GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: NEW JERSEY (1-3) at ATLANTA (0-4)

NHL: NEW JERSEY (1-3) at ATLANTA (0-4)

<h3>Thrashers hope to end struggles, face Devils</h3>

<div class="pre">New Jersey (1-3-0) at Atlanta (0-4-0) 7:00 pm EDT</div>

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The struggling Atlanta Thrashers hope to turntheir fortunes around.


Ilya Kovalchuk and the Thrashers look for their first win of theseason when they face the New Jersey Devils on Saturday.

Atlanta was crushed, 6-0, on Thursday in Buffalo, itsseason-opening fourth consecutive defeat. It is the worst startfor the reigning Southeast Division champions since beginningwith a franchise-worst nine straight losses to open the 2002-03season.


"Right now we're not playing good hockey," Thrashers coach BobHartley said. "We're so tight and anxious to get that first winthat we forget to do the right things."


Kovalchuk, the Thrashers' second-leading goal scorer from lastseason, has just two points for a club that has tallied aleague-low four goals. Making matters worse is the absence ofstar right wing Marian Hossa, who missed his second straightgame Thursday with a groin injury.


Both Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg must play better as well asthe two goaltenders have combined for a 4.32 GAA through fourgames.


Atlanta hopes to get well when it takes on New Jersey, a club itbeat three of four times in 2006-07.


The Devils have also had trouble generating offense in theirfirst four games, totaling only seven goals. New Jersey wasshut out for the first time this season Thursday in a 3-0 lossat Florida and is off to its worst start since 2001-02, whenthey opened 0-3-1.


Future Hall of Fame netminder Martin Brodeur is winless in threecontests for the first time since 2001-02 when the 15-yearveteran opened that season with three consecutive losses.Backup Kevin Weekes was in net for New Jersey's lone win - a 4-1conquest at Florida last Saturday.


The three-time Veznia Trophy winner has had some success vs.Atlanta, going 13-6-4 with three ties, four shutouts in 26contests against the Thrashers.

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL AT ATLANTA
STARTING GOALIES: NJD - MARTIN BRODEUR
ATL - KARI LEHTONEN

OFFICIALS: REF - DAVE JACKSON, ERIC FURLATT
LIN - DAVID BRISEBOIS, SHANE HEYER</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NEW JERSEY VS ATLANTA - SCRATCHES

NEW JERSEY ATLANTA

R MATVICHUK HEALTHY M HOSSA GROIN
S BROOKBANK HEALTHY M POPOVIC HEALTHY
N BERGFORS HEALTHY C THORBURN HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 0
ATLANTA 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 0
1ST PRD: NJD - (PP) JOHN MADDEN 3 (DAINIUS ZUBRUS, ARRON ASHAM) 1:46</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1
1ST PRD: ATL - DARREN HAYDAR 1 (BRYAN LITTLE, BRETT STERLING) 2:21</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 16:30 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 13:53 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 11:49 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 9:15 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 6:09 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 1
ATLANTA 1 2:43 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 1
1ST PRD: NJD - (PP) PATRIK ELIAS 1 (TRAVIS ZAJAC, ZACH PARISE) 18:05</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NEW JERSEY 2 2
ATLANTA 1 1 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NJD - (PP) JOHN MADDEN 3 (DAINIUS ZUBRUS, ARRON ASHAM) 1:46
ATL - DARREN HAYDAR 1 (BRYAN LITTLE, BRETT STERLING) 2:21
NJD - (PP) PATRIK ELIAS 1 (TRAVIS ZAJAC, ZACH PARISE) 18:05

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
NJD 12 12
ATL 4 4

GOALIES: NJD - MARTIN BRODEUR
ATL - KARI LEHTONEN</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------
New Jersey 2 --2
Atlanta 1 --1
------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, New Jersey, John Madden 3 (power play)
(Dainius Zubrus, Arron Asham), 1:46. 2, Atlanta, Darren Haydar 1
(Bryan Little, Brett Sterling), 2:21. 3, New Jersey, Patrik Elias 1
(power play) (Travis Zajac, Zach Parise), 18:05. Penalties: N
Havelid, Atl (interference), 0:34; K Klee, Atl (interference), 7:40; B
Sterling, Atl (holding), 17:32; A Asham, Njd (hooking), 18:55.

Shots on goal:
-----------------------------
New Jersey 12 --12
Atlanta 4 --4
-----------------------------

Goalies : New Jersey, Martin Brodeur (4 shots, 3 saves). Atlanta, Kari
Lehtonen (12 shots, 10 saves). Referees: Dave Jackson, Eric Furlatt.
Linesmen: David Brisebois, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 1 19:56 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 2
2ND PRD: ATL - (SH) ILYA KOVALCHUK 2 (VYACHESLAV KOZLOV, ALEXEI
ZHITNIK) 0:22</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 2 18:32 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 2 14:41 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: NEW JERSEY at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL NEW JERSEY 2
ATLANTA 3
2ND PRD: ATL - GARNET EXELBY 1 (DARREN HAYDAR, BOBBY HOLIK) 7:26</div>