Peverly on pace to set Thrashers’ record

• RECORD WATCH: Rich Peverley entered Friday night’s game at Florida on pace to set a Thrashers record for best plus-minus rating by a center. Peverley was at a team-best plus-12, meaning he had been on the ice for 12 more even-strength or shorthanded goals scored than allowed this season. The team record for any position is right wing Marian Hossa’s plus-18 in 2006-07; center Jim Slater was plus-8 in 2006-07. Peverley said the statistic isn’t really an individual one. “It depends a lot who you play with and who you play against,” he said. What makes his stat more impressive: He was plus-15 through with the Thrashers, who claimed him off waivers from the Nashville Predators on Jan. 10. Peverley already has career highs for goals, assists and points (12-26-38 before Friday). He was plus-4 in 33 games last season in Nashville.

• HOT STREAK: Right wing Colby Armstrong’s assist on Peverley’s goal in the second period extended Armstrong’s point-scoring streak to six games, his longest streak of the season. “I just try to go to the net and make little plays,” said Armstrong, who had two goals and five assists in the first five games of the stretch. “I think our line’s playing well together.” His linemates are Slava Kozlov and Peverley.

• SOMETHING NEW: The 78th game of an 82-game season isn’t too late to try something different. Thrashers coach John Anderson installed a twist to the way the power-play units get the puck out of their defensive end. It’s one more thing the Thrashers will have in their arsenal next fall. “The pressure’s not on us to not make mistakes,” Anderson said. “We can try a few things systematically and schematically that can maybe help us in the following year.”

• BRIGHT FUTURE: As well as defenseman Zach Bogosian has played the past couple of months, it’s important to remember he’s still 18 and a rookie. This should be just the beginning. “He’s so good right now, and we’re excited about what he’s going to be in a year or two,” Anderson said.

— Mike Knobler