by Chris Vivlamore, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The 22-year-old Thrashers goaltender made his coach look toward the opposing bench Saturday. John Anderson couldn't help but watch the reaction of Ottawa players as Pavelec was amassing 50 saves.

"They were shaking their heads after a couple shifts," Anderson said. "I like to see that."

Pavelec has grabbed the No. 1 job and shows no signs of letting go. Heading into Thursday night's game against the Blue Jackets, he was seventh in the NHL in save percentage at .921. He set a franchise record with saves (24) and shots faced (25) in the third period of Saturday's 3-1 win over Ottawa. The 50 saves were a career high.

Ondrej Pavelec has had a lot to smile about early this season. (Bill Wippert / Getty Images)

"You never know what's going to happen tomorrow, especially in the NHL," Pavelec said. "I feel great out there, but it's hard to say if I grabbed (the No. 1 job) or not. It's a question for Coach. For me, I focus only for the next game. I don't look forward to next week or next month."

The next month seems a certainty for Pavelec. Kari Lehtonen, the Thrashers' top goaltender the past three seasons, will miss another six to eight weeks after undergoing a second back surgery. Lehtonen had surgery Friday to remove the edges of bone that were applying pressure to the nerve roots in two locations in his back. It was the second back operation for Lehtonen in the past three months. He had surgery to repair a herniated disc, in a different location, on July 20.

Pavelec entered Thursday 5-3-1 in 10 games. Yes, he has been busy. In the nine games that Pavelec started over that span, the Thrashers have been outshot, 317-238.

"I think there is something wrong with his passport. I think he's really 32 or maybe 42 [years old]," Thrashers goaltender Johan Hedberg said. "He's very mature. That's the thing I look at: How do you handle success? So far, I'm very impressed and happy with his demeanor. He's happy with a good game, but it doesn't end with that. It's a new game the next day, and he keeps pushing forward."

Yes, Pavelec is turning heads.

He has stopped 84 of 89 shots in the Thrashers' two-game winning streak. In the win over Ottawa, he made one save with his face after losing his mask. The protection fell off in a pileup in front of Pavelec. The Senators' Alex Kovalev took control of the puck behind the net and tried a wraparound shot that caught Pavelec in the chin and the shoulder. The save, which Pavelec calls his most memorable this season, came one day shy of the 50th anniversary of the day Jacques Plante first used a goalie mask (Nov. 1, 1959).

"I wasn't hurt," Pavelec said. "But I'm lucky to have my teeth."

Anderson and Hedberg both called Pavelec's performance against Ottawa one of the greatest they've seen by a goaltender.

"He's in the zone," Thrashers teammate Colby Armstrong said. "He's getting a piece of everything. He makes huge saves in key parts of the game. He's more than impressing a lot of people around the league."

Indeed, Pavelec is turning heads.

Pavelec, 6 fee 3, 220 pounds, is making such an impression in his first start of an NHL season. He appeared in 19 games, over two seasons, with the Thrashers before securing his position this year in training camp. Last season, he appeared in 12 games between being called up from the AHL affiliate in Chicago three times.

Now, Pavelec has some stability.

"Last year, I was up and down," he said. "I didn't know how long I was going to stay. I didn't know what was going to happen, and I couldn't control those things. This year, they gave me the opportunity. It's huge for me. I'm happy for it. It's up to me right now, how long I'm going to play and how I'm going to play."

Copyright 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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