THRASHERS CONTINUE THEIR HOT STREAK, WIN GAME #1 6-1!!!
(Florida - AP)
The Atlanta Thrashers never lost a beat from round #1. After having the longest rest of all the teams in the CPHL, the Thrashers looked like they never took any time off. The Thrashers had 7 days off since they disposed the Canadiens in game #4 of the Gretzky Conference Quarterfinals and continued their dominance in the playoffs with a 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers in game #1 of the Gretzky Conference Semifinals.
As was the case in round #1, Robert Lang led the way for the Thrashers. Lang collected 2 goals and 1 assist and now has 13 pts in 4 games and 1 period (was injured in game 4 vs Montreal) and was named the game's 1st star. The other offensive hero on this night was Shane Doan. Surprisingly, Shane was quiet in round 1 with 2 assists in 4 games but was a force in game #1 with 2 goals.
The Thrashers led 2-0 after the 1st period on 2 Doan goals. The 2nd period is where things happened for Atlanta. After Scott babyface Gomez got the Panthers on the board, the Thrashers scored 4 times to take a 6-1 lead and chase Manny Fernandez from the goal. Walker and Ohlund tallied with 2 Lang goals sandwiched in between. It was the 5th time in 5 games that the Thrashers have chased the opposing goalie in the playoffs.
"We are playing some good hockey right now. Offensively we are playing as a team and pucks are going in for us. Our top two lines are flying and our 3rd line is checking well. Everyone is chipping in and that's what we need to win. These are the Presidents Trophy Winners. After winning game 1 we are in a good spot on this 2 game road trip, but we have the opportunity to make it a great trip and we are now focused on that. Robert Lang continues to play great and he is leading us right now. " - Thrashers GM Sutaria
The Thrashers went 2 for 7 on the PP while the Panthers went 1 for 3. Atlanta outshot the Panthers 28-21 in the game. Marc Denis got the win while Manny Fernandez got the loss. Game 2 goes Thursday night in Florida.
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