GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: WASHINGTON (5-9) at ATLANTA (5-9)

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Washington 0 0 --0
Atlanta 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Garnet Exelby,
Mark Popovic), 6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Washington 16 7 --23
Atlanta 6 13 --19
----------------------------------

Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (19 shots, 19 saves). Atlanta,
Ondrej Pavelec (23 shots, 22 saves). Referees: Justin St. Pierre,
Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre Champoux, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 1 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 0
ATLANTA 1 15:45 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1
3RD PRD: WAS - (PP) MICHAEL NYLANDER 5 (VIKTOR KOZLOV, NICKLAS
BACKSTROM) 4:40</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1 12:32 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1 8:30 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1 6:07 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1 1:46 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 3RD GOING INTO OT

1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 0 0 1 1
ATLANTA 0 1 0 1 GOING INTO OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 13 (BRYAN LITTLE, GARNET EXELBY) 6:20
3RD PRD: WAS - (PP) MICHAEL NYLANDER 5 (VIKTOR KOZLOV, NICKLAS
BACKSTROM) 4:40

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
WAS 16 7 9 32
ATL 6 13 10 29

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
ATL - ONDREJ PAVELEC</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Washington 0 0 1 --1
Atlanta 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Bryan Little,
Garnet Exelby), 6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Michael Nylander 5 (power play)
(Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom), 4:40. Penalties: B Holik, Atl
(boarding), 3:40; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 13:00; M Pettinger, Was
(hooking), 18:14.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Washington 16 7 9 --32
Atlanta 6 13 10 --29
---------------------------------------

Goalies : Washington, Brent Johnson (29 shots, 28 saves). Atlanta,
Ondrej Pavelec (32 shots, 31 saves). Referees: Justin St. Pierre,
Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre Champoux, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 2
OT: ATL - TODD WHITE 3 (VYACHESLAV KOZLOV) 1:34</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 1 4:55 LEFT, OT</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL IN OT 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WASHINGTON 0 0 1 0 1
ATLANTA 0 1 0 1 2 FINAL IN OT

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 13 (BRYAN LITTLE, GARNET EXELBY) 6:20
3RD PRD: WAS - (PP) MICHAEL NYLANDER 5 (VIKTOR KOZLOV, NICKLAS
BACKSTROM) 4:40
OT: ATL - TODD WHITE 3 (VYACHESLAV KOZLOV) 1:34

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: WAS - 1 OF 4, ATL - 0 OF 6.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD OT TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WAS 16 7 9 0 32
ATL 6 13 10 2 31

GOALIES: WAS - BRENT JOHNSON
ATL - ONDREJ PAVELEC

OFFICIALS: REF - JUSTIN ST. PIERRE, STEPHEN WALKOM
LIN - PIERRE CHAMPOUX, SHANE HEYER

ATT: NA</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
Washington 0 0 1 0 --1
Atlanta 0 1 0 1 --2
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Bryan Little,
Garnet Exelby),6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Michael Nylander 5 (power play)
(Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom)4:40. Penalties: B Holik, Atl
(boarding), 3:40; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 13:00; M Pettinger, Was
(hooking), 18:14.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, Atlanta, Todd White 3 (Vyacheslav Kozlov),
1:34.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Washington 16 7 9 0 --32
Atlanta 6 13 10 2 --31
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 1 of 4, Atlanta - 0 of 6. Goalies
: Washington, Brent Johnson (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-4-0).
Atlanta, Ondrej Pavelec (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 2-1-0). A: NA.
Referees: Justin St. Pierre, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre
Champoux, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
Washington 0 0 1 0 --1
Atlanta 0 1 0 1 --2
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Bryan Little,
Garnet Exelby),6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Michael Nylander 5 (power play)
(Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom)4:40. Penalties: B Holik, Atl
(boarding), 3:40; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 13:00; M Pettinger, Was
(hooking), 18:14.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, Atlanta, Todd White 3 (Vyacheslav Kozlov),
1:34.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Washington 16 7 9 0 --32
Atlanta 6 13 10 2 --31
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 1 of 4, Atlanta - 0 of 6. Goalies
: Washington, Brent Johnson (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-3-1).
Atlanta, Ondrej Pavelec (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 2-1-0). A: NA.
Referees: Justin St. Pierre, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre
Champoux, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- In a game between two of the moredisappointing teams in the league, someone had to win. It tookan extra 94 seconds, but the Atlanta Thrashers were able toaccomplish the feat.


Todd White scored his 100th career goal just over 1 1/2 minutesinto overtime, giving the Thrashers a 2-1 victory over theWashington Capitals on Tuesday.


Ilya Kovalchuk also tallied and Ondrej Pavelec made 31 saves forAtlanta, which has won four of its last five games.

