• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

After avoiding embarrassing loss, Thrashers host Devils

Feb 6, 2009 - 11:22 AM New Jersey (32-16-3) at Atlanta (18-29-5) 7:30 p.m. EST

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Thrashers were lucky to escape with a victory during their last game. Duplicating that feat won't be easy against one of the hottest teams in the NHL.

The Thrashers try to record back-to-back victories on Friday when they host the New Jersey Devils.

Ilya Kovalchuk, who leads Atlanta with 21 goals this season, squandered a golden opportunity to seal a victory against the New York Rangers on Tuesday, shooting wide on an empty net with less than a minute to go as his team clung to a 1-0 lead.

Markus Naslund forced the game to overtime when he tied the contest with 11 seconds left. But, Kari Lehtonen, who finished with 39 saves, made a pair of critical stops in the shootout and Bryan Little and Vyacheslav Kozlov scored in the bonus format as the Thrashers escaped with a 2-1 victory, snapping a four-game slide.

The Thrashers will need a much more complete effort if they plan on claiming a win against the Devils, who had a season-high, eight-game win streak snapped during their last game and are 11-4-0 since the calendar turned to 2009.

Brian Rolston and captain Jamie Langenbrunner netted a goal apiece during New Jersey's 5-2 loss to the Washington Capitals on Tuesday. It was Langenbrunner's fourth straight contest with a tally as the 33-year-old right wing has recorded seven goals over that span.