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Thrashers use improbable comeback to edge Panthers in SO

Jan 18, 2011 - 5:43 AM Sunrise, FL (Sports Network) - Alexander Burmistrov scored the game-winning goal in a shootout to end Atlanta's remarkable 3-2 comeback, which included two goals in the final two minutes of regulation, against Florida.

Burmistrov made it look easy with a quick wrister that sailed past Panthers goaltender Scott Clemmensen's glove hand. Then Ondrej Pavelec stoned Cory Stillman's shot during Florida's ensuing shootout attempt to preserve the win.

Bryan Little had a goal and an assist for the Thrashers, who halted a four- game losing streak. Chris Thorburn scored the game-tying goal while Pavelec turned aside 38-of-40 shots in the win.

"It was a weird game, it felt like we were getting our chances but we just weren't getting any bounces," Little said. "It took the last two minutes for some pucks to start going in, it sure was an exciting finish."

Dennis Wideman and Dmitry Kulikov each lit the lamp as the Panthers had their three-game win streak snapped.

Scott Clemmensen had 28 saves in the losing effort.

Atlanta mounted the comeback after pulling Pavelec for the extra attacker with two minutes remaining in the final frame.

Little tipped in a loose puck during a skirmish in front of the net to make it a 2-1 game with just 1:58 left.

The Thrashers tried their luck once more and pulled Pavelec after the ensuing faceoff. Only 44 seconds later, Little struck again by ripping a shot from the point, which was tipped by Thorburn past Clemmensen to send the game into overtime.

Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the extra session, which set up the shootout.

After two scoreless periods, the game opened up offensively in the third.

Steve Bernier had a chance to put Florida on the board 2 1/2 minutes into the final session when he had a wide open net to shoot at, but defenseman Ron Hainsey preserved the scoreless game by making a diving stop.

After the Thrasher's defensive stand, they had a two costly hiccups a minute later. First, they were called for too many men on the ice and, just 20 seconds later, Johnny Oduya was called for holding to give the home team a 5-on-3 power play.

The Panthers made Atlanta pay early in the two-man advantage with seamless puck movement. Mike Santorelli slipped the puck across the middle of the offensive zone to Wideman, who held onto the puck for a slight moment and then wristed it past Pavelec.

Penalties continued to haunt the Thrashers when Tobias Enstrom was called for slashing at the seven minute mark of the third and Florida capitalized again to make it a two-goal game.

Just 19 seconds into this power play, Kulikov flicked a backhand from the top of the crease that caromed off of Brent Sopel's leg and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

"We had them for under 10 chances to score the whole night," Florida head coach Peter DeBoer said. "But, the couple in the last two minutes end up in the net. The story isn't always the last two minutes. We had a chance to make it 3-0 on a couple of occasions but their guy made unbelievable saves to let them hang around."

Game Notes

The Thrashers have won five of six and seven of their past 10 over the Panthers, including three straight and five of seven in Florida...Atlanta's four-game slide started after a 3-2 win in Sunrise on January 5...Stephen Weiss had two assists in the loss...The Panthers were 2-for-5 on the power play, while the Thrashers blanked on two power-play chances.