ATLANTA, April 10 (UPI) -- Rookie Pierre Dagenais scored with 4:32 left in the third period Wednesday night as the Florida Panthers rallied for a 4-4 tie with the Atlanta Thrashers, who got 44 saves from Milan Hnilicka.
Florida is missing the playoffs for the fourth time in five seasons, and has traded away older players like Pavel Bure. The Panthers have opted for a youthful lineup that has gone 3-2-3 since a five-game losing streak last month.
In its second season, Atlanta improved by 21 points to 60, but the Thrashers are not going to match that total and are winless in their last seven games (0-5-2).
Atlanta also has its share of young talent in Calder Trophy co-favorites Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley, who increased his lead among rookie scorers with two goals.
Dagenais, who also scored the tying goal in Monday's 4-4 deadlock at Philadelphia, was in front of the crease and put a soft shot between the pads of Hnilicka.
Heatley gave the Thrashers a 4-3 lead 20 seconds earlier by beating Trevor Kidd on a breakaway.
