Colby Armstrong scored the go-ahead goal late in the third period and the Atlanta Thrashers added two empty-netters in the final minute of a 4-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning last night. The Lightning, who tied Los Angeles with an NHL-low 71 points, finished in last place to give them the best chance of winning the draft lottery this summer.
Atlanta, another lottery team, wasn't much better this season. The Thrashers, with 76 points, had the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference, finished 29th overall. St. Louis, a 3-0 winner yesterday over Columbus, has 77 points with one game remaining. Bobby Holik's 15th goal gave the Thrashers a 1-0 lead with a wrister from the left circle 5:48 into the first. (More NHL stories.)