Bogosian Gets The OT Goal In Thrashers Win Over Predators

Added on Dec 09, 2010 by J Merrill in

NHL

Ondrej Pavelec made 27 saves and Atlanta rallied from a two-goal deficit to beat the Nashville Predators 3-2 on Monday night, and Zach Bogosian scored 2:11 into overtime to finish off the Predators. The win for Atlanta added on to their 8/9 win streak, and end a short 3 game run for the Predators.

The first period of the game looked like the same old hot/cold Atlanta, Thrashers. It really seemed like they had a hard time pulling the trigger, and quickly fell two goals back. The second period they really turned it around, and started gaining momentum. Jim Slater got the goal for the Thrashers near the end, and all of a sudden they were right back in the game.

Thrashers’ forward Andrew Ladd really felt the team regrouped, and came back strong. After the game he said “The second period set us up for the third period. We were playing with confidence. We were playing smarter. We were winning battles we didn’t win in the first period.” Ladd scored the equalizer goal in the third period, and then it was anybodies game.

Two minutes into the overtime period Zach Bogosian found the back of the net, and the Thrashers had finished off the rally. Bogosian said of the goal and Ben Eager’s pass, “I think he was going to dump it in there. I just screamed, and he heard me and just slid it over, and I came in. I wanted to shoot before their two guys came over. They were closing on me pretty quick. So I just wanted to get a shot off, and luckily it went in.”

He also said he is trying to find his role on the team as they may have some changes since last year. “Oh, it feels good, Definitely feels good. It’s good to, obviously, score but more important the team won and, you know, I think last year early in the year I got on a hot streak where I was on the power play a little bit and I was shooting a lot and then, obviously, this year things are a little different for me with Buff and Toby on the first PP. I just kind of have to wait my turn and be a good team guy and do whatever I can to help the team win and just try to chip in whatever you can.”

Atlanta Coach Craig Ramsay said of the goal and Zach, “That was a great play. Bogo’s had so many good chances. He’s played some really good hockey for us and for him to score was another one of those steps for all of us. That was tremendous and Benny Eager set it up on the 4-on-4, so Benny got his chance to play 4-on-4, he makes a great play. We’ve had so many guys that take their turn stepping up and Benny made a really good play. I think their guy didn’t have a stick. It worked for us this time.”

Pavelec (9-5-2) made his 10th straight start and 16th consecutive appearance. He showed why he began the game ranked second in the NHL in save percentage and goals-against average.

The Atlanta Thrashers (15-10-3, 33pts), now 2nd in Southeast Division, face the Colorado Avalanche (13-10-3, 29pts) on Friday. The Nashville Predators (12-8-6), now 4th in Central Division, face the Detroit Redwings (17-5-3, 37pts) in Detroit on Wednesday.