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Panthers Top Thrashers 3-2 on Late Goals

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[April 02, 2008]  ATLANTA, Ga. (AP) -- Jay Bouwmeester and David Booth scored 17 seconds apart early in the third period Tuesday night and the Florida Panthers held on for a 3-2 win over the Atlanta Thrashers, ending a three-game losing streak.

Bouwmeester scored his 14th goal when Atlanta's Eric Perrin's attempt at a clearing pass went straight to the Panthers' defenseman, who blasted a 20-footer over the left shoulder of Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg for a 2-1 lead 1:02 into the final period.

Booth drilled his 22nd goal at the 1:19 mark, taking a perfect pass in close from Magnus Johansson, easily beating Hedberg for a 3-1 lead and sending the Thrashers to their 17th defeat in 21 games.

The Thrashers made it 3-2 with 3:12 left when Mark Recchi scored his 14th goal.

Atlanta rookie winger Jordan LaVallee scored his first NHL goal in his second game, tying it at 1 at 13:09 of the second period, beating Florida goalie Craig Anderson on a back-hander from in close. He also drew an assist on Recchi's goal.

The Panthers had taken a 1-0 lead in the opening period on a power-play goal by Olli Jokinen, who drove a slap shot from just inside the blue line at center ice past Hedberg. It was Jokinen's 34th goal.

Atlanta's Ilya Kovalchuk, who had two goals in Monday night's 2-0 win over Tampa Bay to give him 52 on the season to match the franchise record he set in 2005-06, was scoreless. He has one more game to break the mark in the Thrashers' finale of the season on Saturday night against Tampa Bay.

Notes: Both teams are out of playoff contention. ... Florida's Kamil Kreps thought he had a goal with 5:43 left in the second period, but officials reviewed the play and ruled that Hedberg had stopped the shot before it crossed the goal line. ... Florida ends its season at Washington on Saturday. ... LaVallee, who was recalled from the AHL Chicago Wolves on Sunday and made his debut Monday night, had 19 goals and 21 assists in 71 games with Chicago.

[Associated Press; By TOM SALADINO]

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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