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White reaches century mark as Thrashers edge Capitals

Nov 7, 2007 - 4:13 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- In a game between two of the more disappointing teams in the league, someone had to win. It took an extra 94 seconds, but the Atlanta Thrashers were able to accomplish the feat.

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

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

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

The season has been one of misery for both the Capitals and the Thrashers. Washington entered the campaign with high hopes after the additions of center Michael Nylander and rookie Nicklas Backstrom, while Atlanta hoped to return to the playoffs after collecting a franchise-high 97 points en route to notching their first Southeast Division title last campaign.

But both teams have struggled early on, entering Tuesday with five victories and - along with the Edmonton Oilers - an NHL-low 10 points.

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

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

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

"Todd White is a great player," Kovalchuk said. "It was a really 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 in October, Atlanta recalled the 20-year-old Pavelec from the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves to serve as the backup to Johan Hedberg. The Czech got the start against the Capitals and impressed, turning aside 16 shots in the first period, seven in the second and eight in the third.

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

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

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

The goal was the league-leading 13th of the season for the 24-year-old Kovalchuk, who had recorded a hat trick in each of his previous two games en route to notching the NHL's first star honors last week.

Unfortunately for Atlanta, the Russian superstar left the contest after his next shift with back spasms and did not return.

"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 or get up, but I hope it's going to loosen up and I hope to be ready for the next game (on Friday against Florida)."

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

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

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