EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Dany Heatley scored on a power play with 5:48 left, and the Atlanta Thrashers overcame the benching of leading scorer Ilya Kovalchuk with a 3-2 victory over the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Kovalchuk, whose 33 goals was tied for the league lead heading into Friday’s action, was disciplined by coach Bob Hartley for missing a team meeting earlier in the day.
Garnet Exelby and Patrik Stefan also scored and Pasi Nurminen had 15 saves as the Thrashers ended a two-game losing streak and spoiled the 1,000th game for New Jersey Devils coach Pat Burns.
Brian Gionta and Patrik Elias scored for the Devils, who put up a lackluster effort in having their three-game winning streak ended.
Capitals 4, Panthers 1
SUNRISE, Fla. – Brian Willsie scored the first of four third-period goals for Washington in a 4-1 victory over Florida.
Willsie’s goal snapped Florida goaltender Roberto Luongo’s shutout streak at a club-record 182 minutes, 17 seconds. Luongo faced 29 shots, 12 in the third period. Kip Miller, Alexander Semin and Mike Grier each scored for the Capitals, and Olaf Kolzig made 28 saves.
Mike Van Ryn scored for the Panthers, who lost for the first time in six games (3-1-2).
Islanders 4, Sabres 2
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Oleg Kvasha had a goal and two assists, helping New York beat Buffalo, 4-2.
Mariusz Czerkawski and Mattias Weinhandl each had a goal and assist, and Roman Hamrlik also scored as the eighth-place Islanders moved eight points up on the Sabres in the race for the Eastern Conference’s final playoff berth. New York also inched to within a point of idle Montreal.
Rick Dipietro made a career-high 42 saves for New York, which completed a four-game season-series sweep of Buffalo.
Chris Drury and J.P. Dumont each had a goal and assist for Buffalo, losers of three straight since ending a six-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1).
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AP-ES-02-27-04 2253EST
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