ATLANTA (AP) -- Damian Rhodes was hardly concerned that the Flames were playing their first game in Atlanta since 1980.

	Atlanta's Kevin Dean and Kelly Buchberger, right, run over Calgary's Jeff Shantz, left, on their way to the puck.

After making 30 saves, including 14 in the third period, the seven-year veteran goaltender owned the expansion Thrashers' first home victory Tuesday night.

"Each win is a step on a ladder, and it's a confidence builder," Rhodes said after Atlanta held off Calgary 2-1. "It's a step we can grow from."

The game marked the first meeting between the expansion Thrashers, who entered 0-3-1 at home, and the Flames, who first played in Atlanta from 1972-80.

The scoring ended on Andrew Brunette's rebound goal early in the second period, but for Rhodes the work was just beginning.

After goalie Grant Fuhr was pulled with 1:02 remaining, the Flames were unable to take advantage of the extra skater. Jarome Iginla finished the third period with four shots, while Rene Corbet had three and Valeri Bure and Marc Savard had two apiece.

Calgary took the first 11 shots of the period.

"It seemed like a blur," said Rhodes, who improved to 2-2-2. "You're in a zone. That's just the way it was tonight."

Entering the game, the third period had been particularly troubling for the Thrashers -- with opponents outscoring them 13-3. Atlanta already blew leads against Buffalo and Tampa Bay, and most recently gave away a 2-1 edge to Colorado on Saturday.

"He had to be unbelievable in the third period," Calgary coach Brian Sutter said of Rhodes. "We shot goals through him. We shot goals around him. He beat 'em cold."

Though Johan Garpenlov took the Thrashers' only shot of the third period, coming just inside the blue line with 1:39 to play, Atlanta missed a golden opportunity when Nelson Emerson hit the right post as Fuhr watched from the bench.

"Why couldn't he have finished that off?" Atlanta coach Curt Fraser wondered. "That would've made it a lot easier for us. But nothing's ever going to come easy for this hockey club. We've got to go out and earn everything."

The winning goal came at the 1:30 mark of the second period. Knocking down a Calgary pass with his glove, Ray Ferraro shot to the left, but Fuhr made the save. Brunette, who was standing in front of Fuhr, put home the rebound to give Atlanta a 2-1 lead.

Emerson's second goal of the season, coming on a power play, put the Thrashers up 1-0 at 7:55 of the first period. After Calgary's Cory Stillman streaked past him in front of the net, Emerson shot the puck to the left of Fuhr to score on his team-high 26th shot.

The Flames tied it on a power play when Clarke Wilm scored just in front of Rhodes at 9:42 of the first period.

Fuhr, who posted his 400th career win Saturday, made 17 saves and dropped to 2-6-1.

"We didn't start good," Fuhr said. "There were too many penalties in the first period. We finally came around at the end but couldn't get the job done."