Intriguing matchup: The Altanta Thrashers are 5-1 in their past 6 games and the Penguins are 6-0-1 in their past seven games
Penguins projected Lineup
Talbot – Crosby – Satan
Fedotenko – Malkin – Sykora
Cooke – Staal – Kennedy
Dupuis – Zigomanis – Godard
D-Pairs
Orpik – Letang
Gill – Scuderi
Goligoski – Boucher
Dany Sabourin will start in goal
Thrashers Projected Lineup
Kovalchuk – Christensen – Williams
Kozlov РWhite – Little
Thorburn РReasoner – Armstrong
Perrin РSlater – Boulton
D-Pairs
Hainsey – Exelby
Enstrom – Havelid
Valabik – Oystrick
Pavelec is expected to start in goal

Thrashers on the rise: The Thrashers play a wide open game and tonight will see a lot of up and down action. The Thrashers struggled out of the gate but have won 5 out of their last 6 games. While Ilya Kovalchuk (6 goals – 10 assists – 16pts) is off to a slow start for his standards, the Thrashers have received strong production from forwards Bryan Little (9 goals – 8 assists – 17 points) and Slava Kozlov (10 goals – 6 assists – 16pts) Kozlov has scored 6 goals in his last 7 games. Ilya Kovalchuk has 17 goals, 30 points in 23 career games against the Penguins.
Therrien on defenseman Phillipe Boucher
“I’m more than satisfied. He’s a great addition for our club. He adds a presence physically and makes a good first pass, and he’s got a cannon out there when he shoots the puck.”
Player to Watch: C Bryan Little (9 goals – 8 assists – 17 points)
The 20 year forward leads the Thrashers in scoring and Little is a dynamic offensive player.
Michel Therrien on Marc Andre Fleury’s status
Michel Therrien sounded optimistic on Tuesday that Marc Andre Fleury would be able to play by the weekend but following today’s mornings skate, Therrien was less optimistic.
Key stats
Former Pittsburgh Penguins forwards Colby Armstrong and Eric Christensen face off against the Penguins for the second time since being traded at last year’s trade deadline. The Penguins won the first meeting 3-2 in a shootout on March 2nd, 2008. Armstrong and Christensen have combined for 15 pts this season. Both players are averaging over 15:00 minutes in ice time.
The Thrashers were 2-1-1 against the Penguins last season
Ruslan Fedotenko has 9 goals – 12 assists – 21 points in 38 career games against the Thrashers
Photo courtesy of Dan4th