(My Sportsbook) - Well, at least it wasn't another loss.

That's the sentiment that could have been expressed by the Atlanta Thrashers after their 3-3 tie Halloween night in Toronto against the Maple Leafs. The lowly club earned its second point of the young season with the deadlock, after losing the first 10 games (0-8-1-1)

There were some surprises on the Thrashers' end in the contest, not the least of which was the absence of 19-year-old phenom Ilya Kovalchuk. The Russian star was a healthy scratch, essentially because he has evolved into a defensive liability in his sophomore season.

Kovalchuk, who bagged 29 goals during an injury-shortened rookie campaign, is a league-worst minus-13 through 10 games, and was on the ice for three Los Angeles even-strength tallies in Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Kings.

"Ilya's play away from the puck hasn't been as good as it was last year," general manager Don Waddell told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "He's never going to be a great defensive player. We don't expect him to be. But he's got to work defensively."

Kovalchuk was by no means a Selke candidate in 2001-02 -- minus-19 -- but coach Curt Fraser felt things have regressed this season, and that a message needed to be sent.

"Everyone on this team has to be accountable, including Ilya," Fraser said.

Fraser did add that this is something most premier goal scorers go through early in their careers.

"All the great scorers started like this," Fraser said. "But in time, they got better. He needs to learn that lesson now. He has to pay attention to defense."

Considering a player like New York's Pavel Bure still doesn't backcheck as he should, Fraser surely makes a worthwhile point.

As for Thursday's game itself, Patrik Stefan helped erase The Leafs' second lead of the match with a goal at 15:26 of the third period. Stefan was able to score after goaltender Ed Belfour strayed out of position during the play, and wasn't backed up by the proper defensive coverage. Frantisek Kaberle had the puck in the right circle and faked a shot to draw Belfour away from the net. Kaberle then sent a pass to the left side of the crease for an unmarked Stefan, who deposited the puck into the empty cage.

The Leafs nearly scored with 34 seconds remaining in regulation, but Thrashers goalie Pasi Nurminen came up with an incredible save. Nurminen failed to handle a bouncing puck in the crease and Alyn McCauley swept in for Toronto and tried to chip it over the prone netminder, who was able to kick his right leg up in the air to keep the puck out of the net.

Toronto outshot the Thrashers by a 35-20 margin, but were simply frustrated by Nurminen, who played in place of regular starter Milan Hnilicka in the second part of Atlanta coach Fraser's plan to shake things up. part of Atlanta coach Fraser's plan to shake things up.

"We don't want to make excuses or anything, but [Nurminen] stood on his head," Toronto right wing Tie Domi said. "I've never heard of him before, so good for him."

UP NEXT

The Thrashers opened a four-game road trip Thursday, and will continue the trek Saturday in Florida. The swing also includes stops in Chicago and Buffalo.