(Sports Network) - That Atlanta Thrashers will try to extend their season-high three-game winning streak tonight when they welcome the Carolina Hurricanes to Philips Arena.

Since starting out the season 0-6-0, which resulted in the firing of coach Bob Hartley, the Thrashers have posted a 7-3-0 mark under general manager and interim coach Don Waddell, and have climbed out of the Southeast Division basement.

Atlanta's winning streak reached three games on Friday after a 4-1 victory over Florida. Ondrej Pavelec made 36 saves in the win.

Despite leaving Atlanta's previous game early due to back spasms, Ilya Kovalchuk returned to the lineup and scored his eighth goal in the last four games while also adding an assist.

Kovalchuk has 10 points (8 goals, 2 assists) in the last four games and leads the league with 14 goals, one ahead of Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg. Also, the goal was his 400th career point.

Marian Hossa had a goal and an assist, and Slava Kozlov scored to extend his points streak to six games (4g, 4a).

Atlanta, which is tied for third in the standings, is only 2-3-0 at home and will also host Florida on Tuesday.

But first, the Thrashers have to battle the Southeast's top squad. The Hurricanes are on top with a 9-4-3 record and 21 points, six points ahead of second-place Tampa Bay.

Carolina won back-to-back games before suffering a 5-1 loss to Tampa Bay on Thursday. The Hurricanes failed to solve Johan Holmqvist, who made 40 saves for the Lightning.

Cam Ward, meanwhile, yielded five goals on 31 shots.

Ray Whitney scored the lone goal for Carolina to extend his points streak to eight games. He has seven goals and six assists during his burst. Matt Cullen had an assist to give him a helper in eight straight games -- 11 total -- which ties the longest such run in club history.

The Hurricanes enter tonight's game with a 4-2-2 record on the road and play the first of three straight as the visitor. The club also has stops in Florida and Tampa Bay coming up.

The Thrashers and Hurricanes are meeting for the first time this year and have split their eight-game series each of the last two seasons. Carolina has won three of its last four trips to Atlanta.