Thrashers forward Todd White missed his first game of the season after suffering a cut on his elbow against the Islanders, one that required more than 20 stitches.

"His arm completely stiffened up," said Waddell of White who didn't join the team on the roadtrip to Boston and Pittsburgh.

Bryan Little returned to center in White's place and skated on the top line with Ilya Kovalchuk and Mark Recchi.

Colby Armstrong also needed stitches after being checked into the boards by Boston's Milan Lucic. He left the game in the third, and Waddell said he got 15 to 18 stitches on the side of the head before returning.

Shootout specialist shut out

Among Erik Christensen's assets is an uncanny ability to score in the shootout.

On a Pittsburgh team loaded with offensive talent, Christensen led off the Penguins shootouts and entered Saturday's game fifth in the league with a shooting percentage of 62.5 percent (5-for-8). He dropped to 5-for-9 when Tim Thomas denied his first shootout attempt with the Thrashers.

"You're given that role, and I thought of it as a privilege," said Christensen of his shootout success in Pittsburgh. "You have to relax, you have to make it fun. I try to stay confident, and enjoy the atmosphere and drama."

With Christensen and Kozlov (41.7 percent before the game), the Thrashers have two of the top seven shootout options in the league but neither could beat Thomas.

Lehtonen's low ranking

The Hockey News recently ranked the Top 30 goalies in the NHL, and Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen was last — No. 30. Lehtonen took the news in stride.

"That's their opinion, but for sure it's been a tough year," he said. "It's hard times right now, sometimes it seems like that no matter what you do, it doesn't go well."