Sat Oct 27 13:07:30 2007

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Blackhawks host Thrashers in Windy City

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(Sports Network) - The Chicago Blackhawks are getting outstanding play from a pair of rookies, and hope that trend continues tonight when they welcome the Atlanta Thrashers to the United Center.

Though Chicago has lost two in a row, its 5-5-0 start can largely be credited to young guns Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane. The 19-year-old Toews, the third overall pick in 2006, is currently riding an eight-game point streak that has seen the center total four goals and four assists in that span.

That includes the lone goal in Thursday's 3-1 loss to Boston. Nikolai Khabibulin allowed all three goals on 18 shots in the loss.

Kane, 18, was held off the stat sheet in that game, but is still Chicago's leading scorer on the season with three goals and 10 assists, giving the 2007 first overall selection 13 points on the season.

Chicago forward David Koci left Thursday's game in the first period after having his nose again broken in a fight with Boston's Zdeno Chara. He did not return for the remainder of the contest and was placed on injured reserve -- along with Andrei Zyuzin (glute) -- after the game.

In addition, Brent Sopel (groin) is questionable for tonight's game.

The Blackhawks, who are 3-3 as the home team this season, will play their next two games at Dallas and St. Louis.

The Thrashers are in the midst of a seven-game road swing, and fell to 1-2 on the trip after Thursday's 3-0 loss to Nashville. Dan Ellis made 20 saves for the Predators.

Johan Hedberg stopped 31 shots for the Thrashers, who have gone 2-2-0 since management fired former head coach Bob Hartley and replaced him on an interim basis with general manager Don Waddell.

Hedberg is starting in place of Kari Lehtonen, who is on injured reserve with a groin injury and is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to the ailment.

Ilya Kovalchuk recorded three points in a win over Toronto on Tuesday, but was held off the stat sheet against Nashville. He leads the Thrashers with nine points (5 goals, 4 assists) on the season.

This marks the first meeting between the two clubs in Chicago since the Blackhawks recorded a shutout victory over the Thrashers on November 7, 2002. Atlanta is 0-2 all-time in Chicago.

Chicago has also won five of its seven lifetime meetings with Atlanta.