Wolves' goalie coming up big in playoffs

Despite going 3-3 with a .904 save percentage in seven appearances with the Atlanta Thrashers earlier this season, 20-year-old Chicago Wolves goaltender Ondrej Pavelec still isn't sure he's ready for the NHL.

Pavelec said that before the start of the AHL playoffs. He might have to start re-thinking his future if he continues to play the way he has for the Wolves.

Pavelec took a 1.74 goals-against average into Game 1 of the Calder Cup West Division finals Thursday night against Rockford and lowered it by leading the Wolves to a 4-1 victory.

Pavelec bested IceHogs goalie Corey Crawford, who likely is headed the NHL next season as Nikolai Khabibulin's backup with the Blackhawks. Against Milwaukee in the first round, Pavelec outplayed highly touted Admirals goalie Pekka Rinne, who could be in Nashville with the NHL Predators to open next season.

While Pavelec downplays those head-to-head battles with Crawford and Rinne, Wolves coach John Anderson sees his rookie goalie relishing this opportunity.

"No question," Anderson said. "I think it happened against Pekka Rinne, and Crawford has a wonderful reputation. I believe he'll be in Chicago next year.

"I think (Pavelec) wants to prove himself and you like that in a young goalie, someone who really wants to compete against the big dogs."

If Pavelec is motivated playing against older goalies with big reputations, he's doing a good job keeping it to himself.

"Like I've said, I'm playing against Rockford and not Crawford," Pavelec said. "It was the same thing against Milwaukee. Everybody asked me if I'm playing against Pekka Rinne and I said I'm playing against Milwaukee. He can't score, the other goalie, so I just focus on stopping the puck."

Pavelec was Atlanta's second-round draft choice (41st overall) in 2005, and his 2.29 goals-against average last season was the best in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, long known as an offensive league.

Pavelec was second in the American Hockey League this season as a rookie with 33 wins, the second-highest total in Wolves franchise history. As well as Pavelec played during the regular season, he has raised the bar so far in the playoffs.

"He's maybe been better," Anderson said. "He's just been solid in there the whole time. It makes us feel confident to do a few more things offensively. We don't like to say take chances, but it lets us be a little more liberal, let's put it that way."

Pavelec made 29 saves in Thursday's series opener, losing his shutout with 4:05 to play when Skille beat him.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is tonight in Rosemont when Pavelec and the Wolves can expect a more intense offensive push from the IceHogs after their coach, Mike Haviland, accused his top players of not showing up in the opener.

"We know we can be better, and we will be better," Haviland said.