The Thrashers pulled off back to back wins for the seventh time on Thursday night after Marc Savard put in a game winner with 5 seconds remaining in OT against the Devils. This victory was a key win against a team that sits just a few spots (and just a few points) ahead of them in the Eastern Conference standings. But that simple fact overshadows the truth that the Thrashers are currently playing their best hockey of the season.
Over the past four games, the Thrashers have earn 7 points, with three wins and an overtime loss. Sure, the OT loss (in shootout) came against lowly Chicago, and one of the three victories came against Columbus, but the Thrashers did post 7 goals against a Detroit team that leads the Western Conference.
The Thrashers are averaging 5 goals per game over the past 4 game point streak, but the key to this streak has been consistent goaltending, something the Thrashers have had to battle with all season long. At the outset of the season, the Thrashers expected to have a rookie manning the net, but that was supposed to be top prospect Kari Lehtonen, not Michael Garnett. But after losing as many as 4 other goaltenders, the Thrashers were left relying on the rookie who was supposed to be playing in the minors all season. However, after getting a crash course in the NHL, Garnett is finally settling into his position as Thrashers goalkeeper, and is helping them earn points with regularity with some fantastic saves and quality outings.
There is no doubting the Thrashers offense can be explosive on any given night with Savard, Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa, and Peter Bondra all putting up a lot of points this season, but if they plan on making their first appearance in the playoffs this season, it will be the play of the goalkeepers, specifically Garnett right now, that allow them to consistently pick up points in the standings.