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Thrashers mired in eight-game skid

Mar 7, 2008 - 1:57 PM Minnesota (37-26-5) at Atlanta (29-32-7) 7:30 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) - It has gone from bad to worse for Atlanta Thrashers, and things are not expected to get any easier with the Minnesota Wild visiting Friday.

With playoffs out of reach, the Thrashers aim to snap an eight-game losing streak when they host the first-place Wild.

Atlanta is 0-5-3 during the skid and has been outscored, 34-17, in that span.

The latest setback, a 6-3 loss to Carolina on Wednesday, has the Thrashers 10 points back of the Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes (36-29-5) and 11 behind Philadelphia (34-26-8) for the final playoff spot in the East.

Things were so bad against Carolina, that by the start of the second period Atlanta had more penalties (four) than shots on goal (three).

"We have to look ourselves in the mirror and ask ourselves if it's the best we can do. I don't think so," Thrashers backup goaltender Johan Hedberg said after the loss.

Things were not get any easier against Minnesota, which is battling the Calgary Flames (35-23-9) for first place in the Northwest Division. The Wild will look to take advantage of Atlanta's woes in order to end their own two-game skid.

Mikko Koivu and Pavol Demitra tallied in a 3-2 loss to Carolina. The setback denied Minnesota a chance to move into sole possesion of first place ahead of the idle Flames.