NHL: Atlanta 4, Toronto 3 (OT)

ATLANTA, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Rich Peverley scored with 1:09 to go in overtime Friday and the Atlanta Thrashers overcame a three-goal deficit to pull out a much-needed 4-3 win over Toronto.

The Thrashers, leading only the New York Islanders in the Eastern Conference, had lost eight out of 10 games and seemed headed for another setback.

Toronto took a 3-0 lead after one period, but Ilya Kovalchuk scored the first of his two goals on the night 70 seconds into the second period. Bryan Little brought the Thrashers within one with 4:22 to go in the second and Kovalchuk put a wrist shot past Vesa Toskala with 4:52 left in the third to tie it.

Peverley assisted on both of Kovalchuk's goals.

Atlanta's Johan Hedberg was removed from goal after giving up the three early goals and Kari Lehtonen was perfect the rest of the way while having to make only nine saves.

Toronto has dropped five out of six. The game was the fourth and last between the teams this season and they wound up winning two each.