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Mike Fisher and Filip Kuba return in loss to Thrashers
Two fourth liners and a defenceman managed to score for the Senators Thursday.
But on another dark and humiliating night, the stars were again nowhere to be seen.
Their best players werent their best players as the Senators were spanked 6-3 by the Thrashers at Philips Arena for their seventh loss in eight games since the Olympic break.
This time they gave up three unanswered third-period goals.
The Senators were trailing 3-1 late in the second period when Jarkko Ruutu and Chris Phillips scored 43 seconds apart.
The Ruutu goal was controversial (it was rightfully allowed, but Atlanta wasnt happy) as the Senators pest elbowed Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg in the head while he was battling for the puck just before putting it in the open net.
Hedberg may have been still rattled when Phillips tied his career-high with his eighth of the season with a wrist shot from the top of the circle.
But rather than build on the momentum, the Senators fell apart like a cheap suit in the third period.
Former Thrasher Andy Sutton was sent to the box for elbowing goon Eric Boulton in the chops just 2:27 into the final frame, and a minute and a half later ex-Leaf Nik Antropov scored with a smart deflection on the power play to put Atlanta ahead to stay.
Colby Armstrong blasted a slap shot past Brian Elliotts trapper less than two minutes later, and the Senators were caught standing around watching as Armstrong added another at the 10:20 mark.
The Senators lost leading goal scorer Milan Michalek in the second period, when he flipped over Atlanta goalie Johan Hedberg and into the post while breaking to the net on a short-handed attempt.
Michalek left the game favoring his left leg and did not return.
With the return of Mike Fisher and Filip Kuba, the Senators had an injury-free roster for only the second game all season.
Kubas return put Matt Carkner in the pressbox (Carkner has been playing hurt and not practising), while Shean Donovan and Jesse Winchester were the scratches up front.
