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Kovalchuk nets two power-play goals as Thrashers roll

Sep 21, 2006 - 2:00 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The offense of the Atlanta Thrashers is in midseason form.

Ilya Kovalchuk scored a pair of power-play goals and Vyacheslav Kozlov collected three assists as the Thrashers rolled to a 6-3 preseason win over the Florida Panthers.

The 2004 Maurice Richard Trophy winner, Kovalchuk ignited an offensive outburst in the first period, cashing in on a power play just 3:34 into the contest. Marian Hossa and Jason Krog tallied less than three minutes apart midway through the session before Kovalchuk made it 4-0 with 6:46 remaining.

Florida halved the deficit on goals by Ville Peltonen and Rostislav Olesz, but Brett Sterling scored at 16:36 to expand the lead to 5-2.

Nathan Horton and Joseph Crabb traded tallies in the second period, but goaltender Michael Garnett stopped all nine shots he faced in the third to preserve the win for Atlanta.

Hossa and Krog each added two assists for the Thrashers, who scored five goals on 10 shots against Panthers netminder Alex Auld.

Captain Olli Jokinen set up two goals for Florida, which scratched veteran goalie Ed Belfour, Joe Nieuwendyk and newcomer Todd Bertuzzi.