Kovalchuk shooting more

Thrashers captain Ilya Kovalchuk entered Saturday’s game with seven goals in his past eight games. “I maybe just started shooting the puck a little more and going to the net a little harder,” Kovalchuk said.

• HAINSEY HELPS: Kovalchuk and new linemate Rich Peverley grabbed headlines Friday night with three-point games in the Thrashers’ 4-3 overtime victory over Toronto, but Ron Hainsey played a big role, too. “A great pass from Ron” led to the game-tying goal, Kovalchuk said, and Hainsey also got an assist on the game-winner. That gave Hainsey 24 points. He is on pace to break Tobias Enstrom’s Thrashers record of 38 by a defenseman.

• KEEP GOING: Goalie Johan Hedberg insists the Thrashers haven’t given up on making the playoffs. They were 13 points out of the last playoff spot on Saturday morning. “In our minds we’re still in it. We have to believe we can still do it,” Hedberg said. “We have to put up some short-term goals, try to get the ball rolling. Maybe we try to win tonight’s game, then the next three games get five out of six points. That’s the way we have to approach it and try to climb back into the race. We can’t just lay down and die.”

• RECORD WATCH: Thrashers assistant coach Randy Cunneyworth is about to lose his spot in the NHL record book. Brendan Shanahan, who signed a free-agent contract, is planning to make his season debut with the New Jersey Devils on Monday, 6,504 days after his last regular-season game with the team. Cunneyworth went 6,169 days between games with the Buffalo Sabres from December 1981 to November 1998.

• BON APPETIT: If you didn’t get the all-you-can-eat seats, you can still get your food and drink at Philips Arena on the cheap. Beginning Tuesday night against Montreal, fans can get hot dogs, popcorn or fountain drinks for $1 from the time the gates open until the opening faceoff. The promotion continues through Feb. 11.