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Dallas Stars: Kari Lehtonen’s Five Best Moments As A Star

By Josh Clark

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen (32) skates back to the bench during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on March 23, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Boston defeats the Stars 3-2. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 23: Dallas Stars goaltender Kari Lehtonen (32) skates back to the bench during the game between the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins on March 23, 2018 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Boston defeats the Stars 3-2. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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4. You Shall Not Pass

Calling Kari Lehtonen a flashy goaltender isn’t necessarily a stretch. He knows how to make big saves and make them look as exquisite as possible.

And coming in at number four on our countdown might just be one of his flashiest saves of all.

On January 2, 2014, the Dallas Stars were getting the 2014 part of their season underway. After an impressive December stretch (8-3-4) to close out the calendar year, Dallas found themselves in the thick of the playoff race. But the race wasn’t slowing down, and a lot was required of the Stars if they wanted a Stanley Cup Playoff berth for the first time in five years.

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Things didn’t start out on the best note. The Stars lost six in a row in regulation to start the month of January. Some were close matchups, others were absolute blowouts. It wasn’t the most encouraging of sights as Dallas quietly slipped out of the playoff picture.

This whole skid started on Jan. 2 in a game against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Habs came to visit the Stars, who owned an impressive 20-12-7 record and boasted a seven-game point streak. They had already faced off once, with the Canadiens picking up the 2-1 win back in October.

This game ended in a high-scoring 6-4 decision, with Montreal claiming the two points. But it’s not to say that Dallas didn’t put up a good fight.

After finding themselves down 4-2, the Stars bounced back with goals from Tyler Seguin and Brenden Dillon to tie the game. And there were also some incredible saves from the Big Finn that kept it close.

Montreal took a 5-4 lead midway through the third period and continued to push. And with 6:10 left, it looked as though they had their sixth goal. But Lehtonen had other plans.

He went complete Gandalf on David Desharnais on a breakaway. As Desharnais pulled a move near the crease and caught Lehtonen out of position, the goalie quickly recovered by flipping onto his back and putting the stick blade on the ice.

If Kari could have yelled, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS,” he probably would have. This was a thrilling save made extra spectacular with an incredible effort from Lehtonen.

Tantalizing, larcenous, stunning, etc. You could use any of Razor’s adjectives for this one.

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