Atlanta (2-5-2) at NY Rangers (9-2-1) 7:00 p.m. EDT
NEW YORK (Ticker) -- After ending a season-opening 10-game
goalless drought, New York Rangers center Chris Drury is hoping
the tallies will come in droves.
New York's captain will look to help his team win its fourth
straight game when it hosts the lowly Atlanta Thrashers on
Thursday.
Drury scored a pair of goals in the Rangers' 4-2 win over the
New York Islanders on Monday. The Rangers have recorded a
league-high 19 points through 12 games this season, doing so
without much production from the former Calder Trophy winner.
The Rangers' early success has been keyed by quality play in
net. Goaltenders Henrik Lundqvist and Stephen Valiquette have
combined for a league-leading 1.92 goals against average.
After allowing all five goals in a 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit
on October 18, Lundqvist has yielded two or less in four
straight games to propel the Rangers to a three-game winning
streak.
The Thrashers, who are in the midst of a four-game slide, are
coming off an embarrassing 7-0 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers
on Tuesday. Kari Lehtonen allowed all seven tallies, including
four in the third period.
Atlanta is tied with the Islanders and Tampa Bay Lightning for
the fewest wins in the NHL.