Kaptain Kovalchuk Saves the Day with Clutch Go-Ahead Goal Against Cranky Canes

Kaptain Ilya Kovalchuk rose to the occasion with the game on the line by ripping a laser beam of a wrist-shot past Can Ward to give the Thrashers the crucial go-ahead goal midway through the 3rd period. The goal sparked his team at a critical juncture -- shortly after Carolina had tied the game with two goals in just under 1:30 -- and stood up as the game-winning tally in the Saturday evening inter-divisional tilt versus the Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC.

Kovy had help in the form of goals by each of the following players: Zach Bogosian, Jimmy "Second Half" Slater, Ricky "Peverlicious" Peverley and an empty netter by Nik "the Human Eclipse" Antropov. Each of the above players recorded an assist in addition to a goal as the Thrashers staved off a 3rd period rally by the pesky Canes, who despite a very disappointing season to date, rarely go down without a fight. The first regulation win on the road since the last trip to the RBC Center in late November was a total team effort in which Ondrej Pavelec continued his recent resurgence with another solid outing. Pavelec allowed 3 goals on 32 shots, but he made important stops when it mattered most including a big stop on a first period penalty shot by Eric Staal, who was hooked by Ron Hainsey on a breakaway attempt prior to the subsequent penalty.