ATLANTA, March 16 (UPI) -- Jim Slater kept Atlanta's slim playoff hopes alive Tuesday, scoring with 6:44 left to give the Thrashers a 4-3 win over Buffalo.
Slater's score late in the third period iced it for the Thrashers and kept them within five points of Boston for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Boston defeated Carolina Tuesday.
Nik Antropov and Maxim Afinogenov each had a goal and an assist for Atlanta, while Niclas Bergfors had three assists and Johan Hedberg managed 29 saves.
Tim Kennedy struck for a goal and an assist for the Sabres, losers of three straight. They held a three-point lead over Ottawa for first place in the Northeast Division.
Goalie Ryan Miller started in net but was chased after giving up three goals on five shots. Patrick Lalime came on in relief and stopped 20-of-21 shots.
