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Atlanta takes Boston in SO

Dec 31, 2010 - 3:21 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Tim Stapleton scored the winner in the shootout to help Atlanta take a 3-2 victory over Boston at Philips Arena.

Stapleton started the shootout by snapping a wrister into the net off the right post. Tyler Seguin then deked to the backhand, but Thrashers goaltender Ondrej Pavelec made a right pad stop.

Bryan Little gave Atlanta another marker when he slipped his shot between Tim Thomas' pads. Blake Wheeler needed to score to keep Boston alive, but he lost control of the puck.

Tobias Enstrom scored both goals in regulation while Pavelec stopped 42 shots for the Thrashers, who snapped a four-game skid.

"It felt like we were playing good," said Enstrom. "With Ondrej in the net, he always plays good. He gives us a chance to win every night. We battled hard and that's what's most important."

Patrice Bergeron and Wheeler each tallied for the Bruins, who had a three- game winning streak snapped. Thomas made 30 stops in the loss.

"More than anything you scratch your head and ask yourself how you don't get two points," said Wheeler. "Sometimes you play half as hard and walk away with a win. That's how things work in this league sometimes."

With the Thrashers on the power play, Enstrom's slap shot from the left point beat Thomas at 3:23 of the first period to open the scoring.

Bergeron tied the game with 5:51 to play in the first, when Bergeron cruised down to the left circle and slipped a backhander between Pavelec's pads.

Boston took a 2-1 lead 55 seconds into the second period. Skating down the other end on a transition play, Wheeler's snap shot from the right circle beat Pavelec to the far side.

Enstrom, though, again scored on the power play. He threw a shot on net from the left point, and the puck got past a screen at the 9:21 mark of the second.

Pavelec needed to turn aside 18 shots in the third period, while Thomas made seven stops in the frame. Thomas then made five saves in overtime, compared to two for Pavelec.

Game Notes

Atlanta went 2-for-5 on the power play while Boston was 0-for-3...Boston plays in Buffalo on New Year's Day...Atlanta plays in New Jersey on Friday...Atlanta has taken two of three from Boston this season. Boston had swept the series in the past two seasons and has won 12 of the last 15.