Ferraro's 400th Feels Good for Thrashers

Ferraro’s 400th Feels Good for Thrashers

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 29, 2001 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

ATLANTA — Ray Ferraro didn’t expect any burdens to be lifted when he scored his 400th goal.

When it finally came--seven games after he scored No. 399--he was able to enjoy it in a win.

“That’s a lot of goals,” Ferraro quipped, “especially when you can’t shoot.”

Atlanta rookies Ilya Kovalchuk and Dany Heatley had two goals each as the Thrashers defeated the Eastern Conference-leading Toronto Maple Leafs, 5-4, on Friday.

“I didn’t really think it was that much of a big deal, but when the puck went into the net, it felt pretty good,” Ferraro said.

Ferraro scored at 16:10 of the second period, 11 seconds after Kovalchuk had scored, to become the 66th NHL player to reach 400 goals.

“I was surprised when the puck went in how much relief I felt,” he said.

The Thrashers trailed, 1-0, and, 2-1, before scoring three second-period goals to take their first lead.

Heatley scored an open-net power-play goal to tie the game at 2-2 at 12:31 of the second, deflecting a blue-line pass from Frantisek Kaberle into the net.

Toronto goalkeeper Corey Schwab moved to the right of the goal, anticipating the puck coming off the board, but it deflected right to Heatley.

“Usually it ends up hitting the boards and then comes back,” Schwab said. “It’s tough to get back in the net. That’s the first time that has happened. Sometimes you don’t even see it. I did try to throw the stick at it, but it was too far.”

Kovalchuk put Atlanta up, 3-2, at 15:59 and Ferraro’s score pushed it to 4-2.

After Mikael Renberg scored for Toronto to trim the lead to one, Heatley scored with 7:05 left in the game to make it 5-3.

“Tonight they just wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Atlanta Coach Curt Fraser said.

Brian McCabe scored two goals for the Maple Leafs, who lost their second consecutive, and Mats Sundin scored his 20th goal, giving him eight consecutive seasons of 20 or more, third-best in club history.

The Thrashers, who had won only twice in their last 15 games, stopped a four-game winless streak, and won their first at home since Nov. 19.