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Entries with the tag: kari lehtonen
Video- Kari Lehtonen With The Save Of The Night
by Paul on 01/29/13 at 09:03 AM ET
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A reach behind, mid-air grab.
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Dallas Stars Extend Kari Lehtonen
by Paul on 09/14/12 at 10:40 AM ET
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Frisco, TX - Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the club has signed goaltender Kari Lehtonen to a five-year contract extension worth $29.5 million ($5.9 million per year) through the 2017-18 NHL season.
Lehtonen, 28, concluded his eighth NHL season in 2011-12, earning a 32-22-4 record with a .922 save percentage, a 2.33 goals against average and four shutouts in 59 games. Earlier in the season, he became the first goaltender in Dallas Stars history to win seven consecutive games to start a season and finished the campaign allowing two-or-fewer goals in 37 of his 59 games. He was named the NHL’s Second Star of October after posting an 8-1-0 record with a .947 SV% and a 1.75 GAA.
“Kari Lehtonen has worked extremely hard in his time with the Dallas Stars to establish himself as an elite goaltender in the NHL,” said General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk. “We believe that his best days as a goaltender are ahead, and that his work ethic and leadership will help guide this team into a perennial Stanley Cup contender.”
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Video- Kari Lehtonen With The Save Of The Night
by Paul on 02/11/12 at 01:47 AM ET
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Closing seconds of OT, Lehtonen robs Thomas Vanek. The Sabres did win in the shootout.
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Lehtonen Out At Least Eight Games
by Paul on 11/28/11 at 06:33 PM ET
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from Mark Stepneski of ESPN Dallas,
“Kari will be out at least three weeks,” Gulutzan said. “We got some good news on that front as far as the MRI. It’s not a high groin pull or anything; it’s kind of a low strain, low pull. Those tend to heal a little better, so we’re looking at the three-week mark before he can get going again.”
Lehtonen will miss at least eight games, including a five-game road trip. To compensate, the Stars called up goaltender Richard Bachman from the Texas Stars of the AHL.
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
Lehtonen On IR
by Paul on 11/27/11 at 02:56 PM ET
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Kari Lehtonen has been placed on IR after injuring his groin on a save after the whistle had been blown on an offsidse call.
Lehtonen has had a history of injuries but hopefully for the Stars, this is not a long-term issue
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
NHL Stars of the Week
by Alanah McGinley on 10/17/11 at 07:27 PM ET
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NEW YORK (October 17, 2011)— Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Phil Kessel, New York Islanders center John Tavares and Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen have been named the NHL ‘Three Stars’ of the week.
Each Monday, the NHL will recognize three players who delivered the League’s top performances over the past week. Due to the mid-week start to the regular season Oct. 6, today’s selections were based on games from Thursday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 16.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Dallas Stars, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: john+tavares,
kari+lehtonen,
phil+kessel
Depending On Lehtonen
by Paul on 10/15/10 at 09:23 AM ET
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from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News,
Truth be told, the fallout from Joe Nieuwendyk’s decision to move on without Mike Modano won’t linger that long.
After the franchise icon received a nice ovation Thursday in his return in a Detroit Red Wings uniform, most fans were ready to move forward.
And that means the move that defines Nieuwendyk’s tenure as Stars GM might very well be the acquisition of Kari Lehtonen last February. The big Finn was solid again in net, making 25 saves in a 4-1 win. He was spectacular in the preseason and has been timely in the three victories. He came up huge in the third periods of games against the Devils and the Islanders and did it again against Detroit.
He’s not flashy, but he stops the puck. And that can make him pretty darned important.
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
The State of Hockey in Finland
by Phil Davies on 09/28/10 at 10:25 PM ET
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If there was ever a National team program historically greater than the sum of its parts, it would be Team Finland. Despite not having the offensive depth of many of their Elite Seven rivals, the Finnish National Team has repeatedly fared well in recent international best-on-best competition. After enduring many decades of lopsided defeats internationally at the hands of Canada, the former Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and longtime nemesis Sweden, the Finnish hockey program made great strides in the 1990’s, culminating with a World Championship in 1995. In addition, Finland has won more Olympic Hockey medals (1 silver, 2 bronze), than any other nation, since the introduction of NHL players to the Games in 1998.
Finland’s success can be attributed to a strong emphasis on teamwork and the fact that unlike their European rivals, hockey is indisputably the number one sport in their homeland, which has led to the implementation of adequately funded development programs and a strong domestic league in SM-liiga. More than any other European team, Finland employs a fast skating, tight forechecking, North American style of play, augmented by strong defensive zone coverage and consistently elite goaltending. The rinks in Finland have been adjusted to enhance the tight forechecking style of play, by adopting a size that is halfway between the dimensions of NHL and IIHF standards. Furthermore, in an effort to aid the National Team’s development programs, numerous goaltending schools have been created, and often led, by the country’s top puck stoppers. This has led to the emergence of many elite young goalies in the NHL, such as Tuukka Rask, Pekke Rinne, Antti Niemi and perhaps Kari Lehtonen, if he can find health and consistency in a Dallas Stars uniform.
