Dec 1, 2008 - 12:40 AM
0 shoutsATLANTA (Ticker) -- Keith Tkachuk became the 72nd player in NHL history to record 1,000 points with a power-play tally in the second period as the St. Louis Blues recorded a 4-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Sunday afternoon at Philips Arena.
"It was nice to go into the second period and get a goal to tie it up," Tkachuk said. "It was exciting to celebrate and have the guys come out on the ice. This was a big win."
The St. Louis power play unit has struggled of late, misfiring on 11 straight chances entering its matinee matchup in Atlanta before failing to convert on its first opportunity here.
Tkachuk and the Blues made chance No. 13 a historic one.
The 1990 first round pick took advantage of an opportunistic rebound, banging the puck past goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to notch his 1,000th career point with 4:57 remaining in the second period to knot the game at 2-2.
"I was in the right place at the right time," Tkachuk said.
And the right place was on his knees as the hard working center fell to the ice as he was lofting in the milestone tally into the net.
"I saw the puck (go in)," Tkachuk said. "I guess it's fitting to get a goal on the power play like that. It's really cool."
His teammates rushed onto the ice to congratulate the four-time All-Star, who became just sixth American to eclipse the quadruple digits plateau.
"Most of Tkachuk's goals have come two feet in front of the net," Blues coach Andy Murray said. "It was kind of special to be a part of that."
Tkachuk, who briefly played with the Thrashers during their only playoff run in 2007, was given a standing ovation by the crowd when the milestone was announced.
Atlanta coach John Anderson, whose club is 1-5-1 over its last five games, was one of the few not celebrating Tkachuk's accomplishment.
"Congratulations to him on the goal," Anderson said. "But I would rather it have been to someone other than us."
The 36-year-old Tkachuk has 511 goals and 489 assists in 1,077 career games with the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes, Thrashers and Blues.
