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 weren't 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 wasn't 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.