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(Sports Network) - The Atlanta Thrashers continue their push towards a possible playoff spot with tonight's game against a New York Islanders team that has given them plenty of trouble over the course of this 2009-10 campaign.

Atlanta, which has reached the postseason only once (2006-07) in its 10 seasons of existence, enters this evening's matchup from Philips Arena trailing Boston and the New York Rangers by only one point for the eighth playoff seed in the Eastern Conference. The Thrashers have kept pace by going 3-1-1 over their last five games and got their post-Olympic break schedule off to a desired start with Tuesday's 4-2 home win over floundering Florida.

Todd White and Rich Peverley each had a goal and an assist to lead the Thrashers offensively, while Johan Hedberg turned aside 34 shots between the pipes as Atlanta handed the Panthers a seventh straight defeat.

"We played a good team game [Tuesday]," said Atlanta defenseman Ron Hainsey. "We got a great save from Hedberg early and then scored at the other end. That's a huge swing in the game. Instead of being down 1-0 we went down and scored and we were up 1-0. Everything was good [Tuesday]."

The Thrashers, who have remained in the race despite trading All-Star wing Ilya Kovalchuk in early February, made one move at Wednesday's deadline to add some depth. The club acquired forward Clarke MacArthur from Buffalo in exchange for third and fourth-round picks in the upcoming draft.

The 24-year-old MacArthur had 13 goals and 13 assists and a minus-14 rating in 60 games with the Sabres this season.

Atlanta will be attempting to halt a string of four straight losses to the Islanders, three of which have taken place in 2009-10. New York has also prevailed in each of its last two visits to Philips Arena, including a 4-1 decision on December 3 behind a hat trick from Matt Moulson and 26 saves out of veteran backstop Dwayne Roloson.

Blake Comeau was the offensive star in the Islanders' most recent outing, with the young forward registering his first career hat trick to lead his team to a 5-3 triumph over Central Division leader Chicago Tuesday at Nassau Coliseum.

Jon Sim and Richard Park also scored in the win and Roloson was sharp in net, with the 40-year-old stopping 41-of-44 chances on the night.

"It's big for us. [The Blackhawks] are a good hockey club," said Comeau of the victory. "It's a big confidence booster. We knew we had to play a good game right after the break and get on the right way. I thought we did a good job [Tuesday]."

The Isles are 3-2-0 over their last five games, but still reside in a 12th- place tie in the East with 60 points. The team has lost six straight on the road and hasn't won as the guest since a 5-4 shootout decision at Phoenix on January 9.

For the season, New York has gone just 9-17-6 as the visitor.