Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Vyacheslav Kozlov's shootout goal lifted
Atlanta past Washington, 4-3, at Philips Arena.
Marian Hossa also scored in the shootout while Kari Lehtonen stopped each
skater he faced and ended things by stoning the dynamic Alexander Ovechkin.
Hossa finished with two goals for the Thrashers, who have won four of their
past five games. Kozlov also lit the lamp in regulation for Atlanta and
Lehtonen stopped 27 of the 30 shots he faced.
Dainius Zubrus, Alexander Semin and Ovechkin all found the back of the net for
the Capitals, who have lost three of their past four games. Brent Johnson sent
back 40 shots and was brilliant until imploding in the final seconds of the
game and the shootout.
Down 2-0, Washington roared back with three consecutive goals to finish the
second period. Zubrus fired the puck into traffic from the left corner and was
credited with a goal after it ricocheted off a Thrashers defenseman and past
Lehtonen at 3:39.
The Caps then took their first lead with a pair of goals in a 57 second span.
First, Semin ripped a wicked wrist shot off a faceoff for his seventh of
the year at 14:51. Then, Ovechkin found himself on the doorstep to deposit a
rebound less than a minute later.
Johnson was brilliant for most of the final period but Hossa's second goal of
the game deadlocked things with just 32.6 ticks left. Ilya Kovalchuk found
himself at the blueline and sent a shot on goal. Johnson was equal to the task
but gave up the rebound and Hossa was there to send the game to overtime.
After a scoreless overtime, the Thrashers and Lehtonen dominated the shootout
to take the victory.
The Thrashers drew first blood on the power play. Kovalchuk flipped the
puck on net from inside the point and Hossa was there to redirect it
past Johnson at 5:02 of the first period.
Atlanta extended its advantage with just over a minute gone in the second.
Hossa was at the side of the net and nearly put back a rebound off Steve
McCarthy's shot from above the right circle. The forward regained control
and wrapped around the back of the net before sliding the disc to Kozlov
in front, who lit the lamp to make it 2-0.
