The New Jersey Devils lead the Atlanta Thrashers, 1-0, after one period in their game tonight at the Prudential Center.
The Devils lead in shots, 10-7.
Mark Fayne scored the period's only goal 1:18 into the game. Jason Arnott won a faceoff and moved the puck back to Fayne. Fayne fired a shot that deflected off of the stick of Atlanta's Anthony Stewart and over Chris Mason's shoulder.
Fayne is in the lineup for Colin White, who is ill.
Ilya Kovalchuk almost extended the Devils' advantage to two at 5:21 of the period. With Rich Peverley in the box for goaltender interference, Patrik Elias held the puck along the side boards. He sent a pass cross-ice to Kovalchuk, who one-timed the puck to the short side. The shot beat Mason but clanged off the post and went to the crease. The Thrashers cleared the puck.
This is the first time since their game against the Coyotes on December 15 that the Devils held a lead after the first period. They went on to win that game, 3-0.