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Devils look to bounce back against Thrashers

Jan 8, 2009 - 11:33 AM Atlanta (13-23-5) at New Jersey (23-13-3), 7:00 p.m. EST

NEWARK, New Jersey (Ticker) -- With an extensive road trip looming, the New Jersey Devils hope to leave the Prudential Center on a good note.

The Devils look to bounce back from a deflating loss on Thursday, when they host the listless Atlanta Thrashers before beginning a season-high, six-game road swing.

Goaltender Scott Clemmensen has yet to allow more than three goals in any of his 12 road games this season. Such was the case once again on Tuesday, but the Devils offense failed to support him in a 3-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes.

In that contest, New Jersey fell into a 3-0 hole before defenseman Paul Martin and Patrik Elias tallied just over seven minutes apart late in the third period. Carolina goaltender Cam Ward held on, though, and handed the Devils their second consecutive road loss.

The Thrashers have dropped six of their last seven overall - including a 3-1 setback against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday.

Despite ongoing struggles, they have gotten a boost from star Ilya Kovalchuk, who has three goals in four games since snapping a career-high, nine-game goalless drought.

Atlanta has posted three total goals in its last three losses and Kovalchuk has accounted for two of those.