"Nik Antropov is getting it.

The Thrashers center has goals in the past two games – his firsts of the season – and it's all about timing.

The big center, coming off a career-high in points, said he is getting more comfortable after being slowed by off-season hip surgery. More importantly, he is also getting a better sense of where he should be in coach Craig Ramsay's system.

Antropov cites his goal Saturday in St. Louis.

"I have been trying to help guys in the corners instead of being in front of the net or opposite the play," Antropov said. "That goal in St. Louis was a good example. I went into the corner but realized that the play was to pass the puck up top. I stopped, went back in front, and the puck found me. It's the little things like that but they make a big difference."

It was a relief for Antropov, who also assisted on Rich Peverley's first-period power-play goal Saturday. He started the Thrashers comeback against Buffalo on Friday with a power-play goal that "got the monkey off my back."

Both his goal and assist Saturday are examples of what Ramsay has been preaching to his team all season."