ATLANTA, March 14 (UPI) -- Milan Hnilicka made 23 saves for his fifth career shutout Thursday night as the Atlanta Thrashers snapped a six-game winless streak with a 2-0 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche.
Hnilicka, who has faced 1,670 shots to rank second in the NHL, stopped seven in each of the first two periods and nine in the third for his third shutout of the season. He has faced at least 35 shots in 24 of his 50 appearances in 2001-02.
He came up with a key stop in the final minute with a pad save on rookie Radim Vrbata, who tried to redirect Joe Sakic's wrist shot from the right side.
Continually frustrated by the Thrashers' defense, Colorado failed to generate a quality chance until late in the third period. With six minutes left, Steven Reinprecht and Chris Drury broke in two on one, but defenseman Jiri Slegr got back in time to break it up.
Defenseman Brian Pothier scored the only goal Hnilicka needed on a slap shot from the right point 8:35 into the first period. J.P. Vigier added his first NHL goal in the final minute to seal the win.
