There have been no shortage of shots or goals scored in this game so far. The Thrashers lead in the shots, 25-24, and the Coyotes are up 4-3 after each team scores two second period goals.
The Thrashers got two goals within the first ten minutes of the period. Andrew Ladd became the Thrashers’ first twenty goal scorer with a powerplay goal past Ilya Byrzgalov to tie the score at 2-2. Five minutes later, Rich Peverley scored his fourteenth goal with assists from Tobias Enstrom (his 36th) and Evander Kane. Enstrom, according to Thrashers on-air analyst Darren Eliot, now has as many assists as former Thrasher Marian Hossa did while he wore the uniform.
A questionable goal to tie the game 3-3 came at 15:44, when Lauri Korpikoski batted home a puck with a stick that was well over the crossbar, yet Toronto still deemed a good goal. With just 26 seconds remaining in the period, Martin Hanzal wristed one high over Pavelec’s shoulder to put the Coyotes back on top.
The Thrashers played a good, motivated period and should be winning this game so far. A bad call and a poor goal allowed by Pavelec have them down when they should be up by one. Pavelec looks tired, having started every game since January 17th. He has played in every game since the first game of 2011, the Thrashers’ 3-2 victory over the Montreal Canadiens, which happened on January 2nd.