NHL: Toronto 5, Atlanta 2

TORONTO, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Alexei Ponikarovsky scored twice during a five-goal, second-period Toronto outburst Monday and the Maple Leafs coasted to a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers.

Lee Stempniak, Matt Stajan and Mikhail Grabovski also scored in Atlanta's third victory in four games. Stempniak and Stajan each added an assist.

Toronto goaltender Vesa Toskala turned aside 22 Atlanta shots.

Bryan Little and Marty Reasoner scored for the Thrashers, who had won five of their previous six contests.

Ondrej Pavelec, in Atlanta's goal during the Leafs' second-period barrage, was credited with 17 saves before being replaced by Johan Hedberg, who had six.