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Tootoo too much for Thrashers

Oct 4, 2008 - 3:02 AM By Phil Foley PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Three points by Jordin Tootoo and too many penalties sabotaged new Atlanta Thrashers coach John Anderson's chance to win his first game at Philips Arena.

Tootoo scored the decisive goal and dished out a pair of assists as the Nashville Predators erase a two-goal deficit in the third period and posted a 6-4 preseason victory over the Thrashers on Friday.

David Legwand scored the tying goal and added an assist while Martin Erat set up a pair of tallies for the Predators, who improved to 2-3-0 in exhibition play.

The Thrashers, who rallied from a two-goal deficit in the first with four straight tallies, fell flat on their faces in the final period.

Atlanta elected to pull Johan Hedberg, who turned aside 14 shots over the first two periods, in favor of rookie Ondrej Pavelec. Anderson's decision proved to be the wrong one, as Pavelec was not sharp and the defense in front of him was even worse.

Rich Peverley drew Nashville within 4-3 with a wrist shot that sailed over the left shoulder of Pavelec at 2:16 of the third, and Legwand netted the equalizer less than two minutes later.

Tootoo banged a rebound over Pavelec during a power play at 7:24 to give the Predators the lead for good as the spartan crowd booed the hometown team.

Atlanta was outshot, 13-1, over the first half of the final period.

Joel Ward netted his second goal of the preseason with 1:58 remaining to cap the scoring.

Atlanta, which was whistled for nine penalties, was limited to just one sensational stretch in the second half of the opening period. After Vernon Fiddler and defenseman Dan Hamhuis staked the Predators to a 2-0 advantage, the Thrashers scored four times in a span of 6:42 to move ahead.

Todd White buried a rebound during a power play with 6:53 to go in the period and Joey Crabb forged a 2-2 tie 1:50 later. After Colby Armstrong put Atlanta ahead with a shorthanded goal with 3:17 remaining, Vyacheslav Kozlov - who was making his preseason debut - cashed in on a man-advantage opportunity with 11 seconds left in the session for a two-goal bulge.

Pekka Rinne made 29 saves for the Predators, who went 2-for-9 with the extra skater.

Pavelec turned aside 11 shots for Atlanta, which fell to 1-4-0 in the preseason.