Hot in Atlanta: Flyers try to post 14th straight win over Thrashers

Posted: Sun Feb 8 10:26 AM

(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Flyers will try to extend their impressive winning streak over the Atlanta Thrashers this afternoon, as the two clubs meet for the final time this season at Philips Arena.

Atlanta will be thankful to play its fourth and final contest against Philadelphia today. The Thrashers have lost 13 straight games to the Flyers, having not beaten the club since a 6-5 overtime victory in Philadelphia on November 18, 2005.

The Flyers, who have also won 16 of 17 and 18 of their last 20 versus the Thrashers, have also post victories in eight straight battles at Atlanta. They haven't lost as the visitor in this series since a 4-1 setback on December 21, 2003, which was also the last time Atlanta beat Philadelphia in regulation.

Philadelphia will skate for the second straight day, as it visited Boston on Saturday and avenged a 3-1 home loss on Wednesday with a 4-3 overtime decision. Randy Jones was credited with the game-winning goal with two minutes left in OT, as he sent a shot from the point wide right that deflected off Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference and past a stunned Manny Fernandez.

Scott Hartnell scored to reach the 20-goal mark for a fourth straight season, while Simon Gagne and Glen Metropolit also had a goal each. Metropolit's tally was just his second of the season and snapped a 38-game goal-less drought. His only other tally this year came against Atlanta.

Jeff Carter collected two assists for the Flyers, who snapped a two-game slide. Philadelphia won despite being without captain Mike Richards and forward Scottie Upshall for a second straight game due to the flu. Both skaters hope to return today.

Martin Biron got the start for the Flyers and was replaced by Antero Niittymaki at the outset of the second period after yielding three goals on 15 shots. Niittymaki stopped all 22 shots he faced to pick up the victory.

Even if Biron had not struggled on Saturday, Niittymaki would have been the likely starter today anyway. Niittymaki is a perfect 12-0-0 with a 1.75 goals against average in his career versus the Thrashers, making him only one of two active netminders with a perfect record in at least 10 decisions against one team.

Philadelphia's victory on Sunday improved it to 12-9-6 on the road and moved the club into a tie with the New York Rangers for second place in the Atlantic Division. Both teams trail first-place New Jersey by six points.

Atlanta enters this contest with the second fewest points in the Eastern Conference (41) and has lost five of its last six contests. After halting a four-game slide with a shootout win over the Rangers on Tuesday, the Thrashers suffered a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the New Jersey Devils on Friday.

Colby Armstrong scored the lone goal for the Thrashers, who also fell to 9-15-2 at home this season. Kari Lehtonen started the game in net, but was pulled after allowing five goals on 24 shots. Johan Hedberg finished the game in net and stopped all seven shots he faced.

Atlanta went 0-for-7 on the power play and is just 1-for-32 on the man advantage over its last eight games.