GAME THREAD: NHL: ATLANTA (10-10) at WASHINGTON (6-14)

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 0 3 3
WASHINGTON 0 1 1 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: WAS - (PP) ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 14 (BRIAN POTHIER, VIKTOR
KOZLOV) 2:27
ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 18 (NICLAS HAVELID, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
6:55
ATL - (PP) BOBBY HOLIK 2 (MARIAN HOSSA, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
16:05
ATL - NICLAS HAVELID 1 (ILYA KOVALCHUK, MARIAN HOSSA) 19:28

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATL 4 14 18
WAS 9 11 20

GOALIES: ATL - JOHAN HEDBERG
WAS - OLAF KOLZIG</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Atlanta 0 3 --3
Washington 0 1 --1
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: J Schultz, Was (hooking), 0:22; J Slater,
Atl (tripping), 4:09.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 14 (power
play) (Brian Pothier, Viktor Kozlov), 2:27. 2, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk
18 (Niclas Havelid, Tobias Enstrom), 6:55. 3, Atlanta, Bobby Holik 2
(power play) (Marian Hossa, Tobias Enstrom), 16:05. 4, Atlanta, Niclas
Havelid 1 (Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa), 19:28. Penalties: B Holik,
Atl (tripping), 0:32; A Zhitnik, Atl (holding), 4:18; M Green, Was
(hooking), 4:50; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 14:59.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Atlanta 4 14 --18
Washington 9 11 --20
----------------------------------

Goalies : Atlanta, Johan Hedberg (20 shots, 19 saves). Washington,
Olaf Kolzig (18 shots, 15 saves). Referees: Brad Meier, Francois St.
Laurent. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Michel Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

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

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL ATLANTA 3
WASHINGTON 1 13:20 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL ATLANTA 4
WASHINGTON 1
3RD PRD: ATL - (PP) ILYA KOVALCHUK 19 (ERIC PERRIN, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
7:06</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL ATLANTA 5
WASHINGTON 1
3RD PRD: ATL - ERIC PERRIN 5 (ILYA KOVALCHUK, PASCAL DUPUIS) 9:48</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL ATLANTA 5
WASHINGTON 1 7:03 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL ATLANTA 5
WASHINGTON 1 4:00 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">NHL FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATLANTA 0 3 2 5
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 1 FINAL

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: NONE
2ND PRD: WAS - (PP) ALEXANDER OVECHKIN 14 (BRIAN POTHIER, VIKTOR
KOZLOV) 2:27
ATL - ILYA KOVALCHUK 18 (NICLAS HAVELID, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
6:55
ATL - (PP) BOBBY HOLIK 2 (MARIAN HOSSA, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
16:05
ATL - NICLAS HAVELID 1 (ILYA KOVALCHUK, MARIAN HOSSA) 19:28
3RD PRD: ATL - (PP) ILYA KOVALCHUK 19 (ERIC PERRIN, TOBIAS ENSTROM)
7:06
ATL - ERIC PERRIN 5 (ILYA KOVALCHUK, PASCAL DUPUIS) 9:48

POWER-PLAY CONVERSIONS: ATL - 2 OF 5, WAS - 1 OF 7.

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
ATL 4 14 7 25
WAS 9 11 12 32

GOALIES: ATL - JOHAN HEDBERG
WAS - OLAF KOLZIG

OFFICIALS: REF - BRAD MEIER, FRANCOIS ST. LAURENT
LIN - ANTHONY SERICOLO, MICHEL CORMIER

ATT: 11,669</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Atlanta 0 3 2 --5
Washington 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: J Schultz, Was (hooking), 0:22; J Slater,
Atl (tripping), 4:09.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 14 (power
play) (Brian Pothier, Viktor Kozlov), 2:27. 2, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk
18 (Niclas Havelid, Tobias Enstrom), 6:55. 3, Atlanta, Bobby Holik 2
(power play) (Marian Hossa, Tobias Enstrom), 16:05. 4, Atlanta, Niclas
Havelid 1 (Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa), 19:28. Penalties: B Holik,
Atl (tripping), 0:32; A Zhitnik, Atl (holding), 4:18; M Green, Was
(hooking), 4:50; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 14:59.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 19 (power play)
(Eric Perrin, Tobias Enstrom), 7:06. 6, Atlanta, Eric Perrin 5 (Ilya
Kovalchuk, Pascal Dupuis), 9:48. Penalties: C Thorburn, Atl (major
fighting), 3:23; D Steckel, Was (major fighting), 3:23; T Fleischmann,
Was (tripping), 5:22; P Dupuis, Atl (high sticking), 7:33; B Holik,
Atl (hooking), 15:17.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Atlanta 4 14 7 --25
Washington 9 11 12 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Atlanta - 2 of 5, Washington - 1 of 7. Goalies
: Atlanta, Johan Hedberg (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 8-4-0).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (25 shots, 20 saves; record: 5-10-0). A:
11,669. Referees: Brad Meier, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen: Anthony
Sericolo, Michel Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
ATLANTA 5
WASHINGTON 1</div>

 

By Tim Hipps
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


WASHINGTON (Ticker) - League-leading goal scorer Ilya Kovalchukhad two goals and two assists to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a5-1 victory over the hapless Washington Capitals on Wednesdaynight.


