Habs, Thrashers Deadlock

Damian Rhodes found just what he was looking for Wednesday night.

A career-high 48 saves, including six in overtime, helped the Atlanta Thrashers' top goaltender regain some lost confidence in a 1-1 tie with the Montreal Canadiens.

"Having a good third period boosted my confidence going into overtime," said Rhodes, whose expansion team broke an 11-game home losing streak. "I'm a better goalie when I get more work, and maybe I proved that tonight."

Montreal, with eight regular-season games remaining, is 1-3-2 since taking a 3-2 victory at Buffalo March 10.

The tie allowed the Canadiens, who lost 4-1 to the Sabres on Tuesday, to take a one-point lead over Buffalo for the eighth spot. Oleg Petrov tied the game 1:50 into the second period on a power-play slap shot about six feet inside the blue line.

In scoring only his second goal this season, Petrov drilled the puck over Rhodes' left shoulder.

"I just forgot about last night and wanted to come out here and have pretty good focus," said Rhodes, who is 4-11-3. "I felt good in warm-ups, and it carried over tonight."

Donald Audette's 15th goal, an unassisted breakaway effort with 3:22 left in the first period, put the Thrashers up 1-0. Audette, who has three goals in Atlanta's last three games, beat Jeff Hackett on the goalie's glove side.

Hackett, whose record is 19-21-7, stopped 31 shots. Montreal had won its three previous games with Atlanta.

"I thought we were a little tight in the first period," Canadiens coach Alain Vigneault said. "There was a lot at stake, and we have been through so much this year. I thought we played much better in the second and third periods and in overtime, but the difference was Rhodes."

Rhodes entered with 22 goals surrendered in his 12 previous periods. The eight-year veteran returned March 13 from a severe ankle injury that sidelined him nearly four months.

"Our whole plan until the end of the season is to get Damian playing consistently well," said Atlanta coach Curt Fraser, whose club is 2-25-3 in its last 30 games. "Now you're seeing what the No. 1 goalie looks like out on the ice and what he can do for the team."

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