ATLANTA -- Defenseman Martin Skoula scored two goals to lead the Penguins to a 3-2 victory against Atlanta at Philips Arena tonight.

Skoula gave the Penguins a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 7:38 of the opening period, when he beat Thrashers goalie Johan Hedberg with a wrist shot from above the right circle. Skoula's shot deflected off Atlanta defenseman Ron Hainsey on the way to the net.

Chris Bourque and Sidney Crosby got assists on that goal.

Skoula struck again at 7:34 of the second, beating Hedberg from the top of the left circle for his third of the season. Jordan Staal and Matt Cooke got assists.

Evgeni Malkin got what proved to be the game-winner at 1146, throwing a wrist shot by Hedberg from the top of the right circle. The puck struck the stick of Thrashers defenseman Tobias Enstrom then hit teammate Pavel Kubina before sneaking inside the far post.

Mike Rupp got the only assist on that goal, Malkin's sixth of the season and second in two games.

Max Talbot of the Penguins had a chance to put the game away when he was awarded a penalty shot at 17:34 after being tripped from behind on a breakaway, but shot wide of the net.

Fleury lost his shutout bid in an unlikely way, when ex-Penguin Chris Thorburn steered a Zach Bogosian feed past him at 9:40 of the third while the Thrashers were shorthanded.

The Penguins were on a four-minute power play because Thrashers sniper Ilya Kovalchuk had picked up an instigating minor, another penalty for instigating while wearing a visor, a fighting major and a 10-minute misconduct for provoking a fight with Cooke.

Maxim Afinogenov scored from close range with 17.5 seconds left in regulation to pull Atlanta within a goal.

The Penguins (15-8) will close out their three-game road trip Monday night at Florida.

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