Evander Kane, Thrashers top Devils

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Atlanta rookie Evander Kane scored 1:36 into the third period to snap a tie, and Rich Peverley had two power-play goals against Martin Brodeur in the Thrashers' 4-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.

Doing damage without any contributions on the score sheet from captain Ilya Kovalchuk, the Thrashers shook off a 1-0 deficit in the second period. Ondrej Pavelec made 28 saves in his fourth straight start in place of injured Kari Lehtonen. At this rate, backup Johan Hedberg might not get a chance to play anytime soon.

Peverley tied it with his first power-play goal of the night, and pushed the lead to two 5:55 into the third with another man-advantage tally. Peverley has four goals this season, three on the power play.

Chris Thorburn sealed the win with a short-handed goal with 3:11 left.

Travis Zajac and Zach Parise scored for the Devils, who had a three-game winning streak broken and fell to 0-3 at home. New Jersey (3-3) swept a three-game trip through the Southeast Division — in which Atlanta is a member — before returning home.

Brodeur, making his sixth consecutive start, stopped 15 shots and fell to 20-9-8 against Atlanta. He had won six of the previous eight (6-1-1). The Thrashers were the opponent last season when Brodeur injured his left elbow and was forced to miss 50 games.

The Devils went 0 for 6 on the power play, including three chances after falling behind. They cut the deficit to 3-2 with 6:50 left on Parise's goal, but couldn't build off it.

The Thrashers, who have played the fewest games in the NHL this season, are making the most of their time on ice. Atlanta (3-1) has won two of the first three games of its five-game trip that continues Saturday in Ottawa.

Kane got past Devils defenseman Cory Murphy along the left wing boards and then ripped a shot past Brodeur to make it 2-1. The 18-year-old Kane, the No. 4 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, has two goals and an assist in his first four games.

The Thrashers tied it 1-1 nearly 7 minutes after Zajac's goal on their first power-play chance. With the Devils short-handed, following a too many men on the ice penalty, Peverley fired in a rebound of Maxim Afinogenov's shot with 5:03 left.

Brodeur had stopped 45 straight Atlanta shots in a shutout streak of 126 minutes, 54 seconds over three games before Peverley finally got a puck past him.

Zajac scored for the fourth time in five games, giving the Devils a 1-0 lead 8:07 into the second period.

NOTES: Kovalchuk scored five goals in the Thrashers' first three games. His six points in that span marked the best start of his NHL career. ... Devils D Bryce Salvador and captain Jamie Langenbrunner each had two assists. ... Thorburn's previous goal was scored March 8.