Ruzicka, Flyers Sweep Thrashers

PHILADELPHIA - Stefan Ruzicka had a goal and two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 3-2 victory Thursday night and a season sweep of the Southeast Division-leading Atlanta Thrashers.

Geoff Sanderson had a goal and an assist, and Derian Hatcher scored for the first time in more than a year for the Flyers, the owners of the NHL's worst record (20-40-11).

Keith Tkachuk had a goal and an assist, and Eric Belanger added a goal for the Thrashers, who had won six of seven but are 1-10-2 against the Flyers in Philadelphia.

Ruzicka put the Flyers ahead 2-1 at 8:52 of the second period when he batted in a rebound of a shot by Sanderson, who skated the length of the ice and fired in a slap shot from the left side.

It was the second goal of the season and first in 25 games for Ruzicka, who has split time between the Flyers and Philadelphia of the AHL. Martin Biron stopped 37 shots and is 4-2-1 since the Flyers acquired him from Buffalo on Feb. 27.

Sanderson made it 3-1 with his 11th goal at 4:48 of the third period when he flipped in a shot from the left side.

Belanger deflected in Tkachuk's shot at 14:28 to cut Atlanta's deficit to one goal.

Biron preserved the lead with a brilliant save of a point-blank shot by Scott Mellanby midway through the third period, and other stellar stops against Vyacheslav Kozlof and Pascal Dupuis in the closing minutes.

Kari Lehtonen, who had won six of seven starts, made 33 saves. He kept the Thrashers even midway through the first period when he smothered a short-handed breakaway attempt by R.J. Umberger.

Hatcher put the Flyers ahead with a power-play goal with 43 seconds left in the first period. After the initial shot by Ruzicka bounced off his chest, Hatcher knocked in the loose puck.

It was Hatcher's first goal in 126 games, dating to Dec. 3, 2005, when he scored at Nashville.

Tkachuk tied it 1:16 into the second period when he poked in a rebound of Niclas Havelid's shot, lifting the puck high over Biron's glove.

Notes:@ Philadelphia RW Mike Knuble returned after missing 12 games with a fractured cheek bone and orbital bone. ... Flyers LW Ben Eager was back after missing 11 games with a sprained ankle. ... Atlanta RW Marian Hossa's team-record, 11-game point streak (7 goals, 11 assists) ended. ... Atlanta C Jim Slater and D Steve McCarthy were healthy scratches. ... Philadelphia RW Scottie Upshall sustained an upper body injury when he was checked into the boards by Ilya Kovalchuk in the second period and didn't return.