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Thrashers look to snap three-game losing streak

Dec 1, 2007 - 2:37 PM Atlanta (11-13-0) at NY Islanders (13-9-1) 7:00 pm EST

UNIONDALE, New York (Ticker) - The Atlanta Thrashers have been one of the NHL's streakiest teams. Currently in a three-game skid, Atlanta will look to get back to its winning ways on Saturday against the New York Islanders.

The Thrashers started 0-6, prompting the firing of coach Bob Hartley. Under Don Waddell, who now doubles as Atlanta's coach and general manager, Atlanta promptly won 11 of its next 15 games.

But the team is in a lull again - Atlanta suffered back-to-back shutout losses before its latest defeat, 4-2, at home to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday.

The one bright spot has been the play of left wing Ilya Kovalchuk, who has scored six goals in the last seven games. Kovalchuk became the second player in the league to reach the 20-goal plateau on Thursday and has seven goals in 20 career games against New York.

The Islanders have dominated the series of late, winning all but five of the last 18 games against the Thrashers. New York has had its own problems scoring of late, failing to score more than two goals in 11 consecutive games.

The Islanders, who started the season with a 9-4 record, are 4-5-1 in their last 10 games and have the least amount of goals (56) of any Eastern Conference team.

Right wing Miroslav Satan has 21 goals and 19 assists in 27 games against Atlanta. Goaltender Rick DiPietro is 4-3-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average in nine career starts against the Thrashers.