Defenseman Tobias Enstrom had three assists for the Thrashers,who have won four in a row and nine of their last 11 games tomoved above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

The Thrashers are 11-4-0 since coach Don Waddell took the helmon October 17. The Capitals, who have the worst record in theNHL, dropped to 6-14-0.


Kovalchuk's second goal of the game gave Atlanta a 4-1 lead at7:06 of the third period. Kovalchuk then assisted on EricPerrin's fifth goal of the season to make it 5-1 with 11:12remaining. Pascal Dupuis also assisted on the play.

Niclas Havelid scored off a beautiful cross-ice feed fromKovalchuk to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead with 32 seconds remainingin the second period. Enstrom and Marian Hossa also assisted onthe play that drew the glare of Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig,who made 20 saves, but allowed all five goals and dropped to5-10-0.


Hossa's second assist of the game and his 10th of the seasoncame on Bobby Holik's goal at 16:05 of the second period.Enstrom, who has 11 assists this season, also set up the play.

Washington's Alex Ovechkin deked defender Ken Klee then launcheda slap shot from beyond the left circle and scored a power-playgoal to give the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 2:27 of the secondperiod. Brian Pothier and Viktor Kozlov assisted on Ovechkin'steam-leading 14th goal of the season.


That was the only goal allowed by Johan Hedberg, who made 31saves.


Kovalchuk's league-leading 19th goal pulled the Thrashers into a1-1 tie at 6:55 of the second period. Havelid and Enstromassisted on the power-play goal.


Capitals defenseman Mike Green made a clutch save on a ToddWhite's scoring opportunity from point-blank range in front ofan open net midway through the second period. Green then shovedWhite to the ice, but there was no call on the play.

The Capitals outshot the Thrashers, 9-4, in a sloppily playedfirst period.

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">------------------------------------
Atlanta 0 3 2 --5
Washington 0 1 0 --1
------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: J Schultz, Was (hooking), 0:22; J Slater,
Atl (tripping), 4:09.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 14 (power
play) (Brian Pothier, Viktor Kozlov), 2:27. 2, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk
18 (Niclas Havelid, Tobias Enstrom), 6:55. 3, Atlanta, Bobby Holik 2
(power play) (Marian Hossa, Tobias Enstrom), 16:05. 4, Atlanta, Niclas
Havelid 1 (Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa), 19:27. Penalties: B Holik,
Atl (tripping), 0:32; A Zhitnik, Atl (holding), 4:18; M Green, Was
(hooking), 4:50; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 14:59.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 19 (power play)
(Eric Perrin, Tobias Enstrom), 7:06. 6, Atlanta, Eric Perrin 5 (Ilya
Kovalchuk, Pascal Dupuis), 9:48. Penalties: C Thorburn, Atl (major
fighting), 3:23; D Steckel, Was (major fighting), 3:23; T Fleischmann,
Was (tripping), 5:52; P Dupuis, Atl (high sticking), 7:33; B Holik,
Atl (hooking), 15:17; K Klee, Atl (slashing), 16:50; B Holik, Atl
(unsportsmanlike cond), 19:11.

Shots on goal:
---------------------------------------
Atlanta 4 14 7 --25
Washington 9 11 12 --32
---------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: Atlanta - 2 of 4, Washington - 1 of 7. Goalies
: Atlanta, Johan Hedberg (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 8-4-0).
Washington, Olaf Kolzig (25 shots, 20 saves; record: 5-10-0). A:
11,669. Referees: Brad Meier, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen: Anthony
Sericolo, Michel Cormier.</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">-----------------------------------------
ATLANTA 0 3 2 --5
WASHINGTON 0 1 0 --1
-----------------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: J Schultz, Was (hooking), 0:22; J Slater,
Atl (tripping), 4:09.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Washington, Alexander Ovechkin 14 (power
play) (Brian Pothier, Viktor Kozlov), 2:27. 2, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk
18 (Niclas Havelid, Tobias Enstrom), 6:55. 3, Atlanta, Bobby Holik 2
(power play) (Marian Hossa, Tobias Enstrom), 16:05. 4, Atlanta, Niclas
Havelid 1 (Ilya Kovalchuk, Marian Hossa), 19:27. Penalties: B Holik,
Atl (tripping), 0:32; A Zhitnik, Atl (holding), 4:18; M Green, Was
(hooking), 4:50; J Erskine, Was (cross checking), 14:59.