The season has been one of misery for both the Capitals and theThrashers. Washington entered the campaign with high hopesafter the additions of center Michael Nylander and rookieNicklas Backstrom, while Atlanta hoped to return to the playoffsafter collecting a franchise-high 97 points en route tonotching their first Southeast Division title last campaign.

But both teams have struggled early on, entering Tuesday withfive victories and - along with the Edmonton Oilers - an NHL-low10 points.


Atlanta was dead last in the league defensively, allowing 4.07goals per game entering this one. Meanwhile, Washington hasstruggled to find the net, getting shut out twice in its lastthree contests and scoring just 33 goals over its first 14games.


The Capitals again had trouble scoring against the Thrashers,who failed to convert six power-play opportunities but neededjust 1:34 of the extra session to emerge victorious. From theleft faceoff circle, White unleashed a wrist shot that sailedover the left shoulder of goaltender Brent Johnson for his thirdgoal of the season.


Pavelec had a spectacular home debut for the Thrashers.

After starter Kari Lehtonen went down with a groin injury inOctober, Atlanta recalled the 20-year-old Pavelec from theAmerican Hockey League's Chicago Wolves to serve as the backupto Johan Hedberg. The Czech got the start against the Capitalsand impressed, turning aside 16 shots in the first period, sevenin the second and eight in the third.


Kovalchuk continued his torrid play of late, giving theThrashers a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal in five games.Streaking down the left wing, the former Maurice Richard Trophywinner beat defenseman Steve Eminger with a nifty move beforefiring a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Johnson at 6:40 ofthe second period.


The goal was the league-leading 13th of the season for the24-year-old Kovalchuk, who had recorded a hat trick in each ofhis previous two games en route to notching the NHL's first starhonors last week.


Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Russian superstar left thecontest after his next shift with back spasms and did notreturn.


The Capitals got on the board when Viktor Kozlov grabbed his ownrebound and found Nylander, who beat Pavelec from in frontduring a power play at 4:40 of the third period to knot the gameat 1-1.


Johnson made 29 saves for Washington, which has lost four in arow and 10 of its last 12 contests.

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
WASHINGTON 1
ATLANTA 2</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">------------------------------------------
Washington 0 0 1 0 --1
Atlanta 0 1 0 1 --2
------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Bryan Little,
Garnet Exelby),6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Michael Nylander 5 (power play)
(Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom)4:40. Penalties: B Holik, Atl
(boarding), 3:40; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 13:00; M Pettinger, Was
(hooking), 18:14.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, Atlanta, Todd White 3 (Vyacheslav Kozlov,
Ken Klee),1:34.

Shots on goal:
--------------------------------------------
Washington 16 7 9 0 --32
Atlanta 6 13 10 2 --31
--------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Washington - 1 of 4, Atlanta - 0 of 6. Goalies
: Washington, Brent Johnson (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-3-1).
Atlanta, Ondrej Pavelec (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 2-1-0). A:
15,530. Referees: Justin St. Pierre, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre
Champoux, Shane Heyer.</div>

 

NHL: WASHINGTON at ATLANTA

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 0 0 1 0 --1
ATLANTA 0 1 0 1 --2
-----------------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: P Dupuis, Atl (hooking), 2:49; K Klee, Atl
(hooking), 11:28; T Enstrom, Atl (holding), 18:20.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 13 (Bryan Little,
Garnet Exelby),6:20. Penalties: C Bourque, Was (hooking), 7:36; B
Pothier, Was (holding), 12:13; B Gordon, Was (hooking), 14:22; S
Morrisonn, Was (holding), 17:41.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 2, Washington, Michael Nylander 5 (power play)
(Viktor Kozlov, Nicklas Backstrom)4:40. Penalties: B Holik, Atl
(boarding), 3:40; M Nylander, Was (hooking), 13:00; M Pettinger, Was
(hooking), 18:14.

OVERTIME -- Scoring: 3, Atlanta, Todd White 3 (Vyacheslav Kozlov,
Ken Klee),1:34.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------------
WASHINGTON 16 7 9 0 --32
ATLANTA 6 13 10 2 --31
---------------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: WAS - 1 of 4, ATL - 0 of 6. Goalies :
Washington, Brent Johnson (31 shots, 29 saves; record: 1-3-1).
Atlanta, Ondrej Pavelec (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 2-1-0). A:
15,530. Referees: Justin St. Pierre, Stephen Walkom. Linesmen: Pierre
Champoux, Shane Heyer.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

