There's something to be said for the expression about making sure you're home when opportunity knocks on your door.

In the case of goaltender Ondrej Pavelec, that something is the reality that he is the starting goaltender for the Atlanta Thrashers.

Pavelec won the battle for the starting job in training camp as the team sought a fill-in for Kari Lehtonen, whose recovery from off-season back surgery hasn't progressed as hoped. The former second-round pick of the Thrashers in the 2005 NHL Draft Entry Draft (41st overall) beat out veterans Johan Hedberg (Atlanta's current back-up) and Manny Legace, who is with the Chicago Wolves, and youngster Drew McIntyre, also in Chicago.

The 22-year-old native of Kladno in the Czech Republic — coincidentally the home of former Thrashers netminder Milan Hnlicka — recognizes the opportunity that has been presented to him.

"This is a great chance to show how I can play and that I can win games," said Pavelec. "The last two years I was up and down, up and down, Chicago, Atlanta, This year I started the first game and it's up to me right now. It's up to me how I play and how long I'm going to stay starting goalie."

He's off to a good start. He's backstopped the team to its best start in franchise history as they jumped out to a 4-1-1 record and then recovered from a brief rough patch to flat out steal a win in Ottawa on Saturday, stopping 50 of 51 shots in a 3-1 win. By going 4-3-1 in nine appearances he has already surpassed his single-season career-high for wins (three) which he set in each of his first two stints in Atlanta and he's done it by posting a .925 save percentage and 2.60 GAA, both of which would be franchise records if they stood up until the end of the season. That save percentage also ranked fifth in the NHL through the weekend's games.

Pavelec's heroics have provided just what the team needed.

"You just want stability in net. No bad goals and save a couple that you're not supposed to and play solid for us. He's done that so far," said head coach John Anderson earlier in the season. "I saw him do it at the American League level. We won a championship with him (the 2008 Calder Cup). So I know that he can. It's just a matter of getting it done here."

Following Pavelec's 50 save performance in Ottawa on the weekend Anderson was more effusive.

"He was fabulous," Thrashers coach John Anderson said. "One of the best games I've ever seen in goal. He made us win."

Pavelec is taking it all in stride, and it began with him setting the tone on opening night when he made a then career-high 36 saves in Atlanta's 6-3 victory. He then went on the road and won in St. Louis, making 29 saves. Pavelec suffered his first loss and first off-night in Ottawa, but bounced back with a strong effort in a win in New Jersey, then put on a clinic in Montreal, allowing one goal in 35 shots, including all seven in overtime when Atlanta was outshot 7-0, despite the team's eventual shootout loss. Since an off game versus the Capitals at Philips arena on Oct. 22 in which he allowed five goals in two periods, including a bouncing long shot from roughly 175 feet, Pavelec has been stellar, turning aside 90 of 94 shots in three appearances (a .957 save percentage).

"It's the first time as starting goalie," Pavelec said. "It's more responsibility for the team and more pressure on me but I like it. I'm looking to win games. So far, it's good but it always can be better. I work at it. I work on things in practice and hopefully my game is going to be better."

That work ethic is not lost on his teammates, who have complete confidence in him.

"We weren't concerned about Ondrej for one minute because he's a great goalie," added captain Ilya Kovalchuk before he went down with a broken foot. "He's progressed. He's more mature, he's working out every day. He shows everybody that he wants to play and he wants to be the guy. He's shown it and he's done it during the games."

Pavelec has earned his teammates' confidence by playing with a confidence and consistency that was not there in either of his stays in each of the past two seasons, which led to quick returns to Chicago. Last year was particularly frustrating, as his first call-up was a success (2-0, a 3.00 GAA, .888 save percentage GAA), but his second call, two weeks later was a disaster, as he was 1-6, with a 3.25 GAA, .882 save percentage and allowed five goals three times.

"I knew he was upset about being sent down last year but I think if you saw what happened when he did come up, we made the right decision early on to send him back down to get a full year," said Anderson. "If Kari played the full year last year and he only plays like 15 or 20 games, is that helping his development? We decided that it wasn't. So I think that we were right in having him down the whole year."

Pavelec finished 18-20-2 overall for the Wolves, setting career bests for goals-against average (2.58), save percentage (.914) and shutouts (three) and hit a torrid four-game stretch in late February that saw him go 4-0 with a shutout, a 0.75 GAA and .978 save percentage. He got one last look with Atlanta in the season finale, a 4-1 loss to Washington. The highs and lows of '08-09 reminded him that there was a lot of work that needed to be done before coming back for the 2009-10 season.

"I worked on position in the crease, being on top in the crease and handling the puck, the way I play behind the net," he said. "I think the biggest difference is in the NHL, every mistake you make they can score goals. You have to be focused 60 minutes, every shot. They'll try shooting from everywhere in the NHL. If you make a mistake it's a goal 99 percent of the time."

Kovalchuk certainly likes the new Ondrej Pavelec.

"He showed a lot of potential last year and he played really well in Chicago," he said. "So he's a great young goaltender with a bright future."

That future may be right now.

"They've given me the opportunity," said Pavelec. "It's up to me how long it's going to be."