Gwinnett Daily Post

It's already been a season of plenty of ups and downs for the Atlanta Thrashers. But once the team can get past the regulation 60 minutes, it is one of the NHL's most consistent teams.

The Thrashers don't lose in overtime and are also as dominant in shootouts.

Marian Hossa scored just 19 seconds into overtime Sunday for a 3-2 victory at St. Louis, giving Atlanta a four-game winning streak after a four-game losing streak.

The Thrashers are 8-1 when the game goes past regulation time, including 4-0 in overtime. Atlanta beat Montreal in a shootout on Saturday at home.

The winning streak - the last three victories by a single goal - has pushed the Thrashers (18-17-1) back over .500 and they are tied for second in the Southeast Division with Florida at 37 points.

After the NHL's two-day Christmas break, the Thrashers will play at Columbus on Wednesday, then host Florida on Thursday at Philips Arena.

Apparently on the skids just a week ago, Atlanta is now very much back in the playoff picture.

General manager and interim coach Don Waddell juggled his pairings and the moves have definitely paid off.

Hossa and Slava Kozlov were reunited and have given the Thrashers a productive second line to complement the scoring of Ilya Kovalchuk, the NHL's leading goal producer.

Kovalchuk, now paired with Mark Recchi and Todd White, scored his 29th goal against the Blues. The veteran Recchi, who had the other goal in St. Louis, has eight points (four goals and four assists) in seven games since being claimed off waivers by the Thrashers.

The Thrashers have also received solid goaltending from Kari Lehtonen during their winning streak. He has a 2.00 goals-against average and a .935 save percentage in the four victories.

SideBar: Thrashers at Columbus

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

Where: Columbus, Ohio

TV/radio: SportSouth/680-AM