Kovalchuk's goal, two assists lead Thrashers over Islanders

UNIONDALE, N.Y. - Ilya Kovalchuk's second-period goal helped the Atlanta Thrashers snap a five-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the New York Islanders on Saturday night.

Bryan Little, Eric Boulton, Eric Perrin and Chris Thorburn also scored for Atlanta, which has beaten the Islanders twice this season. Kovalchuk also had two assists as the Thrashers got out of an 0-4-1 skid.

Johan Hedberg stopped 28 shots for his first win since the Thrashers' last victory over Toronto on Nov. 25.

Bill Guerin had the only goal for the Islanders, who have lost four of five.

Joey MacDonald, starting his 16th consecutive game in goal for the Islanders, made 12 saves.

The Islanders took a 1-0 lead 49 seconds into the game during a power play. Guerin took a cross-ice pass from Mark Streit on the left side and one-timed a shot past Hedberg's short side.

Little tied it at 17:44 when he took the puck at the top of the crease and quickly fired it past MacDonald.

Atlanta scored four goals on four shots in a span that bridged the second and third periods.

The Thrashers went ahead 2-1 at 10:04 of the second when Kovalchuk broke down the right side alone and got a wrist shot past MacDonald for his ninth goal.

The Thrashers increased their lead to 3-1 on a delayed penalty call when Boulton tipped Joey Crabb's centering pass past MacDonald.

Perrin added on at 7:19 of the third, on the back end of a four-minute power play, when he sent a shot during a scramble into the net.

Thorburn added his third goal of the season at 11:03.