ondrej Pavelec out with a right wrist injury. Pavelec suffered the ailment in a 2-1 shootout loss at home to the Panthers on Feb. 25, just Florida's second victory in the past seven meetings in this series.

The Panthers, though, have won both contests in Atlanta this year and seven of their last 11 trips there.

Though Pavelec's return is looming -- he did practice on full on Friday -- Mason could get the call again tonight in the finale of a five-game homestand. Atlanta is 1-2-1 on the residency and 3-7-3 in its last 13 at home.

Mason is 1-2-1 with a 2.98 goals-against average versus Florida, which has also struggled as of late on offense. The Panthers have been held to a pair of goals or less in six straight games and was shut out for the fourth time this year on Thursday, 4-0, by Montreal.

Florida was blanked for the first time since Dec. 11 and has failed to score a goal in 15 straight power-play opportunities.

Tomas Vokoun got the start, but was pulled less than nine minutes into the game after stopping just one of the three shots he faced. Scott Clemmensen made 26 saves in relief.

"We had to make a change. We're not going to score more than two or three goals, so if we're down 2-0 early we have to do something to close the door," Panthers head coach Peter DeBoer said.

DeBoer, whose club starts a seven-game homestand on Sunday versus Washington, could opt to stick with Clemmensen again tonight, but he is just 1-3-1 versus Atlanta lifetime despite a 2.16 GAA. Vokoun is 13-9-2 with a 2.38 GAA against the Thrashers.