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Stalberg lifts Blackhawks over Thrashers in SO

Nov 7, 2010 - 1:38 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Viktor Stalberg scored in the fifth-round of the shootout to lift the Chicago Blackhawks to a 5-4 win over the Atlanta Thrashers at Philips Arena.

After Dustin Byfuglien missed the net on Atlanta's fifth chance, Stalberg beat Ondrej Pavelec with a backhander for the win.

"It's a lot more fun knowing you can win it instead of having the pressure of having to tie it," said Stalberg. "I was really hoping that I would have the chance to win it and that's all you want when you go out there."

Jonathan Toews had two goals and two assists while Patrick Kane finished the game with two goals and an assist for the Blackhawks, who had dropped three of four coming in. Marty Turco stopped 33 shots in the win.

Nik Antropov had a goal and an assist while Alexander Brumistrov, Evander Kane and Rich Peverley each lit the lamp for the Thrashers, who have dropped three of four. Pavelec finished the game with 36 saves.

"We didn't look at it like we got a point," said Antropov. "It doesn't matter who you play, you always want to win. We're desperate for wins at home and get some points cause the more you get now, the less you need at the end."

Atlanta took a 1-0 lead 3:14 into the game with a power-play tally when Antropov blew the puck past Turco with a slap shot from the right circle.

Chicago answered with a power-play goal at the midway mark of the first as Brent Seabrook's blast from the high slot hit off the backboards and went to the right side where Toews tucked it into the net.

Just over six minutes later, Patrick Kane's fifth goal of the season gave the Blackhawks a 2-1 lead.

Atlanta got a power-play goal from Evander Kane 3:02 into the second, and Burmistrov's tally 55 seconds later gave the Thrashers a 3-2 lead.

Toews' second goal of the game at the 4:42 mark again tied it, but Peverley gave Atlanta the lead back when he completed a three-way passing play with a wrister from the slot for a power-play goal at the 11:56 mark.

Patrick Kane, though, made it a 4-4 contest with 3:16 left in the second as his backhander snuck past Pavelec for his sixth goal of the season.

Pavelec stopped 16 shots over the third period and overtime while Turco made 11 saves during that time to force the shootout.

Game Notes

Chicago winger Marian Hossa has missed the past five games with an upper-body injury...The Thrashers play in Ottawa on Tuesday...Chicago hosts Edmonton on Sunday...Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Brent Sopel and Ben Eager all joined Atlanta in the offseason after winning the Stanley Cup with Chicago in the 2009-10 campaign...Chicago has won three straight against Atlanta...Atlanta forward Bryan Little missed his fourth straight game with a concussion and facial lacerations.