Gonchar primed to step up his game heading into the playoffs

News and Notes

*Jordan Leopold lifted the Pittsburgh Penguins (45-26-7, 97 pts) to a 4-3 overtime win Saturday afternoon over the Atlanta Thrashers. Leopold put a bad angle shot on goal that got past Johan Hedberg as the Penguins kept pace with the New Jersey Devils in the Atlantic Division. Both teams are tied with 97 points and 78 games played.

*For the Atlanta Thrashers it was a costly loss for their playoff hopes and their a young team that keeps making critical mistakes at in opportune moments. An offensive zone penalty by Jim Slater with just 2:27 remaining in the game put Pittsburgh on the power play and just over a minute later Sergei Gonchar blistered a slap shot past Hedberg to tie the game at 3-3 and send the game to overtime.

*Pittsburgh did not play a strong game but were sparked by the return of Evgeni Malkin and Sergei Gonchar. Playing at less than 100%, Evgeni Malkin was the best player on the ice finishing the game with a goal and an assist.

Getting Evgeni Malkin back to full health and playing at an elite is pivotal for the Penguins playoff chances but so is Sergei Gonchar. Gonchar who had previously missed 4 games with strep throat has also been bothered by a bad foot for months which according to those close to Gonchar has affected his play.