Thrashers score knockout over Kings

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The Thrashers proved two things Friday night.

They can score and they can fight.

The Thrashers scored four times – on four straight shots -- in a span of 5:04 of the second period en route to a 7-0 victory over Los Angeles at Philips Arena. A mere 42 seconds after the fourth goal a fight erupted that saw all 10 skaters – in five pairings – squaring off. The two biggest battles were won by Thrashers. Chris Thorburn landed several big blows on Raitis Ivanans, and Jim Slater pummeled Brad Richardson.

Ilya Kovalchuk, Max Afinogenov and Evander Kane all scored twice for the Thrashers (9-6-1, 19 points), who won for the third straight time. It was also their second straight home win after losing four consecutive. Atlanta is now tied for second in the Southeast Division with Tampa Bay and eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Kovalchuk now has seven points in the two games since his return and 17 points in 10 games on the season.

“I liked our ability to be opportunistic,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said. “When your horses are going it kind of makes it a little easier on everybody.”

Kane started the second-period barrage of Thrashers goal with his fifth of the season. He took control of the puck behind the net and got a wrap-around shot past Kings goaltender Johnathan Quick at the 10:22 mark of the second.

Just 2:28 later, Kovalchuk scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season. Kings center Michal Handzus turned the puck over in the Thrashers defensive zone and Afinogenov scooped it up. He hit a streaking Kovalchuk down the center of the ice, who beat Quick with a shot to the low right corner.

There was more. Just 1:48 later, Zach Bogosian scored his seventh goal of the season on another breakaway. Streaking in on Quick, Bogosian faked a shot, pulled the puck back, then fired a shot into the back of the net. It sent Quick to the bench.

His replacement, Erik Ersberg, didn’t fare much better.

Just 1:10 later, Kovalchuk returned the favor to Afinogenov. The Thrashers captain, playing his second game after sitting out six games with a broken bone in his right foot, hit a streaking Afinogenov with a long pass down the center of the ice. Afinogenov made a double move with the puck and beat Ersberg to the lower left corner, his first of two highlight-reel goals.

The Thrashers were 10 seconds shy of the franchise record for fastest four goals (4:54).

Then it was time for Friday Night Fights.

Ivanans ran Christoph Schubert into the boards less than a minute later. Schubert responded with a cross-check that set off five separate bouts. Thorburn and Ivanans got five-minute fighting majors and game misconducts. Slater and Richardson got five-minute fighting majors. Eric Boulton and the Kings’ Matt Green got roughing penalties. When it was all sorted out, the Kings had a power play on the Schubert penalty but failed to score.

Ondrej Pavelec was outstanding in goal, earning his first career shutout. He stopped all 38 shots he faced.

“We played great hockey tonight, we scored a couple goals and Kovy is back,” Pavelec said. “… It’s my first [shutout], but I’m more happy for the two points.”

Kovalchuk got his 12th goal of the season in the third period, slapping a cross-ice pass from Nik Antropov into the back of the net on a power play. It was Antropov’s 14th assist of the season. He entered the game fifth in the NHL in assists.

Afinogenov and Kovalchuk hooked up again on another long pass that turned into a goal. Kovlachuk hit a streaking Afinogenov, who raced down the right side of the ice with the puck. He went around Kings defenseman Davis Drewiske, got sandwiched with another player, somehow managing to get off a shot that beat Ersberg.

Kane added a short-handed goal in the third period.

“Each game you are going to get more comfortable,” Kane said. “So far that’s been happening to me. Maybe by the middle of the season I’ll be on top of my game.”