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Ruff calls on Lehtonen to ‘take the leadership and grab the ball and run’

Los Angeles Kings v Dallas Stars

DALLAS, TX - NOVEMBER 04: Kari Lehtonen #32 of the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on November 4, 2014 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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The Dallas Stars’ owner may be preaching patience after seven straight losses, but their coach, Lindy Ruff, has become decidedly impatient with the goaltending his team has received from starter Kari Lehtonen and backup Anders Lindback.

“We’ve had a tough time and I don’t think I can hide from that. I don’t think our goalies can hide from it,” Ruff said, per Mark Stepneski of Stars Inside Edge.

As we noted earlier today, both Lehtonen (4-3-4, .904 SV%) and Lindback (0-3-0, .852) have struggled, the latter to such a degree that legitimate questions have been asked about his ability to remain the backup.

After another tough outing for Lindback on Saturday, Ruff is calling on the veteran, Lehtonen, to take the reins, starting tomorrow in Arizona.

“I know our goalies can get it done,” said Ruff. “I think Kari, it was a good rest for him. I think that he’s the guy that has to take the leadership and grab the ball and run and be ready to go with it. And it’ll start there because as soon as you get that confidence back there, then that one mistake you’re making isn’t something that’s going to hurt you.”