Thrashers still benefiting from Peverly acquisition

KOZLOV VS. KOZLOV: Thursday night’s matchup at the Verizon Center sounded like the shorthand for a Dostoevsky novel, but the V. Kozlov who played for the Thrashers and the V. Kozlov who played for the Washington Capitals definitely aren’t The Brothers K.

The Capitals’ right wing Viktor and the Thrashers’ left wing Vyacheslav, or Slava, aren’t related. But not everyone can keep them straight, though Viktor is 6-foot-5, 237 pounds, and Slava is 5-10, 190. “People call me ‘Viktor,’ ” Slava said. “Even the referee. Not anymore, but there were a couple of times. One reporter, too. I said, ‘I’m not Viktor, so I’m not going to do an interview.’ ” Being mistaken for Viktor Kozlov isn’t a putdown. “He’s a very good player, skilled,” Slava Kozlov said. Viktor had 38 points in 39 career games against the Thrashers before Thursday night. The Atlanta game was his first after missing eight games with a groin injury.

STILL STRONG: Rich Peverley’s six points in his first three games for the Thrashers seemed too good to be true, and he was cautious at the time not to get too caught up in his early success. But Peverley continues to reward Atlanta for claiming him off waivers from the Nashville Predators. His game-winning goal Tuesday night against the Colorado Avalanche was his third, tying him for second on the team, and his second-period goal Thursday night was his 19th point in 19 games with the Thrashers. “You don’t want to get ahead of yourself,” Peverley said before the game. “My focus has been to be consistent and to be the best player I can be. You don’t want to be a shot in the pan.” It’s not easy joining a new team in midseason, but the road trips, especially last week’s four-game western swing, helped Peverley finish settling in. “I think being on road trips and being around the guys really helped,” Peverley said. “At home everybody’s got kids and they go home and do their own thing, but when we’re on the road we spend a lot more time together.”

GETTING FAMILIAR: Including Thursday night’s game, the Thrashers play the Capitals four times in the season’s final 21 games.

— Mike Knobler