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Thrashers score season-high 8 goals in win
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Anaheim Ducks’ Chris Pronger stick checks Atlanta Thrashers left wing Ilya Kovalchuk in the first period Sunday in Anaheim, Calif. - photo by The Associated Press

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ilya Kovalchuk scored three goals in 6:51 span of the second period to help the Atlanta Thrashers beat the Anaheim Ducks 8-4 on Sunday.

Kovalchuk, who also had an assist, leads the Thrashers with 27 goals and 58 points. The Russian star extended his goals streak to four games.

Rich Peverley, Bryan Little, Colby Armstrong, Colin Stuart and Niclas Havelid also scored, and Kari Lehtonen made 31 saves in Atlanta's first win over Anaheim since 2003.

Teemu Selanne had two goals for Anaheim, and Bobby Ryan and Andrew Ebbett also scored. The Ducks gave up the season-high eight goals after winning their last two games.

The Thrashers peppered Anaheim goalie Jean-Sebastien Giguere with 25 shots and scored four times in the second period, before Jonas Hiller took over in goal with 12:20 remaining in the period.

Kovalchuk's first goal was on a 5-on-3 power play at 1:26 of the second. He added even-strength goals at 7:40 and 8:17.

The Thrashers finished with a season-high 45 shots.

Atlanta has won three games in its last 10 outings.

Notes: Kovalchuk last scored three goals on March 12, 2008, against Calgary. ... Atlanta beat Anaheim for the first time since Dec. 5, 2003, in its first visit here since Dec. 3 of that year.

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