ATLANTA - Slava Kozlov's slap shot from beyond the left circle with about 5 minutes left in the game lifted the Atlanta Thrashers to a 4-2 win over New York tonight, handing the Rangers their third straight loss.
Kozlov, who had an assist on the game-tying goal in the second period, shot the puck above the left shoulder of Rangers goalie Stephen Valiquette, breaking a 2-2 tie.
Eric Boulton, Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa also had goals for Atlanta. Hossa's goal came with only 5.2 seconds left, after New York pulled its goalie for the final minute.
Johan Hedberg stopped 30 shots for Atlanta (14-13-1), which moved above .500 for only the second time this season.
Each team started backup goalies. Thrashers general manager and interim coach Don Waddell rested Kari Lehtonen. Atlanta plays again Saturday night at Washington and Lehtonen only recently returned from a groin injury.
New York goalie Henrik Lundqvist was given the night off one day after he was pulled in the Rangers' 6-2 loss to Toronto. Lundqvist, coming off a 4-0 loss to Carolina, was pulled after stopping only six of 10 shots against Toronto. Valiquette made only his third start of the season.
Friday
March 21st, 2025
12:53PM