THIRD PERIOD -- Scoring: 5, Atlanta, Ilya Kovalchuk 19 (power play)
(Eric Perrin, Tobias Enstrom), 7:06. 6, Atlanta, Eric Perrin 5 (Ilya
Kovalchuk, Pascal Dupuis), 9:48. Penalties: C Thorburn, Atl (major
fighting), 3:23; D Steckel, Was (major fighting), 3:23; T Fleischmann,
Was (tripping), 5:52; P Dupuis, Atl (high sticking), 7:33; B Holik,
Atl (hooking), 15:17; K Klee, Atl (slashing), 16:50; B Holik, Atl
(unsportsmanlike cond), 19:11.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------------
ATLANTA 4 14 7 --25
WASHINGTON 9 11 12 --32
----------------------------------------

Power-play Conversions: ATL - 2 of 4, WAS - 1 of 7. Goalies : Atlanta,
Johan Hedberg (32 shots, 31 saves; record: 8-4-0). Washington, Olaf
Kolzig (25 shots, 20 saves; record: 5-10-0). A: 11,669. Referees:
Brad Meier, Francois St. Laurent. Linesmen: Anthony Sericolo, Michel
Cormier.

INDIVIDUAL PLAYER STATISTICS

ATLANTA WASHINGTON
G A +/- Shots G A +/- Shots
B Little 0 0 even 2 B Gordon 0 0 -1 0
E Perrin 1 1 +1 2 C Clark 0 0 -1 3
T White 0 0 even 0 M Pettinger 0 0 -1 0
V Kozlov 0 0 even 1 N Backstrom 0 0 -1 1
B Holik 1 0 +1 1 B Pothier 0 1 -1 0
I Kovalchuk 2 2 +3 4 B Laich 0 0 even 1
M Hossa 0 2 +1 5 V Kozlov 0 1 -1 2
G Exelby 0 0 even 0 S Morrisonn 0 0 -1 1
K Klee 0 0 even 0 A Semin 0 0 even 3
J Slater 0 0 even 1 T Poti 0 0 -1 2
C Thorburn 0 0 even 2 D Steckel 0 0 even 1
N Havelid 1 1 +2 3 J Erskine 0 0 -1 2
B Larsen 0 0 +1 0 T Fleischmann 0 0 -1 1
E Boulton 0 0 even 0 M Green 0 0 -1 2
T Enstrom 0 3 +2 0 J Schultz 0 0 -1 0
M Popovic 0 0 +1 0 A Ovechkin 1 0 -2 6
A Zhitnik 0 0 +1 1 D Brashear 0 0 even 2
P Dupuis 0 1 +2 3 M Nylander 0 0 -1 5
S McCarthy HEALTHY M Bradley HEALTHY
D Haydar HEALTHY M Jurcina HEALTHY
S Eminger HEALTHY</div>

 

NHL: ATLANTA at WASHINGTON

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NHL
ATLANTA 5
WASHINGTON 1</div>

 

By Tim Hipps
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


WASHINGTON (Ticker) - League-leading goal scorer Ilya Kovalchukhad two goals and two assists to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a5-1 victory over the hapless Washington Capitals on Wednesdaynight.


Defenseman Tobias Enstrom had three assists for the Thrashers,who have won four in a row and nine of their last 11 games tomoved above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

The Thrashers are 11-4-0 since coach Don Waddell took the helmon October 17. The Capitals, who have the worst record in theNHL, dropped to 6-14-0.


Kovalchuk's second goal of the game gave Atlanta a 4-1 lead at7:06 of the third period. Kovalchuk then assisted on EricPerrin's fifth goal of the season to make it 5-1 with 11:12remaining. Pascal Dupuis also assisted on the play.

"He's scored big goals for us all year," Waddell said ofKovalchuk, who tallied his 18th and 19th goals of the season."He feeds on scoring goals, but more importantly, he has a greatpassion right now for winning hockey games and the otherplayers are feeding off that."


Niclas Havelid scored off a beautiful cross-ice feed fromKovalchuk to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead with 32 seconds remainingin the second period. Enstrom and Marian Hossa also assisted onthe play that drew the glare of Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig,who made 20 saves, but allowed all five goals and dropped to5-10-0.


"You just have to figure out what's happening, and we did thatsoon enough, and now we're back on a winning track, which isgreat," Hossa said of the Thrashers' turnaround since losingtheir first six games of the season. "Right now, everybody hasthe confidence and right now we just keep rolling."

The Thrashers are 7-1-0 in their last eight games againstdivisional opponents.


"When you're playing in your division, it's like four-pointgames because the points you get, they can't get," Waddell said."We stressed that going into this eight-game segment - and wewon seven of them, so we're very pleased with that."

