If the NHL considers divisional realignment any time soon, the Atlanta Thrashers may want to lobby to join the Atlantic Division so they can play the New York Islanders six times a year. The team was all smiles again after matching up with the Islanders on Tuesday, leaving Long Island with a 4-2 victory and improving Atlanta’s record to 3-0 over the Islanders this season.
The franchise’s current face and possible future face stole the spotlight, as the duo of Ilya Kovalchuk and Brian Little combined for the game-winning goal eight minutes into the third period. The goal was Little’s second of the game and 14th of the season, while the assist was Kovalchuk’s 500th career point. It just so happened to be Kovalchuk’s 500th career game, putting the milestone in fitting symmetry.
On his first goal, Little benefitted from the failure of Joey MacDonald to control rebounds off his teammates’ shots. After shots from Slava Kozlov and Todd White, Little was left with an open net and a sprawled MacDonald in front of him. Little capitalized by pausing a second before pushing the puck just under the crossbar.
Johan Hedberg earned the victory, stopping 23 shots. Hedberg played in place of starter Kari Lehtonen, who has already played two games in three days since coming back from a back injury.
Atlanta’s penalty kill allowed no goals on the night for the first time since Dec. 16 against the Ottawa Senators. However, the Islanders did tie the game with a short-handed goal in the first minute of the final period.
GAME NOTES
Mathieu Schneider scored a goal in the first period, his third on the year. It was Schneider’s first point since returning to the ice from a shoulder injury earlier in the week.
Boral can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
