Thrashers G withdraws from Finland's Olympic team

<p>Thrashers goalie Kari Lehtonen withdrew from Finland's Olympic team on Thursday, saying he hasn't fully recovered from a groin injury that kept him out of 35 games.</p><p>Lehtonen, who was injured in the season opener, returned to the Atlanta lineup in late December and helped the Thrashers climb back into playoff contention. But his groin is still hurting, making it difficult to practice and impossible to play on back-to-back nights.</p><p>"It's definitely the hardest decision of my life," Lehtonen said after a 5-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. "But I had to face facts. I can't handle 10 games in two weeks, or whatever it would be."</p><p>The team's medical staff agreed, advising Lehtonen to use the 2 1/2-week Olympic break to strengthen his groin. The goalie telephoned Jari Kurri, the former NHL star serving as Finland's general manager, with the decision Thursday morning.</p><p>"It's the only thing I can do right now," Lehtonen said. "I don't want to go over there and hurt myself. It would be a tough two weeks."</p><p>Lehtonen was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 entry draft, but has yet to play a full season in the NHL. His withdrawal leaves Finland with two goalies: Miikka Kiprusoff of the Calgary Flames and Fredrik Norrena, who plays for Linkoping in the Swedish league.</p><p>Finland will be able to name a replacement for Lehtonen. Among the likely candidates: NHL goalies Antero Niittymaki of Philadelphia, Jussi Markkanen of Edmonton, Vesa Toskala of San Jose and Hannu Toivonen of Boston.</p><p>"To represent your country is something you always dream of," Thrashers coach Bob Hartley said. "He's good enough to play, but we see him in there every day working with the elastic bands, just trying to survive."</p><p>The Thrashers will definitely need Lehtonen down the stretch. The team is mired in a four-game losing streak but still locked in a tight battle for the final playoff spot.</p><p>Atlanta general manager Don Waddell, who also will serve as GM of the U.S. Olympic team, said Lehtonen first approached the team last week about withdrawing from the Turin Games. After thinking about it a few more days, the 22-year-old goalie made it official.</p><p>"His injury is healing, but the endurance part is not going so fast," Waddell said. "He's been sore after every game this year."</p><p>Before Thursday's game, Waddell got a chance to meet with the U.S. coach, Carolina's Peter Laviolette. They discussed logistical issues and possible replacements for a couple of injured players.</p><p>Waddell also said the American staff has prepared a DVD for the players to watch on their way to Turin.</p><p>"When they get to Italy, they'll know the system we want to play," he said. "It will not be all new to them."</p>

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