Hossa's second assist of the game and his 10th of the seasoncame on Bobby Holik's goal at 16:05 of the second period.Enstrom, who has 11 assists this season, also set up the play.

"Our guys score goals in bunches," Waddell said. "It was hugefor us." Washington's Alex Ovechkin deked former Capitalsdefenseman Ken Klee then launched a slap shot from beyond theleft circle and scored a power-play goal to give his team a 1-0lead at 2:27 of the second period. Brian Pothier and ViktorKozlov assisted on Ovechkin's team-leading 14th goal of theseason.


That was the only goal allowed by veteran journeyman JohanHedberg, who made 31 saves.


Kovalchuk's league-leading 19th goal pulled the Thrashers into a1-1 tie at 6:55 of the second period. Havelid and Enstromassisted on the power-play goal.


Capitals defenseman Mike Green made a clutch save on a ToddWhite's scoring opportunity from point-blank range in front ofan open net midway through the second period. Green then shovedWhite to the ice, but there was no call on the play.

The Capitals outshot the Thrashers, 9-4, in a sloppily playedfirst period.


"We had a good first period and we got behind and that's whathappens when you're having trouble scoring, you get behind acouple," Capitals coach Glen Hanlon said. "Sports is reallytough when these situations happen. We've been looking forsomething. ... It's harder on the players than it is on thecoaching staff."


"We can only go up from here," Capitals captain Chris Clarkconcluded.

 

By Tim Hipps
PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer


WASHINGTON (Ticker) - League-leading goal scorer Ilya Kovalchukhad two goals and two assists to lead the Atlanta Thrashers to a5-1 victory over the hapless Washington Capitals on Wednesdaynight.


Defenseman Tobias Enstrom had three assists for the Thrashers,who have won four in a row and nine of their last 11 games tomoved above the .500 mark for the first time this season.

The Thrashers are 11-4-0 since coach Don Waddell took the helmon October 17. The Capitals, who have the worst record in theNHL, dropped to 6-14-1.


Kovalchuk's second goal of the game gave Atlanta a 4-1 lead at7:06 of the third period. Kovalchuk then assisted on EricPerrin's fifth goal of the season to make it 5-1 with 11:12remaining. Pascal Dupuis also assisted on the play.

"He's scored big goals for us all year," Waddell said ofKovalchuk, who tallied his 18th and 19th goals of the season."He feeds on scoring goals, but more importantly, he has a greatpassion right now for winning hockey games and the otherplayers are feeding off that."


Niclas Havelid scored off a beautiful cross-ice feed fromKovalchuk to give Atlanta a 3-1 lead with 32 seconds remainingin the second period. Enstrom and Marian Hossa also assisted onthe play that drew the glare of Washington goalie Olaf Kolzig,who made 20 saves, but allowed all five goals and dropped to5-10-0.


"You just have to figure out what's happening, and we did thatsoon enough, and now we're back on a winning track, which isgreat," Hossa said of the Thrashers' turnaround since losingtheir first six games of the season. "Right now, everybody hasthe confidence and right now we just keep rolling."

The Thrashers are 7-1-0 in their last eight games againstdivisional opponents.


"When you're playing in your division, it's like four-pointgames because the points you get, they can't get," Waddell said."We stressed that going into this eight-game segment - and wewon seven of them, so we're very pleased with that."

Hossa's second assist of the game and his 10th of the seasoncame on Bobby Holik's goal at 16:05 of the second period.Enstrom, who has 11 assists this season, also set up the play.

"Our guys score goals in bunches," Waddell said. "It was hugefor us." Washington's Alex Ovechkin deked former Capitalsdefenseman Ken Klee then launched a slap shot from beyond theleft circle and scored a power-play goal to give his team a 1-0lead at 2:27 of the second period. Brian Pothier and ViktorKozlov assisted on Ovechkin's team-leading 14th goal of theseason.


That was the only goal allowed by veteran journeyman JohanHedberg, who made 31 saves.


Kovalchuk's league-leading 19th goal pulled the Thrashers into a1-1 tie at 6:55 of the second period. Havelid and Enstromassisted on the power-play goal.


Capitals defenseman Mike Green made a clutch save on a ToddWhite's scoring opportunity from point-blank range in front ofan open net midway through the second period. Green then shovedWhite to the ice, but there was no call on the play.

The Capitals outshot the Thrashers, 9-4, in a sloppily playedfirst period.


"We had a good first period and we got behind and that's whathappens when you're having trouble scoring, you get behind acouple," Capitals coach Glen Hanlon said. "Sports is reallytough when these situations happen. We've been looking forsomething. ... It's harder on the players than it is on thecoaching staff."


"We can only go up from here," Capitals captain Chris Clarkconcluded.