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Thrashers try to halt eight-game skid vs. Maple Leafs

Nov 30, 2006 - 1:17 PM Toronto (13-9-4) at Atlanta (15-7-4) 7:00 pm EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) - The Atlanta Thrashers will need to rely on their offensive firepower to end a long drought against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marian Hossa and Ilya Kovalchuk will try to help the Thrashers end an eight-game losing streak against the Maple Leafs when the teams meet Thursday for the first of two encounters in six days.

Atlanta, which holds a five-point lead over the Carolina Hurricanes in the Southeast Division, has not beaten Toronto since October 27, 2003. The Maple Leafs have outscored the Thrashers, 37-9, during that stretch.

Hossa is tied with Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers for the league lead in goals with 17, one ahead of Kovalchuk, Buffalo's Thomas Vanek, Washington's Alexander Ovechkin and Toronto's Darcy Tucker. His 35 points is two behind NHL leader Jaromir Jagr of the Rangers.

Bobby Holik scored two goals, including the winner with 2:05 remaining in overtime, and Hossa added a tally and three assists as Atlanta posted a 5-4 victory over the Rangers on Tuesday for its third win in four contests.

The Maple Leafs have dropped three of their last four games - including a pair of home defeats to the Boston Bruins - and are hoping to avoid tying their longest losing streak of the campaign.

Nik Antropov netted his fifth goal and defenseman Tomas Kaberle recorded his 17th assist for Toronto in Tuesday's 4-1 loss to Boston. Captain Mats Sundin scored the Maple Leafs' lone tally in the prior setback to Boston on Saturday.

Tucker scored two goals and Sundin had two assists to lead Toronto to a 4-2 triumph over Atlanta in their first showdown on October 30.