(Best E Casino) - The Atlanta Thrashers seek their fifth consecutive win tonight when they welcome the New York Rangers to Philips Arena.

The Southeast Division leaders are coming off Wednesday's 5-4 decision over Ottawa in the middle portion of a three-game homestand. Slava Kozlov recorded his fifth career hat trick, including the game-winning tally in the third period as Atlanta scored three unanswered goals en route to the victory.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 13th goal of the season to tie teammate Marian Hossa for the league-lead, while Hossa finished with three assists.

Goaltender Kari Lehtonen took over for an ineffective Johan Hedberg, stopping all 19 shots he faced to pick up the win. Hedberg allowed four goals on 19 shots before departing.

Lehtonen had been the one struggling, as he was on the bench for three straight games in favor of Hedberg.

Atlanta will visit Tampa Bay on Saturday.

New York, meanwhile, is 3-0-1 in its last four games. On Wednesday, Martin Straka scored a pair of goals in regulation and Michael Nylander lit the lamp in the shootout, as the Rangers edged the Florida Panthers, 4-3, at the BankAtlantic Center.

Nylander also had two assists while Henrik Lundqvist came up with 36 saves for the Rangers. Lundqvist also stopped each shot he faced in the shootout, and is now a perfect 19-of-19 on the season in the session.

The Rangers' Jaromir Jagr was scoreless on Wednesday and is now third in the NHL with 23 points -- one behind Kovalchuk and four back of Hossa.

New York will visit Washington on Saturday to finish a three-game trip.

Atlanta and New York split four meetings last season.