Lehtonen Honored as First-Half MVP
Published on January 17, 2005 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Chicago Wolves News Release
Chicago Wolves goaltender Kari Lehtonen has been named the first-half MVP of the American Hockey League by The Hockey News.
The Atlanta Thrashers' first pick  and second overall  in the 2002 National Hockey League Entry Draft has registered a 20-11-1 record with a 2.20 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage in 32 games. Lehtonen is tied for second in the AHL with 20 wins and third with four shutouts, while ranking second with 963 saves and fourth with 1913:23 minutes played.
The 21-year-old netminder, who has won 10 of his last 13 starts, was recognized last month as the No. 1 AHL prospect by The Hockey News. He was also named the AHL¹s goaltender of the month for December after recording a 9-1-0 mark, a 1.70 goals-against average, a .948 save percentage and two shutouts.
Last year, Lehtonen accrued a 20-14-2 record, a 2.41 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in 39 games with the Wolves during his rookie season. He also recorded a perfect 4-0-0 mark in as many games with Atlanta last season, including his first NHL shutout on March 27 against the Florida Panthers.
Lehtonen was named the top NHL prospect in the world by The Hockey News in 2003 and 2004 and was also honored by the publication as the 2004 minor pro prospect of the year. The Helsinki, Finland, native was named the starting netminder for PlanetUSA in the 2003-04 AHL All-Star Game and served as the backup goaltender for runner-up Finland in the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.
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