Atlanta (7-7-2) at Philadelphia (6-6-4), 7:00 pm EST
PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Thrashers' winning streak
has seemingly negated their dismal start.
Goaltender Johan Hedberg and the Thrashers hope to set a
franchise record with a sixth straight victory when they visit
the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.
In order to do so, they will have to avoid a 12th straight loss
to the Flyers, who are 14-0-1 against Atlanta in the last 15
meetings.
The Thrashers had five-game winning streaks during the 2005-06
and 2006-07 seasons and have gotten three straight solid outings
from Hedberg. After defeating the Buffalo Sabres, 5-4, in
overtime on November 7, the Swede shined in back-to-back wins
over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Hedberg surrendered eight goals in the three-game stretch, which
followed two straight victories by rookie Ondrej Pavelec.
A 21-year-old who was selected in the second round in 2005 by
Atlanta, Pavelec made his first career start and helped the
Thrashers spark their streak with a 5-3 victory over the Florida
Panthers on November 2. Four days later, he stymied the New
York Islanders in a 4-3 win.
Atlanta can move above the .500 mark for the first time since
defeating the Washington Capitals, 7-4, on October 11 to open
the campaign.
Meanwhile, the Flyers can make the same jump since. They haven't
been over the .500 mark since holding a 4-3-3 mark on October
30. Two days prior to the 3-2 overtime win against the
Islanders that push them to that record, the Flyers cruised to a
7-0 win over the Thrashers.
Wrapping up a three-game road trip with five of a possible six
points (2-0-1), the Flyers are coming off a 2-1 triumph over the
Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.