Sports

NHL

Thrashers ruin return of ex-mate

Associated Press
Published January 3, 2006

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ATLANTA - Slava Kozlov had a hat trick and an assist and Marian Hossa two goals and an assist Monday in the Thrashers' 8-3 victory over the Senators.

The victory spoiled the return of Dany Heatley. Heatley requested a trade two years after he was involved in a car crash that killed teammate Dan Snyder. He was sent to Ottawa on Aug.23 for Hossa and defenseman Greg DeVries.

Heatley was greeted by a mix of cheers and boos when he came out for pregame warmups. When the starting lineups were announced, the boos were somewhat louder than the cheers. And when play began, Heatley drew boos each time he touched the puck with the loudest coming when he scored to make it 8-3 with 6:37 left. He heard cheers when he received a hooking penalty earlier in the third.

"I wasn't putting too much emphasis on (the booing)," Heatley said. "A lot of people were saying some really good things, and I appreciate that. If they want to boo, that's fine. They paid their tickets. But it's just another game, one that we want back."

The Thrashers led 3-0 after the first, getting a power-play goal from Ilya Kovalchuk, his 25th, a goal from Kozlov and a short-handed goal by Hossa. It was 6-2 after two with goals by Hossa (his 21st and fourth in two games) and two by Kozlov, his 12th and 13th. DeVries made it 7-2 in the third with his sixth goal.

FLYERS 1, BRUINS 0: Antero Niittymaki made 27 saves for his second shutout for Philadelphia, which has started its 11-game trip 5-1. Jeff Carter scored 6:25 into the second, completing a three-on-two by slipping R.J. Umberger's pass between Hannu Toivonen's pads. Boston's best chance came when Brad Boyes hit the crossbar with 12 seconds left in the first. LEAFS 3, PENGUINS 2 (OT): Bryan McCabe scored 1:02 in for host Toronto, which has won six in a row. Pittsburgh's Michel Ouellet tied it on the power play with a shot from the side of the net with 4:39 left. And the Penguins killed off a penalty that began with 1:22 left in regulation. But soon after, McCabe deflected in a shot by Kyle Wellwood. FLAMES 3, BLACKHAWKS 2: Matthew Lombardi scored with 7:04 left for host Calgary. Chicago has lost seven in a row. Lombardi's second goal of the season and second in as many games came when Darren McCarty outmuscled Jassen Cullimore behind the net and centered a pass to Lombardi alone in front. He deked Craig Anderson (making his second straight start with Nikolai Khabibulin out with a groin injury) and scored. BLUES 4, CANUCKS 1: Mike Sillinger had two goals and an assist and Doug Weight a goal and two assists for host St. Louis. Weight helped put the Blues up 2-1 with 3:42 left in the first. He broke in on the right side and dropped a pass to Scott Young, who scored from between the circles. Then 2:10 later, Petr Cajanek dropped a pass in the slot to Sillinger, who beat Alex Auld with a wrist shot. AVALANCHE: Forward Brad May will miss 4-5 weeks with a sprained knee sustained Saturday against Phoenix. In 34 games, he has two goals, two assists and 59 penalty minutes. BLUE JACKETS: Alexandre Picard, picked No.8 overall in 2004, was activated from the injured list and sent to Syracuse of the AHL. Picard, out with a concussion since Nov.22, has no points in two games. KINGS: Right wing George Parros was put on the injured list with a sprained ankle sustained Wednesday against Colorado. In 33 games, he has one goal, three assists and 56 penalty minutes.

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 02:01:28]