Atlanta, GA (My Sportsbook) - Mats Sundin's goal in the second period proved to be the game-winner as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed the Atlanta Thrashers, 4-2, at Philips Arena.

Andy Wozniewski, Alex Steen and Matt Stajan each lit the lamp for the Maple Leafs, who snapped a four-game losing streak. Vesa Toskala made 18 saves in the win.

"We came out ready to play," said Toronto coach Paul Maurice. "We had to win this game to get a good feeling and hopefully we can build on this. I think in the last two or three games the team has started to make passes in the neutral zone. Overall, our defensive zone coverage has been much more solid. I thought we did a pretty good job keeping Atlanta to the outside."

Ilya Kovalchuk and Tobias Enstrom each scored for the Thrashers, who have dropped three straight after a four-game losing streak. Johan Hedberg made 21 saves in the loss.

"There's gonna be winning streaks and there's gonna be losing streaks," said Hedberg. "It's just the way you handle it and how you go about it. I think we did some good thing good tonight. I think they played very well, you have to give them credit."

Toronto got the first goal of the game on a lucky bounce. Wozniewski flicked a shot on net from the left circle that hit off of Niclas Havelid. The puck then bounced off of the back board, hit off the back of Hedberg and went into the net with 5:50 left in the frame.

The Maple Leafs built on their lead in the closing moments of the first period. On a rush, Kyle Wellwood flicked a pass from the slot to the right circle where Steen one-timed a shot that Hedberg slowed down with the glove, but it retained enough momentum to trickle across the goalline with just 3.4 seconds left in the stanza.

Toronto tacked onto its lead in the second as Sundin's backhander from the left circle squeezed between Hedberg and the left post with 4:42 left in the frame.

Atlanta got on the scoreboard a little over a minute later as Kovalchuk's quick wrister from the top of the left circle squeezed under the glove of Toskala.

However, the Maple Leafs took a three-goal lead just 6:04 into the third period as Boyd Devereaux left a drop pass that went to the top of the left circle where Stajan rifled a one-timer into the right corner of the net for a 4-1 lead.

The Thrashers cut their deficit to two goals with a power-play tally. Marian Hossa had the disc behind the net and spotted Enstrom cutting in from the right point. Hossa laid a soft pass out to the right circle where Enstrom's one-timer on one knee went into the left corner of the net with 7:29 to play.

Atlanta pulled Hedberg in the final minutes of the contest, but was unable to cut into its deficit.

Game Notes

Toronto hosts Pittsburgh on Saturday...Atlanta plays against the Islanders in New York on Saturday...Atlanta had won four straight against Toronto...Sundin's goal was the 1,274th point of his career, which moved him into a tie with Al MacInnis at 31st on the league's all-time list...Nik Antropov and Gill each had two assists for Toronto...Kovalchuk became the first 20-goal scorer of the season with the goal...Atlanta went 1- for-3 on the power play while Toronto failed to score on its only chance.