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Thrashers hope to build on offensive outburst

Oct 11, 2008 - 10:07 AM Atlanta (1-0-0) at Florida (0-1-0), 7:00 pm EDT

SUNRISE, Florida (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Thrashers put on an offensive show in the regular-season opener.

Looking to build on a scoring outburst, the Thrashers travel to the Sunshine State to face the Florida Panthers in an early battle of two Southeast Division rivals on Saturday.

Aside from superstar Ilya Kovalchuk, who netted 52 goals and recorded 32 assists last season, the Thrashers' offense poses little threat to opposing teams. Atlanta averaged 2.52 goals per game (tied for 22nd in the NHL) and recorded just 52 power-play goals (26th) in 2007-08.

On Friday, six players scored - none of whom were Kovalchuk - to power the Thrashers to an impressive 7-4 victory over the Washington Capitals in the regular-season opener for both teams.

The Panthers also proved they could score in their season-opening contest, but dropped a 6-4 decision to the Carolina Hurricanes.

Playing its first game since sending scoring leader and former captain Olli Jokinen to the Phoenix Coyotes, Florida struggled defensively on Friday.

Tomas Vokoun made 18 saves, but was unable to help make first-year coach Peter DeBoer's debut a positive one. DeBoer is the 10th head coach in franchise history and became only the third Panthers coach to lose his debut.