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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Everybody in the NHL knew it would be tough to
outscore the Penguins once Mario Lemieux returned. What wasn't as
predictable was that they would be tough to outpunch.
|  | | The Penguins' Kevin Stevens pins Thrashers goalie Milan Hnilicka behind the net in the first period. |
Jaromir Jagr had a goal and two assists, and Lemieux added two
assists as the Penguins -- suddenly the NHL's tough guys -- extended
the Atlanta Thrashers' winless streak to 14 games with a
fight-filled 5-1 victory Saturday night.
Lemieux has scored in all but one of 14 games since ending a
3 1/2-year retirement a month ago Saturday, leading the Penguins to a
9-4-0-1 record -- 7-1 at home.
The Penguins have been a different team since Lemieux returned -- and since general manager Craig Patrick toughened them up two weeks
ago by trading for enforcers Krzysztof Oliwa and Steve McKenna and
calling up rookie Billy Tibbetts.
In a game in which 11 players drew fighting penalties, Tibbetts
likely faces a substantial multigame suspension for punching
Atlanta's Darcy Hordichuk as he sat on the bench during a scuffle
along the boards in the third period.
"I don't know what happened, I probably overreacted," said
Tibbetts, who signed with the Penguins last spring after spending
2 1/2 years in prison. "I'm sorry. I didn't have to do what I did.
But we're not going to take any stuff anymore. We don't have four
lines anymore filled with just skill guys."
Hordichuk was taunting Tibbetts when the rookie swung at him.
"I was chirping a little bit, I told him the next game he and I
would be going at it," Hordichuk said. "I don't have much respect
for guys like that. When I play him, I'll give him as much respect
as he showed me."
Patrick made the trades after several teams tried roughing up
Lemieux and Jagr, and defenseman Bob Boughner said the deals have
significantly altered the Penguins' personality.
"When you stick up for your teammates, you're going to get your
nose bloodied," he said. "We're not going to let anybody get
pushed around. Billy's excited to be in the league, and he just
lost his temper. I don't think it's that big a deal."
The Thrashers did, with coach Curt Fraser saying, "It got
carried away at the end, and there is no need for that. Hordichuk
tried to prove himself as a physical player and he finally found
somebody who is going to fight him."
When the teams weren't trading punches -- there were 100 penalty
minutes, 59 by Pittsburgh and 27 by Tibbetts -- Alexei Kovalev set a
career high with his 27th goal, only one fewer than Jagr's team
high. Kevin Stevens also scored on a power play for his first goal
since being traded back to the Penguins on Jan. 14.
The Thrashers -- 0-10-3-1 since last winning Dec. 28 -- didn't
mount any semblance of offense as the muscled-up Penguins
maintained the more conservative offensive style they adopted after
allowing 11 goals in consecutive road games against Phoenix and
Dallas.
Beginning with a 4-0 victory Sunday at Chicago, the Penguins
have allowed two goals in three games, with goaltender Garth Snow
coming within two late third-period goals of having three
consecutive shutouts.
Snow has allowed goals at 17:48 of the third period in
consecutive games, both to players scoring their first of the
season -- Montreal's Eric Chouinard on Wednesday and Atlanta's Gord
Murphy.
No goaltender in the Penguins' 34-year history has had
consecutive shutouts.
The Penguins -- 4-1-0-1 in their last six games -- took care of
this one quickly, getting goals from Jan Hrdina and Kovalev in the
first 10 1/2 minutes against goalie Milan Hnlicka.
Stevens finally scored on a tap-in of Jagr's shot in the second,
his third goal of the season. Lang scored his 18th later in the
period, also on a rebound.
Jagr scored early in the third period with a wrister from the
edge of the right circle.
Game notes
Atlanta is 0-20-2 when trailing after two periods. ... The
Thrashers may set a franchise attendance record when the Penguins
visit Tuesday. All 14 of Lemieux's games so far have sold out. ...
Lemieux has scored in 38 NHL arenas in his career and could make it
39 Tuesday. ... The Thrashers are 0-6 against Pittsburgh since
joining the NHL. ... Jagr has a nine-game scoring streak. ...
Kovalev's previous career high of 26 goals was set last season.
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ALSO SEE
NHL Scoreboard
Atlanta Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
RECAPS
Philadelphia 4
Carolina 3
Montreal 4
Washington 2
Minnesota 4
Los Angeles 1
Boston 4
New Jersey 3
Buffalo 2
NY Islanders 1
Toronto 3
NY Rangers 1
Columbus 2
Anaheim 1
Florida 3
Tampa Bay 2
Pittsburgh 5
Atlanta 1
Colorado 5
Nashville 1
San Jose 4
St. Louis 3
Vancouver 5
Calgary 3
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