From Craig, on Kari:
Kari Lehtonen | His solid season last year ended on an ugly note in the playoffs and he certainly doesn't want another sour ending to a season heading into the summer. It'd be unfair to pin the Thrashers' collapse on the young goalie, but he'd like to get a few wins under his belt before starting contract negotiations with the team. He's a restricted free agent after this season.
"That's one thing, and the other thing is I want to play well because I want to be proud of what I'm doing," Lehtonen said. "This summer is going to be so long, it's going to be very frustrating if you don't end on a good note."
As for a contract, Lehtonen said he hasn't thought too much whether or not it might be to his advantage to sign a one-year deal and hope for a better payoff next summer. That decision could hinge on the players the Thrashers add in the offseason. General manager Don Waddell seems open to anything regarding a new deal for Lehtonen.
"He's three years before he's unrestricted," Waddell said. "The long-term security part might be something for him to look at. I haven't had any talks with them. ... I think we have some room in there to go either direction."
From Boston Globe on Savard:
Marc Savard, given new wingmen in Marco Sturm and Chuck Kobasew last night, entered the match in a four-game scoring slump, his longest drought since he scuffled through a four-gamer in 2001-02 while playing for Calgary. Savard busted his scoreless string by stuffing a wraparound into the net at 8:36 of the first period. It was his first goal since Feb. 19.
However, Savard was injured in the third period during Boston's fifth power play. Penalty-killer Steve Begin, who blasted Shane Hnidy with an open-ice belt earlier in the period ("Clean hit," said the Boston defenseman), cranked Savard with a cross-check in the back. Savard hit the deck, got up slowly, and skated to the bench, where trainer Don DelNegro held an ice pack to the center's back. Savard didn't return for overtime and went to the dressing room with help from Glen Metropolit before the shootout.
After the game, Savard spoke softly and appeared to have trouble taking deep breaths.
"We tried our best and came up a little short," said Savard. "We got a point and we're back in seventh place. Something to build off of."
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