Kovalchuk back just in time for visit by Oilers

It’s at times like this strange results often happen.

And that would be fine for the struggling Edmonton Oilers, who travel into Atlanta on Sunday afternoon carrying a lot of baggage with them.

There they meet a confident bunch of Thrashers who are enjoying the return of their star and some strong play all around.

Leading the happy news in Georgia is the return to playable health of Ilya Kovalchuk(notes), who missed six games with a broken foot and, word is, may still not be in perfect shape.

Hasn’t hurt him, however, as the Russian sniper had two goals and a pair of helpers in Atlanta’s 7-0 win over Los Angeles on Friday night, just a day after a goal and two assists against the Rangers.

That’s seven points in 24 hours.

“It’s still going to take me time to heal all the way,” he said after Friday’s heroics. And isn’t that bad news for the rest of the league — he’s not even better yet.

Then there’s the play of Maxim Afinogenov(notes), who signed with the Thrashers after likely deciding he was never going to work things out with Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, for whom he had performed for nine seasons.

Afinogenov had two goals and four points of his own against the Kings and 16 points overall this season.

“Max looks like he got a second life,” Kovalchuk said. “In Buffalo, he took a beating by the coach. He’s one of the hardest workers.

“Every day he’s smiling.”

Also showing some teeth is first round pick (fourth overall) Evander Kane(notes), who had three goals and five points in the two contests.

So here come the Oilers, dragging a 1-4-1 recent record with them, set up by some poor offensive output that has seen Edmonton come up with two goals or less four times in the past six outings.

Last time out was a 3-1 loss to Buffalo despite getting seven power-play chances (converting once).

“That’s the way it’s been lately — not quite able to get the goal when we needed it,” said the Oilers’ Patrick Sullivan, who had that lone marker against the Sabres.

“The one positive thing is we’re playing a lot harder.”

Not that it means a lot really, but in four all-time visits to the peach state the Oilers are 3-1 with two shutouts. Edmonton has also not allowed a power-play goal in five straight road games and seven of its last eight.

All that adds up to is a vague thought that the way to beat the Thrashers is to put them on a lot of power plays.

Like we said, strange things can happen.