ATLANTA, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Ondrej Pavelec made 29 saves to pick up his first shutout of the season Friday in bringing the Atlanta Thrashers a 5-0 victory over Washington.
It was the third shutout for Pavelec in a four-year career, the other two blankings having come last season. He cooled off a Washington team that had won eight of its previous nine games and leads the NHL with 29 points.
Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak.
Ben Eager, Nik Antropov and Evander Kane all scored in the first period to put the Thrashers in control. Dustin Byfuglien added a goal with 50 seconds left in the second period and Alexander Burmistrov scored late in the third.
Washington started Braden Holtby in goal and he gave up three goals on just five shots before being replaced by fellow rookie Michal Neuvirth.
It was the first loss in regulation for the Capitals since Oct. 28.
