ATLANTA at. CALGARY 7-3 - Atlanta win series 4-3
Atlanta did what not many people tought they would do, they came back from a 3-1 series to win the OTHL Cup. The Thrashers showed a lot of heart as they turned around the series, and crushed the Calgary Flames on away ice, infront of 20140 Calgarians all rooting for Calgary. And Atlanta won in a convicing way, by beating Calgary 7-3 in the last game of the season. The Thrashers showed that there young team, was ready to win the big price. Despite not nearly making the playoffs after a slow regular season. Atlanta managed to qualify for the playoffs, in the dying minutes of the season as they jumped into the 7th seeded slot. And a month later, they came out ontop after having beaten the 1st seeded Philadelphia Flyers, the 2nd seeded Ottawa Senators the 4th seeded Boston Bruins. Before they took on the Western Conference Champions.
In game seven, the Thrashers were all over Calgary from the first puck drop, outshooting Calgary 13-5 in the first period. Atlanta also scored four unanswered goals in the first period, putting a lid on the fans. Danny Heatley (10), Mike Ribeiro (10), Tomas Holmström (7) and Brenden Morrow (12) all got there names on the scoresheet before the first period was over.
In the second Atlanta's offense continued to produce, as Tomas Holmström (8) and Ken Klee (3) both scored before the Flames got a breather and Rod Brind´Amour (7) could score the home sides first goal in the game. And while they were down 6-1 after two periods, the Flames tried there best to get back in the game. Jason Spezza (6) scored early in the third, but when Mike Ribeiro (11) scored his second of the night, the cup dreams of the Flames was blown out. Markus Näslund (16) scored a meaningless goal for the Flames before the game was over. And the Atlanta Thrashers could celebrate there first ever cup win.
Nikolai Khabibulin did not have one of his better games in game seven, but thanks to a excellent playoffs he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs. Khabibulin had 5 shutouts, 6 assists and a excellent .916 save percentage over the playoffs. He also had a 2.24 goals against average, and was the big reason that the Atlanta Thrashers went all the way.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Brenden Morrow (Atlanta), had 1 goal and 4 assists as the Thrashers captured the OTHL CUP.
TODAYS GAMES
Atlanta Thrashers at. Calgary Flames 7-3 - Atlanta win series 4-3