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Thrashers look to continue dominance of Panthers at home

Oct 21, 2006 - 1:49 PM Florida (4-3-1) at Atlanta (5-1-1) 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Everything is going right for the Atlanta Thrashers so far this season.

The Thrashers will look to continue their best start in franchise history when they face the Florida Panthers on Saturday in a matchup of the top two teams in the Southeast Division.

Not only are the Thrashers playing well, they will take the ice against a team that they have dominated. Atlanta has won seven consecutive home matchups with the Panthers (4-3-1), outscoring them 32-16.

Marian Hossa scored two goals in regulation and added the shootout clincher and Ilya Kovalchuk collected a pair of assists to lead the Thrashers to a 4-3 triumph over the Washington Capitals on Thursday.

After failing to hold a two-goal lead, Atlanta rallied to defeat the Capitals for the second time in five days.

Olli Jokinen scored the go-ahead power-play goal and Mike Van Ryn recorded two assists as the Panthers snapped a two-game slide with a 3-2 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

Entering Friday's game, Florida was a league-best 10-for-32 (31.3 percent) on the power play this season. The Panthers were just 1-for-5 with the man advantage, but the goal was a big one.

Jokinen took a cross-ice pass from Van Ryn and blasted a one-timer past Philadelphia goaltender Antero Niittymaki to snap a 2-2 tie with 1:43 remaining in the second period.

The two teams will play again on Sunday in the at BankAtlantic Center in the second game of a home-and-home.