• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Thrashers try to close road trip above .500 mark

Oct 30, 2006 - 3:42 PM Atlanta (8-1-3) at Toronto (5-4-3) 7:30 pm EST

TORONTO (Ticker) - After a big win over the Buffalo Sabres, things don't immediately get easier for the Atlanta Thrashers.

While concluding a five-game road trip, the Thrashers attempt to snap a seven-game losing streak to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday.

Slava Kozlov scored the decisive goal during the shootout period as Atlanta escaped with a 5-4 victory over Buffalo on Saturday, preventing the Sabres from setting an NHL record for wins to start a campaign by halting their 10-game winning streak.

Ilya Kovalchuk netted his eighth goal of the season and goaltender Kari Lehtonen made 32 saves for the Thrashers, who erased a two-game skid and improved to 2-0-2 on their trek.

The Maple Leafs are also seeking their second win in a row after ending a three-game slide with a 5-4 shootout triumph over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Kyle Wellwood scored the game-winning goal for Toronto, which outshot Montreal, 51-22.

Defenseman Tomas Kaberle recorded his first career hat trick and Chad Kilger and Darcy Tucker both added two assists for the Maple Leafs, who have not lost to the Thrashers since October 27, 2003.