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Dallas Stars 2011-12 Play Of The Year: Saves Group One

By Taylor Baird
DALLAS - OCTOBER 14: Goaltender Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Dallas Stars before a game against the Detroit Red Wings at American Airlines Center on October 14 2010 in Dallas Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS - OCTOBER 14: Goaltender Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Dallas Stars before a game against the Detroit Red Wings at American Airlines Center on October 14 2010 in Dallas Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Getty Images

Every off season, we here at Defending Big D vote to determine which play (hit, goal or save) was the play of the year. It seems as though in the glamor of the Jamie Benn break away goal the hard hits of Mark Fistric or the snappy glove save of Kari Lehtonen are easily overlooked.

This season, we're going to vote on a play of the year in each of the three categories: hits, saves and goals. This week, we're looking at the saves. A few interesting things of note while I was going through the saves of the year footage:

  • It's pronounced "KAH-RI" not "Carey" and it's "BACH-MAN" not "Backman".
  • Both Kari Lehtonen and Richard Bachman are very positionally sound goaltenders, making saves look oh so routine when in reality they're not.

    • After the jump, we have the candidates for save of the year for the Dallas Stars for the first half of the season - October, November and December. The saves of the year candidates for the second half of the season will come out on Wednesday, and the top three vote-getters in each group will have a run off on Thursday to determine the save of the year.

    Vote on your favorite for this group after the jump!

    Lehtonen sprawling save on Patrick Sharp October 7, 2011

    Lehtonen toe save on Kevin Shattenkirk October 13, 2011

    Lehtonen saves on the door step against Keith Yandle October 25, 2011

    Lehtonen stops both Gabriel Landeskog and Daniel Winnik November 4, 2011

    Lehtonen saves on a shorthanded chance by Mike Richards November 23, 2011

    Lehtonen windmill save on Phil Kessel and Tyler Bozak chances

    Raycroft with a big stop on Ryan Klesla November 26, 2011

    Bachman makes several stops in tight December 8, 2011

    Bachman sliding save on Scott Hartnell December 21, 2011

    Lehtonen split save on Jeff Carter December 29, 2011

    Lehtonen stops Johnny Boychuk then Zdeno Chara December 31, 2011