The New Jersey Devils and Atlanta Thrashers do battle tonight in Hotlanta for the second time this season.  Martin Brodeur is most likely starting in goal and is 14-6-4 with three ties and a 2.19 goals-against average in 27 starts against Atlanta, but 2-4-4 with a 3.34 GAA in the last 10 meetings. Both teams have made significant improvements since last month and are coming off winning winning streaks.  Blueland Blog's Ben Wright shares his thoughts about tonight's matchup between the two revitalized and reignited conference rivals.

Q: Columbus, Dallas, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and New Jersey have either fired a coach, a general manager, or both in the last year. The Thrashers are definitely performing much better since letting go of Bob Hartley, after failing to register a point in the team's first six games this season.

What do you think of the short leashes, large responsibilities placed on a coaching staff today in sports?

A: Given how much money team owners and fans invest in their teams I don't think it's unreasonable of them to expect results on the ice. A Coach's sole responsibility is to get those results and they know that when they sign a contract.

Q: What has been the difference for the Thrashers, who are 7-1 in their last eight games?

A: Ilya Kovalchuk ad Marian Hossa. Don Waddell put them together on the same line for the first time on November 3 and they've been lighting up the opposition ever since. One of the two of them has scored in every game since then and they've combined for 17 goals and 33 points in the last seven games.

Q: Thrashers Forward Ilya Kovalchuk is unstoppable right now. He started November with two consecutive three-goal nights and has accumulated 21 points in nine games this month, after registering only 12 in October. What has been the difference for him? Change of line? Coach?

A: As good as Kovalchuk has been I November, he really wasn't playing poorly in October, especially when you consider that the rest of the team was underperforming. He averaged a point per game in October, which was impressive given the circumstances.

But he's a whole new player now. Bob Hartley taught Kovalchuk how to be a more well-rounded player and it has paid off. He's playing the best defense of his life and he's hustling back to block shots and break up plays. But Don Waddell has unleashed and given him free reign to create. With Todd White at center and Marian Hossa on the other wing the opposition is having trouble trying to cover everyone. Hossa and Kovalchuk are developing great chemistry and when one of them is covered the other one is having no problem getting the puck.

Q: The Devils defeated Atlanta 6-5 earlier this season, but both teams have since made changes to their lineup. Colin White and Jamie Langenbrunner returned from off season injuries and Kovalchuk woke up from his coma. Do you see another high-scoring game or a more aligned defensive matchup between the two teams?

A: The Thrashers got five goals past Martin Brodeur in October and that was when Marian Hossa was out with a groin injury. For whatever reason, the Thrashers haven't had much trouble scoring on Martin Brodeur. They're 7-2-0 against the Devils since the lockout and while you can never expect a high-scoring game when the Devils are involved, Atlanta has scoring in bunches lately and I'm not sure New Jersey can shut them down. I'm expecting the winning team to score at least three goals tonight.

Q: Martin Brodeur struggled mightily in October only winning three of his nine starts. Since November, he has allowed two goals or less seven times in nine starts, has won four of those games, including the Devils last two contests. He earned his 500th career win against Philadelphia and then shut down Pittsburgh and high-flying Sidney Crosby. Are you nervous knowing that Marty and the Devils are slowing regaining their confidence?

A: No. See above. Brodeur can be an intimidating goalie to play against and that causes shooters to try to be too perfect. The Thrashers have beaten him enough that he doesn't intimidate them, no matter how well he's been playing.

Q: Atlanta and New Jersey both commit very few penalties. How important is special teams on Friday night?

A: Special teams will be very important. The Thrashers power play has improved recently and they certainly don't want to give Elias, Parise, Gionta, Madden and company any extra room by giving them power plays.

Q: Atlanta ranks at the bottom of the league in GAA, only in front of last-place Toronto. The Devils are coming off two low-scoring, "Devils-boring-style" wins. Can Atlanta handle the neutral-zone trap and win a 1-0, or 2-1 game?

A: Yes. The Thrashers were outscored 27-9 in their first six games. SinceWaddell took over the Thrashers have outscored their opposition 52-41. Any season-long stats on the Thrashers are incredibly skewed by their horrible start. Johan Hedberg will be getting the start and he has won four straight and has allowed two or fewer goals in five of his last seven games.

I think they can win a low-scoring game if they have to, but I'm not convinced the Devils will be able to execute their trap against this team. Weren't they supposed to give that up for a more exciting brand

Of hockey under Sutter anyway?

Q: Final thoughts... Prediction time:

A: I'm expecting a relatively high-scoring game, but a close one. 4-3 or 5-4 for the Thrashers. Slava Kozlov is due for a multi-point game and Hossa has scored two or more points in six straight games. Atlanta is playing incredible hockey these days and the only way I see them losing is if a goalie outright steals a game or if they just flat-out play a stinker of a game.

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