WASHINGTON ATLANTA
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
M Bradley 0 0 even 1 B Little 0 1 +1 1
B Gordon 0 0 even 2 E Perrin 0 0 +1 1
C Bourque 0 0 even 2 T White 1 0 +1 5
M Pettinger 0 0 even 1 V Kozlov 0 1 +1 2
N Backstrom 0 1 -2 3 B Holik 0 0 even 0
B Pothier 0 0 even 3 I Kovalchuk 1 0 +1 3
B Laich 0 0 even 0 M Hossa 0 0 even 3
V Kozlov 0 1 -1 5 G Exelby 0 1 +1 0
S Morrisonn 0 0 -2 2 K Klee 0 1 even 1
T Poti 0 0 even 2 J Slater 0 0 even 1
D Steckel 0 0 even 2 C Thorburn 0 0 even 1
T Fleischmann 0 0 -1 1 N Havelid 0 0 +1 2
S Eminger 0 0 -1 0 B Larsen 0 0 even 1
M Green 0 0 -1 3 E Boulton 0 0 even 1
J Schultz 0 0 even 0 T Enstrom 0 0 +1 2
A Ovechkin 0 0 -1 2 M Popovic 0 0 +1 1
D Brashear 0 0 even 0 A Zhitnik 0 0 even 5
M Nylander 1 0 even 3 P Dupuis 0 0 even 1
M Jurcina HEALTHY S McCarthy HEALTHY
B Sutherby HEALTHY D Haydar HEALTHY
J Erskine HEALTHY</div>

 

By Phil Foley
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


ATLANTA (Ticker) -- In a game between two of the moredisappointing teams in the league, someone had to win. It tookan extra 94 seconds, but the Atlanta Thrashers were able toaccomplish the feat.


Todd White scored his 100th career goal just over 1 1/2 minutesinto overtime, giving the Thrashers a 2-1 victory over theWashington Capitals on Tuesday.


Ilya Kovalchuk also tallied and Ondrej Pavelec made 31 saves forAtlanta, which has won four of its last five games.

"We battled hard," Thrashers coach Don Waddell said. "Rightnow, we're finding a way to get those two points."

The season has been one of misery for both the Capitals and theThrashers. Washington entered the campaign with high hopesafter the additions of center Michael Nylander and rookieNicklas Backstrom, while Atlanta hoped to return to the playoffsafter collecting a franchise-high 97 points en route tonotching their first Southeast Division title last campaign.

But both teams have struggled early on, entering Tuesday withfive victories and - along with the Edmonton Oilers - an NHL-low10 points.


Atlanta was dead last in the league defensively, allowing 4.07goals per game entering this one. Meanwhile, Washington hasstruggled to find the net, getting shut out twice in itsprevious three contests and scoring just 33 goals over its first14 games.


The Capitals again had trouble scoring against the Thrashers,who failed to convert six power-play opportunities but neededjust 1:34 of the extra session to emerge victorious. From theleft faceoff circle, White unleashed a wrist shot that sailedover the left shoulder of goaltender Brent Johnson for his thirdgoal of the season.


"That was a great play by (Vyacheslav) Kozlov," White said ofthe pass that set up the tally. "He held the puck and I wasable to sneak in behind (a defender). Fortunately for me, itwent in."


"Todd White is a great player," Kovalchuk said. "It was areally good game for our team and a huge two points."

Pavelec had a spectacular home debut for the Thrashers.

After starter Kari Lehtonen went down with a groin injury inOctober, Atlanta recalled the 20-year-old Pavelec from theAmerican Hockey League's Chicago Wolves to serve as the backupto Johan Hedberg. The Czech got the start against the Capitalsand impressed, turning aside 16 shots in the first period, sevenin the second and eight in the third.


"It was the first start at home, but it felt more like my firstone in the NHL," Pavelec said. "I'm very happy for the twopoints. It didn't matter how many goals they scored if we gettwo points."


"We had great chances to score goals," Washington's AlexOvechkin said. "He made some great saves. Sometimes we missed,like me in the first period."


Kovalchuk continued his torrid play of late, giving theThrashers a 1-0 lead with his eighth goal in five games.Streaking down the left wing, the former Maurice Richard Trophywinner beat defenseman Steve Eminger with a nifty move beforefiring a wrist shot over the left shoulder of Johnson at 6:40 ofthe second period.


The goal was the league-leading 13th of the season for the24-year-old Kovalchuk, who had recorded a hat trick in each ofhis previous two games en route to notching the NHL's first starhonors last week.


Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Russian superstar left thecontest after his next shift with back spasms and did notreturn.


"I started feeling it when I took a shot," Kovalchuk said."We'll see tomorrow, when I get an MRI. I can't really move orget up, but I hope it's going to loosen up and I hope to beready for the next game (on Friday against Florida)."

The Capitals got on the board when Viktor Kozlov grabbed his ownrebound and found Nylander, who beat Pavelec from in frontduring a power play at 4:40 of the third period to knot the gameat 1-1.


Johnson made 29 saves for Washington, which has lost four in arow and 10 of its last 12 contests.


"We don't have luck," Ovechkin said. "I don't know if it's luckor concentration. I don't know what to say. We just have tofigure it out."