Hats off to Kovalchuk

ATLANTA - Ilya Kovalchuk put up his second hat trick of the season for the Atlanta Thrashers, scoring his third goal into an empty net with 44 seconds left to clinch a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday night.

The Thrashers built a 5-0 lead through two periods before the Penguins came alive, scoring four times to give themselves a chance in the closing minutes.

But, after Pittsburgh pulled goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, Kovalchuk lingered at center ice, took a pass from Marc Savard along the boards, and raced the other way to score his 30th goal into the unguarded net.

Kovalchuk, who missed all of training camp and the first three games in a contract dispute, came into the night trailing Philadelphia's Simon Gagne by one goal for the league lead. Gagne scored his 29th in the Flyers' 3-1 victory at Washington.

Sidney Crosby picked up one assist but largely had a forgettable night for the Penguins. The 18-year-old center was twice penalized for slashing, drew derisive chants from the crowd and was taunted by Kovalchuk after the Thrashers star scored his second goal.

The Penguins nearly got the last laugh. John LeClair, Michel Ouellet, Colby Armstrong and Mark Recchi scored for Pittsburgh in the first 15:42 of the third - the last three goals coming on rebounds given up by goalie Kari Lehtonen while Atlanta was short-handed.

The Thrashers knocked out Penguins goalie Jocelyn Thibault with three goals on their first nine shots, then held on desperately for their third win in four games.

- The Thrashers placed C Bobby Holik on the injured list before the game.

In Washington, Simon Gagne and Peter Forsberg each had a goal and an assist, and Philadelphia stretched their road-point streak to 14 games with a victory over Washington.

Mike Rathje also scored for the Flyers, who improved to 7-0-1 on their 11-game road trip. Their only loss in that stretch was a shootout defeat last Saturday in Washington.

Philadelphia has won three straight and eight of 10. With points in their next two road games, the Flyers would tie the team mark set in 1979-80.

Alexander Ovechkin scored for Washington, which has dropped three straight and four of five.

Gagne is second in the NHL with 29 goals. Forsberg's empty-netter snapped the Flyers' run of nine consecutive one-goal decisions.

IN RALEIGH, N.C., CORY STILLMAN SCORED THE GO-AHEAD GOAL LATE IN THE SECOND PERIOD TO LEAD CAROLINA PAST NEW YORK.

Kevyn Adams, Rod Brind' Amour and Justin Williams also scored for the Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes, who won the last three games of a four-game homestand.

Eric Godard scored for the Islanders, but probably gained more attention for a first-period hit on Williams that raised the ire of both the Hurricanes and their fans. It led to some testy exchanges between the teams.

Stillman extended his point streak to 10 games with his 13th goal.

Cam Ward finished with 28 saves in the victory.