Petrovicky paces Thrashers to win

WASHINGTON - The Atlanta Thrashers are dedicating their games to Dan Snyder and Dany Heatley.

So far, they have all been wins.

Ronald Petrovicky scored twice as Atlanta won in Washington for the first time, defeating the Capitals 4-3 Saturday night.

Randy Robitaille and Ilya Kovalchuk also scored for the Thrashers, who were playing their first game since Snyder's funeral on Friday in Elmira, Ont. Snyder died Oct. 5, six days after he sustained a severe brain injury when a Ferrari driven by Heatley crashed on a narrow city street.

Heatley, the MVP of last season's 2003 NHL All-Star game, was injured in the crash and is out indefinitely after having knee surgery last week. He is also facing criminal charges.

``We've got to support Dany Heatley. He's going to have a tough time, but he's got to get through it,'' Petrovicky said. ``Hopefully, he will as time gets on.

``The best thing to try and do is win the game, show support that way. We're going to work hard for those two guys and if we come out with victories every time, that would be a blessing.''

Robitaille added two assists for the Thrashers who were 0-7-2-1 in Washington since entering the NHL. Atlanta is off to a 2-0 start for the first time in the franchise's five seasons.

``It's good for the confidence, there's only two games played,'' Atlanta coach Bob Hartley said. ``We have to keep building. We're a young hockey club, we're showing lots of pride, we're working well. But there's still 80 games and a long road ahead.''

Capitals goalie Olaf Kolzig noticed the Thrashers had some extra jump.

``They played with a lot of heart and a lot of emotion,'' Kolzig said. ``I don't know if we forgot about that part of the game.''

Boyd Gordon and Jaromir Jagr each had a goal and an assist for Washington. Sergei Gonchar added a goal.

The Capitals lost defenseman Brendan Witt midway through the first period after a face-first tumble into the boards. Witt, who lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before being helped to the locker room, had a bloody nose, facial injuries and was to be examined after the game.

``The whole game turned around there,'' Washington coach Bruce Cassidy said. ``Whether that was Brendan Witt's injury or whether the defense got exposed, I couldn't tell you. ... We had some guys put under pressure who didn't handle it well.''

Gordon opened the scoring with his first NHL goal 3:11 into the game. Jagr was denied at the right post and got checked into goalie Pasi Nurminen. The puck squirted to Gordon, the trailer on the play.

Petrovicky, a waiver draft acquisition from the New York Rangers on Oct. 3, and Robitaille scored a little more than three minutes apart, putting the Thrashers ahead 2-1.

Petrovicky scored from in front of the crease at 11:25 and Robitaille converted from the right side after Capitals defenseman Jason Doig coughed the puck up to Atlanta's Jeff Cowan along the boards.

After Gonchar's power-play one-timer from the left point tied the game 47 seconds into the second period, Petrovicky restored the Thrashers lead at 1:56, putting the puck between Kolzig's right skate and the left post.

A turnover by Washington's Peter Bondra sprung a two-on-none break that Kovalchuk finished off for a 4-2 lead at 5:21.

Jagr got Washington within 4-3 with 2:49 left in regulation.

NOTES: The Thrashers had one third-period shot. ... Robitaille's three points tied a career-high. ... Kovalchuk has seven goals in 11 games against the Capitals. ... When Washington's scratches were displayed on the scoreboard before the game, they included D Ken Klee, who departed the team after last season as a free agent and now plays for Toronto. ... Pending a final medical report on Witt, Cassidy said the Capitals would add a defenseman for a six-game road trip that begins in Toronto on Monday.