TORONTO - The Atlanta Thrashers won this one for Dan Snyder's family.
Marc Savard and Jeff Cowan scored 24 seconds apart in the third period, and Savard scored again with 15 seconds left in overtime as the Thrashers rallied for a 3-2 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night.
The win came in front of the family of Snyder, the Atlanta player who died Oct. 5 from injuries suffered in a car crash six days earlier. He was from Elmira, Ontario, about 70 miles away.
``We played this game for Dan Snyder and his family,'' said Ilya Kovalchuk, who assisted on the winning goal. ``It was a difficult game for us but I think he's happy right now.''
The Thrashers, off to their best start ever at 5-1-2-1, attended the funeral of Snyder in Elmira three weeks ago. The September car crash also left All-Star Dany Heatley injured and out indefinitely. Heatley, who was driving the car, broke his jaw and tore two ligaments in his knee.
The Thrashers rented a private box for Snyder's family, and in the first period, the Maple Leafs put a message on the scoreboard that read ``To the Snyder family and the Atlanta Thrashers. Over the past few weeks the Toronto Maple Leafs and the people of Toronto have been thinking about you.'' A standing ovation followed and players on both benches tapped their sticks on the ice.
``It was very touching and very appropriate,'' Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. ``Toronto people are classy people and so is the Maple Leaf organization.''
Savard spoiled Ed Belfour's shutout bid with 8:03 left by redirecting Vyacheslav Kozlov's pass from behind the net. Moments later, Cowan skated from behind the net and scored when his backhand shot went off Belfour's pads and in.
The Maple Leafs appeared headed for the fourth straight win when Tom Fitzgerald gave Toronto a 2-0 lead with 10:20 left, but Savard and Cowan quieted the crowd their goals.
In overtime, Atlanta defenseman Andy Sutton received an elbowing penalty and a unsportsmanlike penalty for smashing his stick against the glass, but it didn't cost the Thrashers.
After Toronto's Mats Sundin evened it up by receiving a hooking penalty, Savard flicked a wrist shot past Belfour for the win.
``We've really come together as a group and a family. We feel like a family in here because of the stuff we've been through,'' Savard said.
Belfour twice robbed Kovalchuk, the NHL's leading scorer. He stacked the pads on a one-timer in the first and made a spectacular glove save on a point-blank shot in the second.
Fans chanted ``Eddie! Eddie!'' after the glove save.
``Nothing bothers us. We don't get rattled,'' Hartley said.
Toronto's Gary Roberts streaked toward the net and converted Fitzgerald's cross-ice pass, giving Toronto a 1-0 lead at 6:14 of the first.
Fitzgerald gave Toronto a 2-0 lead by scoring on a partial breakaway after Sutton turned the puck over.
``There is no excuse. That's a game we threw away,'' Fitzgerald said.
NOTES: Toronto forward Nik Antropov separated his shoulder during the game, and is out indefinitely. ... For the second straight week, Kovalchuk has been named the NHL's offensive player of the week. Kovalchuk joins Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux (1992-93) as the only players to open the regular season with consecutive player of the week honors since the award was established in the 1980-81 season. ... Atlanta goalie Pasi Nurminen has started all nine games for Atlanta. ... Belfour, 38, signed with Toronto after Curtis Joseph departed for Detroit before last season.
Sunday
March 30th, 2025
6:24AM
