Thrashers snap 14-game slide to Flyers

By Chris Vivlamore

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The streak is over.

The Thrashers have Johan Hedberg and Rich Peverley to thank for it.

Hedberg stopped all 34 shots he faced, and Peverley scored the game’s lone goal as the Thrashers defeated Philadelphia 1-0 on Saturday. With the win, the Thrashers (13-7-3, 29 points) snapped a 14-game losing streak to the Flyers. The streak dated to Nov. 18, 2005, and was the longest active streak in the NHL.

Not anymore.

“I knew it’s been a while since we’ve beat them,” Hedberg said. “I know we haven’t beaten them since I came to Atlanta. This was a big game for us, not only to get the points, but a mental break against a team we’ve been struggling against.”

During the 14-game losing streak the Thrashers were 0-12-2 against the Flyers. The Thrashers are now 3-13-3 all-time against the Flyers at Philips Arena. They had not beaten the Flyers at home since 2003.

The Thrashers scored first on Peverley’s 10th goal of the season. Peverley’s second-period power-play goal came with one second remaining on a 5-on-3 advantage.

Philadelphia’s Claude Giroux was in the penalty box for slashing and was joined by Ryan Parent for tripping. As the penalty to Giroux was about to expire, Pavel Kubina made a cross-ice pass to Peverley, who sent a one-timer past Flyers goalie Brian Boucher. The Thrashers had the game’s only goal at the 11:07 mark of the period.

“Pavel made a great play cross seam to me,” said Peverley, who has the game-winning goal in two consecutive games for the Thrashers. “I didn’t get everything on it, but it found a way in the net. ... It’s a tough shot from that angle, but I got just enough wood on it to get it under his arm.”

Peverley leads the NHL with five game-winning goals.

The Thrashers are now 9-0-0 in games in which they score first this season.

The Flyers held a 34-18 shots-on-goal advantage. Hedberg came up with huge save after huge save. The Thrashers had only three shots in both the first and third periods. They didn’t get their first shot in the final period until 7:02 remained.

“You know what was really special about him? Not only did he make big saves, but he was like a third defenseman back there,” Thrashers coach John Anderson said of Hedberg. “He kept stopping the puck and moving it. … Moose was obviously the No. 1 star. I think you saw some pretty special goaltending out there.”

It was Hedberg’s 12th career shutout and second as a Thrasher.

Hedberg was quick to praise his teammates as the Thrashers won for the third consecutive time.

“I felt really good,” Hedberg said. “The guys in front of me played really well, too. They put me in situations that I could deal with and where I can see the pucks. ... That’s what you have to have to be successful.”

The Thrashers were well aware of the losing streak.

“I think most guys were [aware of the streak],” Peverley said. “We didn’t talk about it. I think that’s good. It wasn’t something in the back of our minds.”

The game was physical. Eric Boulton squared off with the Flyers’ Riley Cote 2:09 into the game. Colby Armstrong also got a game-misconduct penalty when he was called for charging James Van Riemsdyk. The Flyers’ Aaron Asham immediately jumped in, and he and Armstrong were given five minutes for fighting.