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(Sports Network) - Prior to 2009-10, a late-season matchup with the Flyers would have meant bad things for the Thrashers' playoff hopes. However, Atlanta is in position to record a third straight win over Philadelphia tonight and move to within one point of the Eastern Conference's final playoff position at Philips Arena.

The Thrashers were swept in all four of their meetings with the Flyers last year, pushing their series losing streak to an eye-popping 14 straight games since a 6-5 overtime win at Philadelphia back on Nov. 18, 2005.

Atlanta, though, recorded a 1-0 home win over Philly on Nov. 28 to snap that skid, as well as a nine-game series home losing streak, then made it two wins in a row over the Flyers with a 4-3 road triumph on Jan. 28.

A third straight win over the Flyers would be big for the Thrashers, who trail the eighth-place Bruins by three points in the Eastern Conference standings with 12 games to play. Boston is idle on Saturday.

Atlanta has won two straight since a six-game losing streak (0-5-1), downing Ottawa, 6-3, on Thursday. Nik Antropov's second goal of the game snapped a 3-3 tie in the third period and Colby Armstrong added two goals later in the frame to go along with an assist.

Jim Slater added a goal and an assist for the Thrashers and Johan Hedberg made 36 saves in helping Atlanta improve to 2-1-1 on a five-game homestand.

"Our lines have been playing pretty good the last couple of games," said Armstrong. "We made some good plays in their end and executed some nice goals. It was a good game for all of us."

That victory by Atlanta also helped out Philadelphia, as it defeated Dallas, 3-2, on Thursday to move into a tie with Ottawa for fifth overall in the East with a game in hand. The Flyers are also a point up on seventh-place Montreal and own an eight-point edge over the Thrashers.

On the same day the Flyers learned that starting netminder Michael Leighton will miss at least eight weeks due to a high left ankle sprain, Brian Boucher made 27 saves in his first start since Dec. 21. Philadelphia is already without Ray Emery, who opened the season as its No. 1 netminder but is currently on injured reserve due to a hip injury.

Boucher, who had made four relief outings between starts, earned his first win since Dec. 14.

Scott Hartnell scored the game-winner early in the third period on a deflection, Simon Gagne scored for the eighth time in nine games and Mike Richards added a goal for the Flyers, who improved to 1-1-1 on a four-game road trip and 9-3-2 over their last 14 games overall.

Philadelphia won its first game in Dallas since Dec. 6, 1996.

"We battled for 60 minutes," Hartnell said. "It says a lot on the road. I don't think we've won here [in Dallas] in 13 years. It was a big W for us to get that monkey off our back."