Atlanta Thrashers/Boston Bruins NHL recap on ESPN

NHL
	Scores Schedule Standings Statistics Transactions Injuries Players Message Board NHL StatSearch Minor Leagues
	Clubhouses Slants Al Morganti Fantasy Player News Correspondents Broadcast NHL TV Listings Video Highlights Audio Highlights

Sport Sections
	MLB Scores NFL Scores College Football Scores Golf Online Scores Soccer Scores Olympics Tennis \| U.S. Open NBA NHL M College BB Autos \| NASCAR Horse Racing Soccernet.com College Sports

Saturday, Nov. 4 7:00pm ET
Kallio hat trick leads Thrashers

RECAP | BOX SCORE

BOSTON (AP) -- The Atlanta Thrashers finally found their scoring touch. Or, perhaps, just a soft touch.

Rookie Tomi Kallio scored three goals Saturday night as the second-year NHL team set its single-game scoring record with an 8-3 win over the Boston Bruins.

Although the Bruins used their third- and fourth-string goalies, it was a welcome turnaround for the Thrashers, who began the game with the fourth fewest goals in the league and one win in 10 games. They were last in scoring last season and had the worst record.

"We had plenty of chances in a lot of games, but the puck just didn't get in," said Kallio, who played the last six seasons in Finland. "It takes the pressure off a little because a lot of people scored goals."

That's commonplace against the Bruins. Their No. 1 goalie, Byron Dafoe, is out for at least another week with a hamstring injury. His backup, John Grahame, might not return from a broken ankle until February.

So Kay Whitmore, a 5-4 winner Thursday night in his first start since April 18, 1995, left after two periods with a 6-3 deficit. Andrew Raycroft, a 20-year-old goalie in his first professional season, allowed goals by Kallio and Dean Sylvester.

"We have to have better goaltending, NHL goaltending," Boston coach Mike Keenan said. "Kay didn't give it to us tonight. He knows it."

Atlanta, 2-4-5 with both wins on the road, scored six goals in three other games since joining the NHL. The last one was a 6-6 tie at Ottawa on Oct. 21. Until Saturday, their biggest victory margin was three goals.

"We've got the ability to score some goals this year that we didn't have last year," said Ray Ferraro, who picked up an assist. "Tomi's a guy who's going to feel his way around the league, but you saw some flashes of why we feel he's going to be very good."

Kallio, who entered the game with two goals, scored two important ones Saturday night.

The first, at 13:19 of the first period, tied it 1-1 and came just 25 seconds before Sylvester gave the Thrashers the lead for good with the first of his two goals.

Kallio's second goal came on a power play at 8:12 of the middle period and took the momentum away from the Bruins, who cut the lead to 3-2 on Andrei Kovalenko's power-play goal at 2:57.

Kallio also assisted on Andreas Karlsson's goal that gave Atlanta a 3-1 lead 23 seconds into the second period.

"We've been playing pretty well, tying games" Sylvester said. "We're happy to be tying games rather than losing them."

Hnat Domenichelli and Andrew Brunette also scored for Atlanta in the second period.

"The team didn't give (Whitmore) the kind of support he needed," Keenan said. "So it wasn't fair to pull him in the middle of the period."

Sergei Samsonov gave Boston a 1-0 lead at 11:21 of the first. Joe Thornton also scored for Boston, making it 4-3 at 12:13 of the second period, before Domenichelli connected less than three minutes later.

Boston dropped to 2-3-0-1 under Keenan, who succeeded the fired Pat Burns. It was the Bruins' first game since Mike O'Connell succeeded Harry Sinden as general manager last Wednesday.

Game notes
Atlanta won for the first time in Boston after going 0-3-1 in its inaugural season. ... Dixon Ward played his first game for the Bruins and drew two penalties but went scoreless. The former Buffalo Sabre signed as a free agent Friday. ... Boston D Paul Coffey played in his 1,400th NHL game but left after sustaining a concussion in the second period. ... Goalie Damian Rhodes, who missed the Thrashers' previous two games with a knee sprain, started but suffered a groin injury and was replaced after one period by Milan Hnilicka. ... Boston is 2-7-0-1 since a 3-0-1 start to the season.

ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard

Atlanta Clubhouse

Boston Clubhouse

RECAPS
Los Angeles 2
New Jersey 1

Atlanta 8
Boston 3

NY Rangers 5
Montreal 2

Columbus 2
Ottawa 2

Philadelphia 3
Buffalo 0

Toronto 0
St. Louis 0

Washington 3
Florida 2

Anaheim 3
Nashville 3

Pittsburgh 1
Calgary 1

San Jose 4
Carolina 1

AUDIO/VIDEO
video
Atlanta rookie Tomi Kallio nets a hat-trick against the Bruins.
avi: 887 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1