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Kozlov's second goal in OT ends Thrashers' skid

Mar 30, 2007 - 3:48 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Vyacheslav Kozlov's previous two-goal effort failed to get the Atlanta Thrashers two points. This time, he made sure the end result was favorable.

Kozlov scored his second goal of the game during a power play with 47 seconds remaining in overtime, lifting the Thrashers to a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Marian Hossa added a tally and an assist and Johan Hedberg made 27 saves for Atlanta (40-27-11), which increased its lead in the Southeast Division over idle Tampa Bay (41-32-4) to five points. The Thrashers have four games remaining, while the Lightning play five more times.

"Right now, with this many games left, we picked up one point last night and two points today," Kozlov said. "That was huge. We cannot give any gifts to anybody. It was a great game and a big win for us."

"We have one big goal. That's making the playoffs," Hedberg added. "Now we have to take it to the next big step."

On Wednesday, Kozlov recorded his fifth multi-goal performance of the season against the Florida Panthers, but the Thrashers ultimately dropped a 3-2 decision in a shootout. Just 24 hours later, the veteran Russian took it upon himself to ensure a victory for Atlanta.

During the extra session, Ilya Kovalchuk failed to convert a breakaway after being hooked from behind by Nik Antropov. While no penalty shot was awarded, the Thrashers did receive a power play, which proved to be the downfall for the Maple Leafs.

"I was the last guy, from a defensive standpoint," Antropov said. "He had a couple strides on me. I hooked him a little bit. It's better to take the penalty than let him go to the net."

Toronto coach Paul Maurice disagreed.

"We don't want to get ourselves down a man in overtime against that team," he said. "We've seen that an awful lot with Atlanta, get that power play in overtime."

With Antropov in the penalty box, Hossa unleashed a slap shot from the right faceoff circle that was deflected. The puck glided across the low slot to Kozlov, who backhanded it past goaltender Andrew Raycroft from the left side for his 27th goal of the season.

"Somebody blocked (the initial shot)," Kozlov said. "I was wide open in front of the net. Basically, it was the game right there. I placed the puck in the net. We've got 20 guys who can score. Today, I scored. Tomorrow, Hossa or someone else can score. Bottom line is, we won the game."

"Slava orchestrates everything and positions himself in the front of the net," Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. "He is so poised out there. It's like he has a sixth sense."

The tally helped end a three-game losing streak for the Thrashers, whose 91 points eclipsed the previous franchise record set last season.

"Everybody was really excited to play this game," Hedberg said. "We came out with a really strong effort and we have been playing well the last two games."

John Pohl and defenseman Hal Gill scored for Toronto (37-29-11), which climbed within one point of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

"A bunch of teams are clustered up and we were able to salvage a point," Maple Leafs captain Mats Sundin said. "We're staying positive."

"It's definitely disappointing we didn't get the two points," Antropov added. "We're in pretty much every game. It's unfortunate they beat us, but at least we got the point."

Hossa opened the scoring during a power play at 3:24 of the first period. From the left side of the net, Keith Tkachuk made a backhand pass to Hossa, who knocked the puck past Raycroft from the top of the crease for his 42nd goal of the season.

Pohl drew the Maple Leafs even with 2:27 to go in the session, ending a 10-game goalless drought by wristing a shot from the top of the left faceoff circle between Hedberg's pads.

After a scoreless second period, Kozlov put Atlanta ahead with his first tally of the night at 2:15 of the third. But Gill knotted the contest at 2-2 less than five minutes later, shoveling a pass from Antropov into a vacant left side of the net from the high slot for his first goal in 12 games.

Still needing one goal to tie Darryl Sittler (389) for first place on the franchise list, Sundin failed on a wraparound attempt at the right goalpost as Atlanta defenseman Andy Sutton made a sensational play to stop the puck with Hedberg out of position.

"We fought back when we had to," Maurice said. "We just couldn't convert on a couple of those real good cycles we had in the offensive zone."

Raycroft made 24 saves but remained two victories shy of matching Ed Belfour's franchise mark of 37 set in 2002-03.