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Kovalchuk eyes first goal as Thrashers host Wild

Oct 14, 2008 - 12:40 PM Minnesota (1-0-0) at Atlanta (1-0-1), 7:00 pm EDT

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Ilya Kovalchuk looks to register his first goal of the season when the Atlanta Thrashers host the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday.

The Russian superstar scored 52 goals last season, but his two points thus far have come off assists.

The Thrashers are coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to the Florida Panthers on Saturday after an impressive 7-4 season-opening win over the Washington Capitals on Friday.

Considering Kovalchuk had a goal and an assist in last season's win over the Wild, goaltender Niklas Backstrom will have his work cut out for him.

Backstrom, who stopped 34 shots during Saturday's 4-3 season-opening win over the Boston Bruins, made 24 saves in his only start against the Thrashers last season, a 3-2 shootout loss on March 7. That defeat in the lone meeting between the teams last season snapped Minnesota's five-game winning streak over Atlanta.

Against the Bruins, all four players who made their Wild debuts - Marc-Andre Bergeron, Owen Nolan, rookie Colton Gillies and Antti Miettinen - had points.

Bergeron and Miettinen each had a goal, while Eric Belanger scored twice.

Belanger had 12 goals and 20 assists in his first 45 games last season, but posted just one goal and four assists in his final 30 games after being moved to the checking line.