ATLANTA – Patrik Stefan scored twice, including the go-ahead goal with less than five minutes left in the third period, as Atlanta blew a four-goal lead before recovering for a 7-6 win over Detroit Tuesday night.

The Thrashers led 6-2 after two periods, but still needed a late goal to beat the Red Wings for the first in franchise history.

Stefan’s goal came on a breakaway as Detroit’s Andreas Lilja lost his stick and was unable to block the shot.

Pavel Datsyuk scored two goals for the Red Wings, who had a three-game winning streak end and had been unbeaten in seven games all-time against Atlanta.

The Thrashers fell into penalty trouble early in the third period. The Red Wings scored just one even-strength goals in the third period.

Brendan Shanahan sparked the flurry for Detroit 24 seconds into the period on a power play. An even-strength goal by Jason Williams was quickly followed by power-play goals by Mathieu Schneider and Tomas Holmstrom, who tied the game 8:41 into the period.

After Atlanta took a 3-2 lead early in the second period, Detroit coach Mike Babcock decided it was time to change goaltenders, pulling Jimmy Howard for Chris Osgood.

That didn’t work for Detroit.

Atlanta scored three power-play goals in a span of less than two minutes against Osgood to take the big lead.

Slava Kozlov, a former Red Wing, sparked the run as the Thrashers made good on a two-man advantage. Marian Hossa added his 15th goal and Ronald Petrovicky’s breakaway capped the second-period scoring spree, giving the Thrashers a 6-2 lead.

Bobby Holik scored for Atlanta early in the second period off Howard, who was pulled after stopping 13 of 16 shots.

J.P. Vigier opened the game by scoring an unassisted goal on a short-handed breakaway, with Brad Larson skating by his side, to give the Thrashers an early 1-0 lead.

Detroit answered with a power-play goal by Datsyuk in a two-man advantage to pull even at 1-1. With less than three minutes left in the opening period, Stefan scored his first goal of the game.

Michael Garnett stopped 30 of 36 shots for Atlanta.

Notes: Atlanta recalled D Mark Popovic from Chicago of the AHL Tuesday to fill in for Andy Sutton, who is out with flu symptoms. … The Red Wings were without captain Steve Yzerman. Yzerman injured his groin in practice on Sunday and is expected to miss two to four weeks. … Dallas and Minnesota are the other NHL teams who have never lost to Atlanta.

AP-ES-12-13-05 2151EST

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