Bryan Little scores go-ahead goal, Nik Antropov has 3 assists as Thrashers beat Hurricanes 4-2

Little, Antropov lead Thrashers past Carolina, 4-2

ATLANTA — Bryan Little scored the go-ahead goal in the third period, Nik Antropov had three assists in his first home game with Atlanta and the Thrashers took a 4-2 preseason win over the Carolina Hurricanes on Monday night.

Little was set up by Antropov and Ilya Kovalchuk midway through the third period. Jim Slater added to the lead by scoring with less than three minutes remaining.

Antropov, who signed a four-year, $16 million contract with Atlanta after playing for Toronto and the New York Rangers last season, also earned assists on first-period goals by defenseman Pavel Kubina, another veteran newcomer, and Mark Popovic.

Bryan Rodney had a first-period goal on Carolina’s power play, and Brandon Sutter’s short-handed tip-in tied the game in the second period.