NHL

Thrashers hold off Penguins' furious comeback

By wire services
Published January 7, 2006

ATLANTA - Ilya Kovalchuk recorded his second hat trick of the season, and the Thrashers, up 5-0 after two, held off the Penguins' third-period rally to win 6-4 on Friday.

Kovalchuk scored 1:28 in off a faceoff in the Pittsburgh zone. Marc Savard got the puck to the left of Jocelyn Thibault, lured the goalie out of position and passed across to Kovalchuk.

After Slava Kozlov made it 2-0, Scott Mellanby scored on a shot that went off the post and straddled the line before Thibault knocked the puck in with his glove while trying to cover it. Thibault then was pulled.

With the score 4-0 in the second and Sidney Crosby off for his second slashing penalty, Kovalchuk took a pass from outside the circle and one-timed a blistering shot over Marc-Andre Fleury's left shoulder.

Kovalchuk turned quickly and pointed toward Crosby, who was coming out of the box. The crowd derisively chanted "Crosby! Crosby! Crosby!" toward the No.1 pick and most touted prospect since Wayne Gretzky.

"He took a stupid penalty," Kovalchuk said. "He's an 18-year-old kid, and he's got to learn he can't play like this."

The Penguins were not amused.

"It's a long season," coach Michel Therrien said ominously.

Penguins goals by John LeClair, Michel Ouellet, Colby Armstrong and Mark Recchi cut it to 5-4 with 4:18 left. The last three came on rebounds during power plays.

But Kovalchuk capped the hat trick with an empty-netter, his league-leading 30th goal, with 45 seconds left.

WINGS 3, PREDATORS 1: Nicklas Lidstrom scored two power-play goals in host Nashville's first loss in regulation to a division foe. Down 1-0 in the second, Lidstrom skated just inside the blue line and beat Tomas Vokoun with 2:44 left. Detroit took a 2-1 lead 2:00 into the third when Jason Williams scored from close range.

HURRICANES 4, ISLANDERS 1: Cory Stillman extended his point streak to 10 games with the go-ahead goal for host Carolina. With the score 1-1 in the second and Carolina on a five-on-three, Stillman tried to send a pass to Justin Williams on the left side. But the puck appeared to ricochet off goalie Wade Dubielewicz's stick. Williams gloved the puck behind the net and sent it back to Stillman, who squeezed it inside the near post with 24 seconds left.

FLYERS 3, CAPITALS 1: Philadelphia earned a point for the 14 consecutive road game and is 7-0-1 on its 11-game trip. Simon Gagne broke a 1-1 tie with 27 seconds left in the second, after the Flyers failed on a two-man advantage that lasted 1:13. Mike Knuble's deflection trickled behind goaltender Olaf Kolzig. With no one around him, Gagne had an easy tap-in at the left post. Peter Forsberg scored an empty-netter with 20 seconds left to end Philadelphia's streak of one-goal games at nine.

FLAMES 1, LEAFS 0: Miikka Kiprusoff made 27 saves for his sixth shutout and 22nd win for host Calgary, which ended Toronto's six-game win streak. Kiprusoff leads the league in both stats. Tony Amonte's goal 4:24 into the second came after Robyn Regehr kept the puck in the zone. His bouncing backhander was deflected by Amonte past Ed Belfour.

The Leafs buzzed the net late. Darcy Tucker had a great chance but fanned on Jason Allison's cross-ice pass from 20 feet. Tucker, who entered with a rib injury, lay on the ice afterward and was helped to the dressing room. His status is unknown.

STARS 4, DUCKS 3 (SO): Antti Miettinen's goal in the fourth round lifted host Dallas. Down 3-1 entering the third, the Stars tied it on Brenden Morrow's two goals. While short-handed, he stole the puck at center ice and scored on a breakaway at 1:35. He put in a rebound with 6:24 left.

Both teams scored once in the first three rounds of the shootout. Johan Hedberg, who replaced Marty Turco after he allowed three goals in six shots, then stopped Teemu Selanne.

DEVILS: The numbers of defensemen Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko will be retired later this season. Stevens, who wore No.4, captained New Jersey to three Stanley Cup titles in 13 seasons with the team. Daneyko, who wore No.3, spent his entire 20-year career in New Jersey.

THRASHERS: Center Bobby Holik and left wing Brad Larsen were put on the injured list. Holik, who has seven goals and nine assists in 40 games, broke his left foot against Washington on Jan.1. Larsen, who has two goals and three assists in 26 games, hurt his groin against Florida on Dec.17.

[Last modified January 7, 2006, 01:25:29]