The Atlanta Thrashers have benefited from a coaching change early in the season but no one more so than Ilya Kovalchuk. Kovalchuk, the league's goal-scoring leader who is expected to return Friday night when the Thrashers visit the Florida Panthers, left Tuesday's game with a back injury. Kovalchuk is hoping to continue his recent torrid stretch and lead the Thrashers to their season-high third straight win when "Yesterday I didn't feel good at all," Kovalchuck told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "It was a little bit scary actually; I couldn't even go in the bathroom. Those doctors and trainers are unbelievable. I think I'm going to be ready to go tomorrow."