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Lehtonen, Hedberg team to blank Blues

Sep 24, 2006 - 1:49 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Braves could learn something from Kari Lehtonen and Johan Hedberg.

Ilya Kovalchuk gave Lehtonen a lead and Hedberg held it as the Atlanta Thrashers posted a 1-0 preseason victory over the St. Louis Blues.

The Thrashers, who scored eight times over their first two exhibition games, netted just one goal Saturday. But it proved to be enough as Lehtonen and Hedberg combined to make 27 saves and blank the Blues.

During a power play in the first period, Kovalchuk scored his third goal of the preseason at 8:32 for a 1-0 lead. The tally came with Denis Pederson serving a tripping penalty.

Lehtonen stopped seven shots in the first period and two in the second before turning things over to Hedberg, who made five saves in nine minutes that session and 13 in the third.

Jason Bacashihua allowed one goal on 24 shots for St. Louis, which rested Keith Tkachuk and Bill Guerin.

Marian Hossa did not play for Atlanta, which was outshot, 13-3, in the third period.