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Carter helps Flyers snap nine-game skid

Jan 29, 2007 - 2:56 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Jeff Carter and Antero Niittymaki combined to keep the Philadelphia Flyers from making history.

Carter scored two goals, including the game-winner with 62 seconds to play, and Antero Niittymaki made 37 saves as the Flyers edged the Atlanta Thrashers, 2-1, to snap a nine-game losing streak.

Philadelphia was looking to avoid losing a franchise record-tying 10 games in a row for the second time this season, and it was facing one of its favorite opponents.

Although the Thrashers lead the Southeast Division by six points, they have now lost 19 of their last 24 matchups against the Flyers.

"Nitty played great and made some great saves. It's a good feeling," Carter said. "Lately, we've been really battling. We've had a lot of close games. We haven't been able to pull one out. It's definitely a good feeling.

Niittymaki broke out of a horrific personal slump, ending a 15-game winless streak with his first victory since November 30 - a span on 59 days. He improved to 5-0 all-time against Atlanta and 6-0 against fellow Finnish goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

"Niittymaki held the fort and we found a way to win a close hockey game," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "It seems that Kari brings out the best in Nitty and it happened again tonight."

Carter delivered the winning tally with a superb effort. He took a pass from behind the net in the right faceoff circle and he rifled a shot over the shoulder of Lehtonen for his sixth goal of the season.

A first-round pick of Philadelphia in 2003, Carter had tied the game with a power-play goal at 11:43 of the second period. He had scored just one goal in his previous 13 games.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored his 27th goal of the season for Atlanta, which went 0-for-6 on the power play, including a 5-on-3 for 1:52 at the start of the second period.

"Same old story. Special teams killed us again tonight," Atlanta's Scott Mellanby said. "They had a power-play goal and we didn't score on the power play. We were 5-on-3 for two minutes. It's just frustrating."

Niko Kapanen had a glittering chance to tie the game for the Thrashers with 40 seconds to play. Standing all alone in front of the net, he fired a point-blank shot wide of Niittymaki.

"It seems like we win every game against them," said Niittymaki, who made 14 saves in each of the second and third periods. "Let's hope we play some more games against Atlanta.

Philadelphia previously had dropped 10 straight games from December 2-27 and the players were relieved they didn't pull off a repeat.

"We seemed to find a way to win," Flyers captain Peter Forsberg said. "We've been close lately. We have to keep on building. It was great to end the losing streak and get momentum. It's a big win for us.