RALEIGH, N.C., Nov. 12 (UPI) -- The Atlanta Thrashers erupted for five goals in the first period Saturday en route to a 9-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.
Ilya Kovalchuk scored two of those first-period goals; Marc Savard had four assists, and Marian Hossa and Peter Bondra each had a goal and two assists as Atlanta won its third in a row.
Carolina's nine-game win streak came to a halt. The Hurricanes had 17 penalties -- leading to four Thrasher power-play tallies -- and failed on eight of their chances with the man advantage.
Goaltender Martin Gerber, who made 26 saves to blank Florida on Friday, was yanked less than 11 minutes into the game after yielding two goals on three shots. His replacement, rookie Cam Ward, allowed seven scores on 33 shots.
Atlanta goaltenders Mike Dunham and Adam Berkhoel needed just 19 stops to share the shutout.
