BOSTON — Every NHL locker room at this time of the year is a bit on edge because of today’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. Publicly, players say they don’t think about it and they just try to go out and do their job and help their team win.

"Distracted is not the right word," said Bruins coach Dave Lewis. "Players are aware of the situation. … For all the deals that are made there is only maybe one that works. There is lots of movement with teams trying to upgrade for a playoff push, teams trying to add the last piece for a Stanley Cup and teams trying to rebuild."

As of late last night it seemed as though the Bruins’ transactions may be over, even though the club is still in desperate need of some wins if they want to sneak into the playoffs. Whether the looming deadline or the fact the club just returned home from a six-game road trip affected its game last night, Boston played careless at times and saw the bounces go the other way.

In the end, the Atlanta Thrashers took advantage, scoring twice on the man-advantage en route to a 3-2 victory at the Garden. The Thrashers’ Marion Hossa was credited with the game-winning goal, but Boston goaltender Tim Thomas (17 saves) said it was redirected in front before he could react.

"I watched it go off (Eric) Belanger’s shin pad," said Thomas. "Hossa’s shot was going to go wide, but it deflects off a shin pad and back."

The loss for the Bruins comes at a critical time.

"We’re in a dogfight, and against Atlanta we need to take two points," said the Bruins’ Brad Boyes. "We need to get back at it next game because we’re not out of this thing by any means, but at the same time this would have been a great win."

Boston wasn’t about to make any excuses. It basically came down to special teams and Atlanta capitalizing on its chances.

"It was kind of a weird game," said Boyes. "There weren’t a lot of glorious chances on both sides, but in the end they got the third one and that’s what mattered."

"We didn’t play that bad of a game," said Thomas. "We just came off a long road trip (4-2). There are no excuses, but now we need to settle in at home and get our legs back underneath us. We need to start piling up the wins."

After its physically draining road trip, Boston clearly had enough rest coming into last night’s game and it took an early 1-0 lead 1:29 into the first period. Boston blue-liner Jason York took a shot from the point that bounced around the slot before Donovan gained control and notched his 100th career goal with a turnaround snapper that beat Atlanta goalie Kari Lehtonen.

The Thrashers knotted the game at 1-1 later in the period, converting their first man-advantage when the puck pinballed through a scramble in front and through Thomas’ legs. Atlanta’s Scott Mellanby was credited with the tally.

"I’m not sure if I saw the first one," said Thomas. "It went through a crowd and I didn’t see it until it hit me. I tried to close up my legs. Obviously if I knew where it was I wouldn’t have kicked it back with my heel."

In the waning minutes of the opening frame, the Bruins regained their lead on a heads-up play by Patrice Bergeron. Boston collected a turnover in its own zone and executed its transition play to perfection, resulting in Boyes notching his 13th goal of the season at 18:22 for a 2-1 advantage.

Atlanta tied the game at 2-2 just 2:09 into the second period when Belanger scored the Thrashers’ second power-play goal of the game. Atlanta scored an even-strength goal at 7:28 of the third period as Hossa’s shot found its way through a screen in front and past Thomas for a 3-2 lead.

"We wanted to get right back at it the first game at home," said Thomas. "We did a lot of good things. Our play in their zone was excellent and the play in our zone wasn’t that bad. Atlanta just did some things to create some traffic, but we were doing the same thing on them. They just ended up getting that bounce."

jmcdonal@projo.com