It's been 28 years since the Flames left Atlanta for Calgary, and they haven't won a hockey game in Georgia since.

The losses haven't happened frequently enough to officially make it a curse, but with the Thrashers 6-4 comeback victory over Calgary at Philips Arena, the Flames are now 0-4-1 all-time against the Thrashers in Atlanta.

It was Calgary's first game in Atlanta since Nov. 11, 2002.

Thrashers coach and general manager Don Waddell was surprised to hear that the Flames are still looking for their first victory in Atlanta since moving to Calgary.

"I didn't know that, that's pretty interesting that they haven't beat us here," Waddell said. "But they're competing for first place so this was a big game for them. The game was much bigger for them at this point of the season — we talk about pride and playing for each other, the guys did it tonight."

Jarome Iginla's second goal of the game early in the second period gave the Flames a 3-0 lead, and considering the Thrashers are out of the playoff race and about to leave on a three-game road trip, rolling over didn't seem out of the question.

A pair of quick goals changed that. Ilya Kovalchuk and Colby Armstrong scored goals 19 seconds a part in the second period to lift the Thrashers back into the game and they never gave up the momentum.

While battling back in the second period, the Thrashers actually outshot the Flames 15-8. The two teams each finished with 32 shots, in a rare game in which the Thrashers weren't outshot.

"We talked before the game and we have to play for pride and for each other," said Kovalchuk, whose empty-net goal in the third period gave him his 10th career hat trick. "We have a lot of great fans here, a good crowd, we have to play for them and we did. I think it was an excellent game, it was tough we were down three goals but we came back and showed a lot of character."

It was the Thrashers' first regulation victory since Feb. 2 and first regulation victory at home since Jan. 30.

Entering the game, the Thrashers had only one victory in their past 11 games.

"Yeah, we've had some good games and some real bad ones," said Chris Thorburn. It's nice to put 60 minutes together and come out with two points."

The game marked the debut of a new Thrashers line combination — Kovalchuk played on the left wing with center Bobby Holik and Chris Thorburn. It was a physical line in a physical game, and it became one of the few lines on the Thrashers with size. Kovalchuk, at 6-foot-1, is the shortest of the three.

The trio accounted for five of the Thrashers' six goals. Holik scored the game-winning goal with a big slapshot from a nice feed from Kovalchuk.

"It has nothing to do with the line combinations," said Holik whose 12 goals this season are one more than he had during the regular season last season. "It was a little bit more commitment from every one of us here to play for each other and for the team."

Thorburn's goal midway through the third period tied the game at four, and gave him a career-high four goals.

He drove to the net, faked the backhand, then beat Curtis Joseph with the forehand.

Waddell liked what he saw from the new line.

"They looked pretty good tonight," Waddell said. "They're physical and they created opportunities. Thorburn's goal was one of the nicest goals I've seen this year."