Thrashers Upset Avalanche, 4-3

Ray Ferraro scored on rebound midway through the final period as the Atlanta Thrashers ended a losing streak at 12 games with a 4-3 victory over the slumping Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday night at Denver.

Hebert Vasiljevs added his first career goal for the expansion Thrashers, who won for the first time since Jan. 14. Atlanta (12-41-6) also ended a winless streak at 16 games.

After scoring seven goals in the last five games, Atlanta capitalized on Colorado penalties by converting three of six power-play chances.

The third power-play goal proved to be the difference as Ferraro followed Hnat Domenichelli’s shot from the slot, slipped behind Avalanche goalie Marc Denis in the crease and pushed the puck over the line with 9:49 remaining.

Colorado, 1-4-1 in its last six, remained tied with the Kings for sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race.

Montreal 1, Phoenix 0--Jeff Hackett made 27 saves for his first shutout of the season, and Benoit Brunet scored with less than eight minutes left at Montreal.

The win was Montreal’s sixth in a row, its longest winning streak since November 1997, when it won seven straight. The Canadiens are 12-2-2-2 since Jan. 11.

Canadien captain Saku Koivu, who returned after missing the previous 40 games because of a dislocated left shoulder, assisted on Brunet’s goal.

New York Rangers 4, Pittsburgh 3--Radek Dvorak and Jan Hlavac each had a goal and an assist at New York as the Rangers held on for a win over the Penguins, who were playing without injured star Jaromir Jagr.

Dvorak’s 15th goal, scored midway through the second period off a nice feed from Hlavac, gave New York a 3-0 lead before Pittsburgh began its comeback.

Jagr was sent back to Pittsburgh earlier Tuesday and is out indefinitely after injuring his hamstring in Monday’s loss at Tampa Bay. Pittsburgh is 13-26-9 without Jagr in regular-season games since 1990-91.

Philadelphia 3, Chicago 1--Valeri Zelepukin had a goal and an assist and rookie Brian Boucher made 22 saves at Philadelphia.

John LeClair scored his 300th goal, and Daymond Langkow also had a goal for the Flyers, who won their third in a row.

The Flyers played without their two top centers. Eric Lindros was a late scratch because of back spasms and Keith Primeau has missed five games since breaking a rib against Buffalo on Feb. 12.