Penguins snap losing skid with 4-3 win over Atlanta

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Colby Armstrong's overtime goal was the difference for Pittsburgh.

ATLANTA (AP) — Colby Armstrong scored 3:51 into overtime and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the sluggish Atlanta Thrashers 4-3 on Saturday night.

Armstrong scored on a wrist shot in front of the net on a pass from rookie Evgeni Malkin, who had a goal and two assists.

Sidney Crosby had a goal and an assist as the Penguins avoided matching their longest losing streak of the season.

Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 40 shots as the unusually listless Thrashers were outshot 43-23 and never led.

The Southeast Division-leading Thrashers have lost two in a row after winning a franchise record-tying five straight games and seven of eight.

The Thrashers were outshot 16-4 in the opening period, but Pittsburgh's only goal came on Crosby's power-play tally.

Stuck in the malaise

Atlanta spent most of the first period still stuck in the malaise that marked Thursday night's 8-0 loss at Tampa Bay. The exception to the offensive funk was Shane Hnidy's successful wrist shot from the right circle with 1:24 left in the period.

Malkin scored on a pass from Crosby midway through the second period for a 2-1 lead. The Thrashers were further limited on the Penguins' power play as Brad Larsen tried to defend after losing his stick.

A hooking penalty against Mark Recchi late in the second period led to Atlanta's power play that continued into the third period. Marian Hossa got the Thrashers even at 2 just 16 seconds into the period with his 22nd goal, tying Brendan Shanahan of the New York Rangers for the NHL lead.

Pittsburgh pulled ahead 3-2 on Ryan Whitney's fourth goal 7:22 into the period, but Atlanta answered with Niko Kapanen's second goal with 4:48 left in regulation.

Notes

Pittsburgh lost five straight from Nov. 4-11. ... Thrashers C Jim Slater was back in the starting lineup after missing four games with a sore foot. ... There were no penalties in the third period following 11 — seven again Pittsburgh — in the first two frames.

Sunday, December 10, 2006