Let's get this out of the way first: Thrashers forward Jim Slater hasn't scored a goal this season. Not a single one.

The hard-skating Slater has found himself in the back of a net more often than a puck he's shot.

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Jim Slater, who has yet to score a goal this season, has contributed with physical play in centering the fourth line.

"I just wish I could shoot one in off his pants," sympathetic linemate Chris Thorburn said

Slater's last goal came on Feb. 3, and it gave him goals in consecutive games. Consecutive games with goals? Now he'd take just one.

He's hit goalposts and crossbars, blockers and gloves, and just for good measure he hit Ottawa's Cody Bass a few times with a right hook on Thursday night. It wasn't a goal, but somebody has to pay for the frustration that comes with being the only Thrashers forward without one.

"It wears on you," Slater admitted after Friday's morning practice. "I've always been a goal scorer. Coming here, obviously things have changed."

He scored 64 goals in 157 games at Michigan State, and was the team MVP his last two seasons with the Spartans. In 2005-06, his rookie season with the Thrashers, he had 10 goals in 71 games and seemed on his way to being a guy who would consistently reach the teens in goal scoring as a physical center or fill-in on the wing.

But since scoring 10 his first season, he hasn't totaled 10 in the past two. He finished with five goals last year, and now this season ...

"Sometimes you have to change your game around to be in the lineup and play every night," Slater said. "I think I've done a lot of the small things."

And he has. As center of the fourth line that includes Thorburn and Eric Boulton, he's providing energy, physical play and creating havoc all over the ice.

"Obviously he'd like to score, but he's playing well, getting assists," Boulton said. "If it wasn't for his work ethic and the way he's playing, we wouldn't be scoring."

The line has been scoring lately more than anyone expected, especially considering their ice time. Boulton's goal on Thursday against first-place Ottawa tied the game early in the second period. Boulton now has three goals, matching his total from last season.

The previous game, a win over Tampa Bay, Thorburn scored his second goal of the season. He's now one away from matching his total from last season.

Maybe there's just not enough pucks to go around on that line.

"Me and Boults yesterday were like 'Let's set him up, let's set him up' and then Boults drives wide [on Ottawa goalie Martin Gerber] and tries to jam it in. Meanwhile, Jimmy is wide open," Thorburn joked.

Ultimately, the organization sees the 25-year-old Slater not as a goal-scorer, but as a guy who can fill the role of Bobby Holik. A defense-first, checking line center, who is hard to play against.

"I think he can do better than that," Holik said. "Not that what I do is not good enough. Everybody's top is different. There's nothing wrong with him playing where he's playing now and learning there."

And Holik promises that if Slater plays hockey the right way, and doesn't try forcing that first goal, it'll come. And a lot more will follow.

That's what Slater is doing. He's using his speed to draw penalties. He's setting up his linemates. Those 10 stitches above his eye show he's not afraid to mix it up.

And Slater's second goal, head coach Don Waddell promises, will come a lot easier than the first has. Slater sure hopes so.

"It's just a matter of staying with it," Slater said. "I know it's going to come."