The Philadelphia Flyers defeated the Atlanta Thrashers 3-2 to regain sole posession of first place in the Atlantic Division. Steve Downie scored late in the third period and Antero Niittymaki made some last minute key saves to give the Flyers their third win over the Thrashers this season.

Mike Knuble got the scoring started for the Flyers on their first power play. After Atlanta Thrasher Center, Jim Slater, went off for hooking at 1:04 Philadelphia controlled the puck for much of the power play and Mike Knuble deflected the puck into the net. Mike Richards shot from puck from the blue line and Knuble got his stick on it for his fourth consecutive goal, and 20th of the season. Later in the period Braydon Coburn flew out of the penalty box and got off a great shot on net but was denied by Atlanta goaltender Kari Lehtonen.

Lehtonen was tested early and often but kept strong as he denied the Flyers any more goals in the first period.

At 7:43 left in the period Atlanta had a great chance to tie the game but the shot went off the cross bar. Mark Reechi kept good pressure on his former team. Jason Smith lost the puck in front of the Flyers net and gave the puck away to Marian Hossa, and Niittymaki deflected the puck out of play. Niitty made another big save on Hossa after he exited the penalty box late in the period.

The first few minutes of the second were pretty calm, with the Flyers controlling the zone the majority of the time. At 3:35 in the second Holik got called again for tripping and the Flyers went back on the power play. The Flyers failed to convert on the power play after the 2 minute minor was up.

Just before half way the Thrashers were controlling the play in the Flyers end of the ice. Jason Smith laid a big hit on Reechi in the end boards, but Recchi popped right back up and continued on with the play. A little bit later in the period Hatcher ended up out of position after trying to clear the puck up ice, the play resulted in Hatcher getting out of position and Ilya Kovalchuk beat Niittymaki to tie the game at 1 a piece.

The Flyers went back on the power play soon after the Atlanta goal when Niclas Havelid went off for interference. The Flyers wasted no time getting the lead back as Richards scored to give the Flyers the 2-1 lead. Danny Briere won the face off in the right circle sending the puck back to Richards, who then shot the puck from the blue line to beat Lehtonen through the 5 hole. This was Richards second point of the night.

The pressure was on through the rest of the period as both teams kept the intesity high. Timonen got crushed hard into the end boards and then just a few plays later Umberger tried to give the Flyers a 2 goal lead with 7:55 left in the second.

Niittymaki made one of the best moves of the game around 3:40 left in the period. Hossa came flying in from the Atlanta zone with the puck and just when he was about to shoot, Niitty came way out of net, to make a key play, as he poked the puck away from Hossa and up ice.

But Atlanta came back just a few plays later and tied it up with Eric Boulton getting his 4th goal of the season to tie the game two all at 1:58 left in the second.

The Flyers again went on the power play in the third. But it did not seem like it as Atlanta gained control of the puck and tried to get the puck past Niitty but was denied.

Atlanta went on the power play just over a minute later as Derien Hatcher got called for a high stick. This time it was the Flyers who tried to put the Atlanta power play to shame as Richards got the breakaway but was denied. Richards is third in the NHL in short handed goals behind Daniel Alfrredsson (6) and former Flyer Patrick Sharp (7). After the save by Lehtonen, Recchi skated down ice for the breakaway chance but broke his stick on the play.

Niittymaki made a huge glove save towards the end of the period denying Atlanta the game tying goal.

At 15:31 of the third period, Steve Downie gave the Flyers the lead with his 4th goal of the season. Scott Hartnell got the assist. This was Steve Downie's first game winning goal of his NHL career.

It was not all easy for the Flyers as they held on to preserve the win. Atlanta pulled Lehtonen with 65 seconds to go in the third and kept constant pressure on the Flyers. But even though the Flyers play started to get sloppy at the end, the Flyers held on to win the game 3-2 over the Thrashers, as Antero Niittymaki made 24 saves to end his loosing streak of 2 games.

Game Notes: Steve Downie was the first star of the game. Scottie Upshall hurt his knee on a check in front of the player benches in the middle of the third. After walked it off, he returned to the bench a few minutes later. Antero Niittymaki is now 8-0-0 against the Thrashers and the Flyers improved to 24-3-1 over Atlanta. This is the Flyers fourth win in five games. With the win the Flyers regained sole possession of the Atlantic Division with 65 points. The Flyers travel home to face the Washington Capitals on Wednesday night. Ron Hextall will be inducted in the Flyers Hall Of Fame also on Wednesday night. Hextall became the first goalie to score a goal in playoffs against Washington on April 11, 1989.