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Thrashers edge Hurricanes to end losing streak

Jan 14, 2007 - 5:17 AM RALEIGH, North Carolina (Ticker) -- Vyacheslav Kozlov and Marian Hossa helped the Atlanta Thrashers get a much-needed win on a couple of fronts.

Kozlov and Hossa scored on Atlanta's first two shots of the shootout as the Thrashers ended a lengthy losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Thrashers entered the game mired in a six-game skid in which they were outscored, 19-10. Ending the slide against the Hurricanes did not seem plausible, as Carolina had won the first three meetings of the season between the Southeast Division rivals.

Carolina, which entered with a three-game winning streak, took a 3-2 lead just 27 seconds into the third period. Defenseman Dennis Seidenberg put the defending Stanley Cup champions ahead when his shot from the right faceoff circle deflected off goaltender Kari Lehtonen and bounced into the net.

Atlanta tied the game 10 minutes later, when Bobby Holik beat netminder Cam Ward with a slap shot from the blue line. After a scoreless overtime, the Thrashers quickly took control of the shootout.

"I think it was a huge effort on the part of our guys, even when (Carolina) scored their third goal early in the third period," Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. "Everyone stayed on track and Bobby Holik gave us that big goal. There were power plays on both sides and some huge kills for us, and we found a way to win it."

Kozlov started the bonus format by beating Ward high to the stick side. After Lehtonen made a sprawling pad save on Ray Whitney, Hossa duplicated Kozlov's feat, again beating Ward high to the stick side.

"They have great shooters. I know a little bit of what the guys like to do," Lehtonen said. "For me, it was the biggest thing tonight to get a win."

Justin Williams - who was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star team earlier in the day - could have extended the shootout, but his shot sailed high over the crossbar, allowing Atlanta to extend its lead in the division to five points.

"We're really happy now that we got two points, even in a shootout," Hossa said. "We'll take them anytime, especially against this team. They give us a hard time to win the games. We finally got two points, and that's pretty big for us."

Carolina, which was 8-2 in shootouts last season, fell to 0-3 this campaign.

"It's always tough when you lose in a shootout," Hurricanes coach Peter Laviolette said. "The game and what you are trying to accomplish in the game is over, and it's down to breakaways. I like (shootouts), and I'm in favor, it's just tough when you don't have a successful shootout."

Hossa and Carolina center Eric Staal, who had two assists, also were named All-Star reserves.