Thrashers 2, Islanders 1
Rob Schremp snapped a tie against his former team with 6:04 remaining in the second period and the Atlanta Thrashers held on for a 2-1 road victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday.
Captain Andrew Ladd also scored, Blake Wheeler notched two assists and Chris Mason made 14 saves for the Thrashers, who posted their third win in 11 road games and pulled within seven points of idle Buffalo for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Claimed off waivers from the Islanders on Feb. 28, Schremp beat Al Montoya with a snap shot from the top of the left faceoff circle during a power play for a 2-1 edge. It was Schremp's second goal in 10 games with the Thrashers and 12th overall of the season.
Ladd opened the scoring at 7:56 of the first period, converting a pass from behind the net by Wheeler for his 27th goal of the season. John Tavares forged a tie 98 seconds into the second session when he tapped in a loose puck in the crease for his 27th tally.
Montoya stopped 32 shots for New York, which lost in regulation for the first time in six home games (4-1-1).