AJC > Sports Thrashers > Blog > Archives > 2008 > December > 21
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Lehtonen Shows Moxy. Cindy…Not So Much
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The last time we saw Kari Lehtonen on the ice for the Thrashers was the night before we sent the kids out into the streets to extort candy and treats from the neighbors. The Thrashers lost 3-2 to the Ranger that night…two nights prior Philadelphia dropped seven on the Finnish keeper. Since that time he has missed 21 games due primarily to a back injury.
Saturday night Kari returned between the pipes and delivered the kind of effort that his team desperately need, helping his team to a 4-3 win over Tampa Bay.
The evening didn’t exactly start of well for Lehtonen, however. After being staked to an early lead thanks to Slava Kozlov’s 15th goal of the season…Kari then allowed the first two Lightning shots to get past him. After Ondrej Pavelec’s last two start, I though that maybe Opie had kidnapped Kari and stuffed him into the equipment closet…then put on the #32 jersey and played in his place.
But from that point on, we saw what Kari Lehtonen can be when on top of his game. After Martin St. Louis’ power play goal at 3:54 into the game made the score 2-1 Bolts, Lehtonen turned away the next 31 Tampa Bay shots over the next 53 minutes and 34 seconds of play. During that time, his teammates in front of him took the opportunity Kari afforded them and scored three consecutive goals.
Eric Perrin and Todd White made the score 3-2 by the time the first intermission rolled around and Joey Crabb notched his second of his career 4:06 into the third period.
And then that’s when all Hell broke loose in front of Kari!
After being limited to but 15 shots on goal in the first 40 minutes, Tampa Bay assaulted the Atlanta goal with 24 shots in the final period alone. The Bolts were on the man-advantage three times as Atlanta took penalties at the 11:40 mark, (Perrin-hooking)…14:20, (Schneider-interference)…and 16:59, (Valabik-holding).
For the game, Valabik took three penalties but did manage to finish the game a +2.
Kari stopped the first 18 shots…including a 4-shots in 12-seconds flurry between 8:10 and 8:22 of the third… before St. Louis was again able to convert on the power play at 17:28.
He then turned away another five Lightning shots to help preserve the win.
Hopefully this type of outing will be on display more often as the remaining games unfold. Well…minus the two-goals-on-two-shots way the game began for him, that is.
That we can do without for a while.
Speaking Of Big Saves
Kari Lehtonen will get credit for stopping 36 of 39 shots on goal on Saturday night. But one of the biggest stops of the game came during the first period when Marty Reasoner slid through the goal-mouth and denied a Tampa Bay shot on goal as the puck deflected off the Thrashers center. The “save” kept the score 2-1 Tampa Bay at the time and Atlanta followed up the play with a pair of goals before the end of the period.
However, later in the game Marty took a slap shot to the hand and had to leave early. Coach Anderson indicated afterwards that X-rays came back negative, so let’s hope it’s nothing too serious.
Also Returning To The Ice
Mathieu Schneider also made his return to the lineup Saturday night after playing last on Nov. 30 against the St. Louis Blues. The 39-year old defender had been down with a shoulder injury and he finished the night having played 19:23 with an even +/- rating.
Biggest Point Of The Night
The biggest point of last night’s action in Blueland goes to Tom’s little tax exemption earning an assist during the intermission exhibition match. Congrats on your first point on NHL ice!!!
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
The next two Thrashers games…Monday against Toronto and Tuesday on Lon-Gisland…will not be on local television. However, the good news here is that the Thrashers are 6-4-1 in such games so far this season.
But… for those who are Center Ice-less… as you are adjusting that AM dial looking for The Grand Kamalian’s call on 680 The Fan, keep in mind this interesting little ditty. The Thrasher’s AHL affiliate Chicago Wolves have a deal with Comcast Cable in which all 80 games and playoff games are televised in Chi-town.
Just sayin’…
Now, About Cindy
In case you missed Sidney “Cheap-Shot” Crosby’s “unwanted touching” incident Thursday night during Pittsburgh’s 6-3 win in Atlanta, here’s a little clip for ya…thanks to Sam. You can also review Valabik and Anderson’s comments about the incident here.
Ya know, for as great a player that Crosby is…anyone who takes multiple swings and a player’s “boyz”…while he is bent over tangled in a scrum with someone else and not in a position to defend himself …defines “classless” and “punk”. It also shows a severe lack of “boyz” on his part as well.
And… as per-usual for Cindy… he whined and cried all the way to the box before finally grabbing the hem of his skirt as he stepped in.
“How dare the mean ‘ol official man call me for a penalty. Doesn’t he know I’m the ‘chosen one’”?
Anderson, in my opinion, has an argument regarding Cindy being “third man in” in this case as well. As the clip clearly displays, Cindy came in late and then commenced to wailing away at the back of Valabik’s head while he was being held.
But let’s be honest here… Anderson shouldn’t hold his breath waiting for the league to dish out any punishment upon their golden-boy…their poster-child for the NHL’s post-lockout market recovery. In their eyes, he’s untouchable in that regards.
But I’ll tell ya something, Cindy…better keep your head up. ‘Cuz karma has this nasty little way of coming back around and biting ya square on the butt.
Or possibly…somewhere else.