Filed in: Non-NHL Hockey, International Hockey, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: antti+niemi,
dallas+stars,
espoo+blues,
iihf,
jere+lehtinen,
kari+lehtonen,
mikko+koivu,
olli+jokinen,
olympic+hockey,
pekke+rinne,
saku+koivu,
sm-liiga,
teemu+selanne,
tuomo+ruutu,
tuukka+rask
Kari Lehtonen Gets Contract Extension In Dallas
by Paul on 05/11/10 at 06:57 PM ET
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Frisco, Tex. – Dallas Stars General Manager Joe Nieuwendyk announced today that the hockey club and goaltender Kari Lehtonen have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension worth $10.65 million ($3.55 million per year average). This extension will put Lehtonen under contract through the 2012-13 season.
“We were excited to acquire Kari Lehtonen in February because of his size, skill and potential to once again be a top-tier goaltender in this league,” Nieuwendyk said. “His play during the last month of the season reaffirmed our belief that he can be our starter for next year and seasons to come. We’re very happy to agree to terms with Kari on this contract extension.”
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
Lehtonen Not Sharp In First Start In Almost A Year
by Paul on 03/06/10 at 08:28 PM ET
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from Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News,
Bottom line, Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen looked tired and out of sorts today in his first start for the Stars, giving up six goals on 34 shots in a 6-3 loss to the Penguins.
What did you expect? He hasn’t started a game since April 11 last year for Atlanta.
``I can say the goalie looked fatigued tonight and we’re confident he’s going to get better,’’ Stars coach Marc Crawford said.
So is this a matter of just working him through it with practice and games?
``I think it is a little bit of both. We’ll see how he is tomorrow,’’ Crawford said. ``Obviously, we want to keep his worth ethic up. He hasn’t played in the NHL in a year, so it’s understandable that you’re going to get fatigued. If you get fatigued in those two minute situations, penalty kills especially, you may not have to make a save but you’re in your tuck and you’re moving and you’re just right on edge. I’m sure their heart rates are right at the high level when they have that constant action around them. It is grueling and it is tiring, that’s the thing that he will get better with. So that’s where we are with him.’‘
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
Lehtonen Experiencing Pain During Rehab
by Paul on 10/23/09 at 06:20 PM ET
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from Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Jounral-Constitution,
Goaltender Kari Lehtonen is no closer to returning to the Thrashers than he was soon after offseason back surgery.
According to Thrashers general manager Don Waddell, Lehtonen again experienced pain in his legs while rehabbing from July surgery to repair a herniated disc. He recently received another epidural injection to reduce inflammation, and he has stopped skating.
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Thrashers Goaltender Lehtonen Had Minor Surgery
by Paul on 07/24/09 at 01:55 PM ET
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via Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen had a minor surgical procedure this off-season but is not expected to miss any time, according to his agent.
Larry Kelly confirmed the surgery Friday but referred all other inquiries to Thrashers team officials.
The Thrashers did not immediately have a comment.
added 1:!3pm, The same link as above has now been updated,
Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen had surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back earlier this week. He is not expected to miss a significant amount of time when the Thrashers report for training camp in September.
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Tags: kari+lehtonen
RFA Lehtonen Re-Signs With Atlanta
by Paul on 07/15/09 at 08:30 PM ET
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Atlanta, GA - The Atlanta Thrashers have re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Kari Lehtonen, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
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Lehtonen Agrees To One Year Contract
by Paul on 07/16/08 at 07:48 PM ET
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from Craig Custance of the Sporting News,
Just got word that the Thrashers signed goalie Kari Lehtonen to a one-year deal worth $3 million. It’s an interesting number because that means backup Johan Hedberg is on the books longer than the franchise goalie.
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Goalie Style
by Alanah McGinley on 02/20/08 at 02:48 PM ET
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For something different, the AJC real estate section takes a look at a hockey home:
There is little in Kari Lehtonen’s home to remind him of the daily stresses of work.
A massage chair, a hot tub and vitamin water hint that his is a physical job, a job that punishes and pushes the body.
Lehtonen, goalie for the Atlanta Thrashers, created a home in Brookhaven that is calm, yet modern. It’s difficult to find any hockey paraphernalia. A few small awards can be found in a storage room the basement.
“I try to get away from that,” he said.
Stylin’ hockey players… I think we might have to start calling it the Sean Avery Effect.
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Lehtonen Back in Practice - Goalie Surplus in Atlanta
by Alanah McGinley on 11/19/07 at 07:16 PM ET
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From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
“It’s been a long month, but it was great today to come here when everybody else comes and not three hours before,” Lehtonen said. “It’s fun to be a part of the team.”
And suddenly it’s a team that will have three capable goalies. According to general manager and interim head coach Don Waddell, Lehtonen’s return to the lineup won’t be rushed. In the past, he said, Lehtonen might have been hurried to action this week. But not now.
Johan Hedberg is coming off his first shutout with the Thrashers and will get the start tonight against Tampa Bay. He’s 4-0 in his last five starts and with his shutout in Carolina, dropped his goals against average to 2.38 in November.
Rookie Ondrej Pavelec is 3-1 in four starts and has a 2.71 GAA on the season. His only other loss came in a relief appearance against Ottawa.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Atlanta Thrashers, | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: atlanta+thrashers,
goalies,
johan+hedberg,
kari+lehtonen,
ondrej+pavelec
Lehtonen Out With Strained Groin
by Paul on 10/22/07 at 01:29 PM ET
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from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen will be out four to six weeks with a strained groin. An MRI revealed that there was no tear in the groin Lehtonen injured during Thursday’s win over the Rangers.
Even so, he’ll likely be out until December.
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Tags: atlanta+thrashers,
goalies,
kari+lehtonen