Thrashers 3, Hurricanes 2 (OT)
Tim Stapleton scored just 1:38 into overtime as the Atlanta Thrashers skated to a 3-2 road triumph over the Carolina Hurricanes on Wednesday in a battle of Southeast Division rivals.
Rob Schremp netted a power-play goal and defenseman Tobias Enstrom snapped a 16-game goalless drought with a tally for Atlanta (28-28-11), which moved to within five points of the eighth-place Buffalo Sabres (32-26-8) and Hurricanes (31-26-10) in the Eastern Conference standings.
Ondrej Pavelec returned to ice after missing four games with an injured wrist and turned aside 35 shots. The victory was the 23-year-old's first since Feb. 11.
In overtime, Stapleton redirected defenseman Ron Hainsey's shot past All-Star Cam Ward for his second goal of the season.
The victory was also the Thrashers' first in five games against the Hurricanes this campaign.
After Schremp opened the scoring at 3:22 of the first period, Enstrom doubled the advantage just over 10 minutes later by wiring a shot from the slot past Ward for his ninth goal of the season.
Erik Cole leveled the contest at 2-2 with 7:39 remaining in the third period and Troy Bodie netted his first goal of the season for the Hurricanes. Ward finished with 26 saves in a losing effort.