NHL: Philadelphia 3, Atlanta 2

PHILADELPHIA, March 18 (UPI) -- Vinny Prospal scored the game-winning goal in the third period Tuesday, handing the Philadelphia Flyers a 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers.

Mike Richards and Jeff Carter also scored for the Flyers, who halted a four-game winless streak.

Antero Niittymaki earned a victory for the first time in six weeks. He made 17 stops, including a right pad save on a shot by Ilya Kovalchuk from the low slot with one second remaining in regulation to preserve the win.

Kovalchuk's 50th goal this season brought the Thrashers within 3-2 with only 30 seconds remaining in regulation. Chris Thorburn also scored for the Thrashers.

Kari Lehtonen had 44 saves for the losers.