Holik, Thrashers Top Rangers in OT

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The New York Sun

Bobby Holik scored his second goal of the game against his former team 2:55 into overtime, and the Atlanta Thrashers survived a roller-coaster final few minutes to beat the Rangers 5–4 last night.

Holik, who spent two largely disappointing seasons with the Rangers before the NHL lockout, gave the Thrashers their first lead of the night at 9:12 of the third period. He then won it after New York got even on Michael Nylander’s power-play goal with 2:30 left in regulation.

Holik and Jim Slater scored 2:04 apart in the third period, and Marian Hossa broke out of a slump with a goal and three assists for the Thrashers, unbeaten in four games (3-0-1).

Adam Hall scored twice, and streaking Martin Straka added a goal for the Rangers, who dropped their second straight overtime decision following late, third-period rallies. The Rangers have gone to overtime in three consecutive contests.

Kari Lehtonen shook off a soft first goal and followed up Saturday’s shutout performance over Florida with a 30-save effort.

***

PENGUINS 3, ISLANDERS 2 Sidney Crosby returned from a three-game injury layoff to set up Colby Armstrong’s first two goals of the season, and the Pittsburgh Penguins held on to beat the Islanders 3–2 last night.

Chris Thorburn, normally a checking line forward, scored the game-winner 36 seconds into the third period with a seemingly harmless shot from behind the net that banked off goalie Rick DiPietro’s left skate for his second goal.

Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up by turning aside 33 of 35 shots, 13 in the final period, as Pittsburgh halted a three-game skid. The Islanders had won three in a row and were 6-1-1 in their previous eight games, but were without leading scorer Alexei Yashin. He is expected to be out two to four weeks with a sprained knee.

Crosby hadn’t played since November 20 because of a sore groin after previously missing only one game in his two-season NHL career. He didn’t take long to make a difference in a Penguins offense that was limited to five goals in the three losses, making a strong pass in traffic to create Armstrong’s first goal 1 1/2 minutes into the game.

Armstrong’s second goal tied it at 2, midway through the second. Mark Recchi fed the puck across the slot to Crosby in the right circle. Crosby’s shot deflected off DiPietro and lay in front of the net before Armstrong put in the rebound.


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