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BOX SCORE
ATLANTA (AP) -- Roman Hamrlik didn't feel like waiting much
longer. So he made something happen.
Zdeno Chara and Hamrlik scored short-handed goals 69 seconds
apart in a four-goal opening period as the New York Islanders won
their first game of the season, 5-3 over the winless Atlanta
Thrashers on Friday night.
|  | | Atlanta's Steve Guolla, right, beats Jeff Toms to the puck, but it wasn't enough -- the Isles scored four goals in the first period. |
Hamrlik also scored the Islanders' first power-play goal of the
season at 14:28 of the second period after New York was 0-for-25
previously, including three earlier in the game.
"It's been a long time coming. We were waiting for this for so
long," he said of finally getting a win two weeks into the season.
"The guys played hard in the first period and we got some lucky
breaks."
The Islanders ended a three-game losing streak after opening the
season with a 3-3 tie against Tampa Bay. The Thrashers fell to
0-3-2.
The Islanders dominated the opening period, outshooting Atlanta
17-6.
"The beginning of the first period was outstanding," Islanders
coach Butch Goring said. "We were obviously ready to go."
The Islanders took the lead 7:59 into the game on Brad
Isbister's first goal, beating Atlanta goalie Damian Rhodes from in
close.
Then with New York's Taylor Pyatt in the penalty box, Chara
scored his first goal of the season and first of the two
short-handed scores at 9:32. Hamrlik made it 3-0 at 10:41 with his
second goal of the season.
Dave Scatchard gave the Islanders a 4-0 lead with his first goal
at 14:59 on New York's 17th shot of the period against the
beleaguered Rhodes, who was replaced by Milan Hnilicka. It was
Hnilicka's initial appearance of the season.
"They really came out hard. We killed off a power play to start
and I thought it would get easier after that, but no such luck,"
Rhodes said.
"It was just one of those nights, I guess. They were very sharp
and didn't give us a sniff," he said. "It's tough to come back
from 4-0."
Islanders goalie Wade Flaherty, making his first start after
John Vanbiesbrouck started New York's first four games, gave up a
pair of power-play goals in the second period.
The Thrashers got to 4-2 on goals by Ray Ferraro -- his third --
3:05 into the period and Andrew Brunette's first goal 2:14 later.
Donald Audette, who has scored a point in each of Atlanta's first
five games (three goals and six assists) assisted on each goal.
Per Svartvadet scored Atlanta's third goal and his first with
8:03 left in the game.
Game notes
Islanders forward Bill Muckalt will be out 4-6 weeks with a
dislocated right shoulder injured in Tuesday night's loss to
Anaheim. ... Thrashers center Patrik Stefan, the top draft pick in
the NHL a year ago, is expected to be activated for Saturday
night's game at Ottawa. He strained his right groin during a
preseason game Sept. 26 and hasn't played since. ... Atlanta
forward Tomi Kallio strained his left groin in the second period
and did not return. His status was not immediately known. ... Going
back to last season, the Thrashers haven't won in nine games. Their
last victory was April 2, 5-4 over the Islanders.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
NY Islanders Clubhouse
Atlanta Clubhouse
RECAPS
Anaheim 2
Buffalo 2
NY Islanders 5
Atlanta 3
San Jose 3
Minnesota 1
Dallas 5
Chicago 1
Calgary 3
Boston 2
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Roman Hamrlik scores the short-handed goal on Damian Rhodes.
avi: 624 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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