The Atlanta Thrashers have come back from a 3-1 first period defict to draw the high-scoring game between these two Southeast Division foes at 4-4.
Two of the Thrashers' goals came from Andrew Ladd. A member of the Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks last season, Ladd was brought to Atlanta along with three other former Blackhawks to help change the culture in Atlanta. He's done it well. Ladd scored early in the period to trim Washington's lead to one, and then added another goal shorthanded after stealing the puck from Alex Ovechkin with 9:00 gone. The goal had to be reviewed, and it was upheld.
The Capitals have goals tonight from four of their superstars. Ovechkin, Mike Green, Alexander Semin, and ... Matt Hendricks?! The big forward started the possession into Atlanta's zone, then passed to Green who put the puck on frame. Hendricks found the rebound though and converted for Washington's fourth goal of the night.
The first Thrashers goal tonight came 13:14 in the first period and it came with some controversy. Tobias Enstrom shot the puck with just five seonds left on an Atlanta power play. The puck apeared to be saved by Neuvirth but trickled across the line.
We could be in for a big finish at the Verizon Center.