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Hossa's Heroics Pay Off for Thrashers
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John Madden put New Jersey ahead 3-2 at 8:45 of the third, but it didn't hold up. The Devils finished the season series 3-0-1 against the Thrashers.
Atlanta pressed for the winner in the final 91 seconds of overtime during a power play. Vitaly Vishnevski went off for tripping soon after officials missed a high-stick by Devils defenseman Colin White that bloodied Ken Klee's face.
The Thrashers held a 5-1 shots advantage in overtime and peppered Brodeur, who was sharp -- making a brilliant pad save on Slava Kozlov on the doorstep. Madden had several chances to clear the puck but couldn't get it out.
Brodeur, in his 17th straight start, made 29 saves before the shootout, and Hedberg stopped 30.
Parise and Brian Gionta also scored for New Jersey, which will travel to face Ottawa -- the Eastern Conference leader -- on Saturday night. The Devils beat the Senators at home Wednesday in overtime.
"We have to get some rest," said Brodeur, expected to start again Saturday. "It was a tough game. We have to forget about it as quick as possible. We got some points (this week) so that's one of the positives. Wish we could've had two tonight."
Kovalchuk and Todd White had second-period goals to erase the Devils' 2-0 lead.
Only 40 seconds after Gionta gave New Jersey its two-goal edge, Kovalchuk reached the 40-goal mark for the fourth straight season at 3:49.
Atlanta got the equalizer after Bobby Holik goaded David Clarkson into a holding penalty way behind the play. Mark Recchi sent a pass along the goal line, and White redirected it in to make it 2-2 with 8:29 left.
Gionta, who snapped a 14-game goal-less streak by netting the winner Wednesday against Ottawa, found the net again 3:09 into the second.
New Jersey took a 1-0 lead in the first on Parise's 21st.
Hedberg got the start for the first time in six games and just the fourth in 16 over No. 1 netminder Kari Lehtonen and earned his second consecutive win.
Notes: Lehtonen, 3-2 in his past five outings despite allowing only eight goals, is expected to start Saturday at the New York Islanders. ... The Devils were trying to sweep the season series from the Thrashers for the first time since 1999-2000. ... This marked the longest shootout in Thrashers history.
