AJC > Sports > Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2007 > December > 31
Monday, December 31, 2007
Letting it ride with Lehtonen
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
It’s another quick-hit road trip, this time to Boston. The team changed plans and will practice in Duluth on New Year’s Day. A win this afternoon guarantees that the Thrashers are at least .500 at the halfway point. But as you know, the games don’t get any easier from here on out.
The most encouraging thing for the success of this team has been Don Waddell’s decision to give Kari Lehtonen a majority of the starts, and Lehtonen responding to it with solid play. Waddell said this morning he’s been impressed with how Lehtonen has battled during this stretch, which sometimes isn’t always the case with the young goalie. He’s starting today and this will be his eighth consecutive start. With the way the schedule is set up in the next couple weeks, Lehtonen could theoretically start every game. There isn’t another back-to-back until January 17th and 18th, although Waddell indicated this morning that he’d like to get Moose some work during this stretch.
Jim Slater didn’t make the trip to Boston as his illness continues to keep him off the ice. Waddell said it’s been tough because Slater was playing so well (minus the lack of goals) before the illness. I don’t expect to see many changes from the 5-0 win the other night.
Happy New Year’s everybody. Anyone have a New Year’s resolution for some of the Thrashers?
