GREENVILLE, South Carolina (Ticker) -- Matt Johnson scored twice in the second period, leading the expansion Atlanta Thrashers to a 3-2 exhibition victory over the Carolina Hurricanes.

Johnson tallied his first goal 8:10 into the middle period, beating goaltender Mark Fitzpatrick to give Atlanta a 2-0 advantage.

After Paul Ranheim scored his first goal of the preseason with 6:14 left Carolina (1-2), Johnson restored the two-goal lead less than two minutes later when he scored on the power play.

Carolina's Tommy Westlund scored with 11:23 to play.

Martin Gelinas had two assists and Scott Langkow made 21 saves for the Thrashers (3-2-1), including 12 in the third period.

George Kinnear scored his first goal of the exhibition season for Atlanta with three seconds left in the opening period.