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The Atlanta Thrashers notched their fourth successive win, scoring a game-turning four goals in the second period to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes 5-2 in the NHL.

Marty Reasoner scored two goals and netminder Johan Hedberg made 35 saves to help the Thrashers (pictured in red) end a five-game losing streak to the Southeast Division-leading Hurricanes.

"Our goaltender played really well," Atlanta coach John Anderson said. "He was really sharp."

The Thrashers' style of play also helped, Anderson added.

"I think playing strong in our own zone (was the key)," he continued. "We're not a big team, but Carolina's the kind of team that likes to cycle.

"What we tried to do was contain them, keep them to the outside and protect the middle of the ice."

Rod Brind'Amour and Ray Whitney scored second-period goals for Carolina (8-5-2), who had hoped to open some ground on the idle Washington Capitals in their division race.

The Hurricanes retained the Southeast lead but could not increase their two-point advantage over the Capitals.

"Our attack in the offensive zone was a bit slow and sluggish," Carolina coach Peter Laviolette said after the Hurricanes out-shot the Thrashers 37-22.

A number of errors also hurt, Brind'Amour said.

"Every time we had some little thing go wrong all of the sudden there was a bounce and it was in our net," he said. "It's tough because in today's game you can't have little things go against you because everybody is so evenly matched."

The Thrashers (6-7-2) had lost six consecutive games before launching their winning streak.

Reasoner collected their first goal 3:36 into the second to make it 1-1. His second at 6:03 into the third made it 5-2.

In between, Atlanta scored three consecutive goals after Whitney had given Carolina a 2-1 advantage 5:50 into the second.

Ron Hainsey tied the scored at 2-2 at 10:04 against Carolina netminder Cam Ward and Jason Williams's power play goal put Atlanta ahead five minutes later.

Ilya Kovalchuk made it 4-2 with 1:37 left in the second on an assist by Williams.

Atlanta scored four times on nine shots in the period.

Reuters