Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen to miss 6 to 8 weeks after back surgery

ATLANTA - Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen is expected to miss six to eight weeks after undergoing a second round of back surgery.

Lehtonen has not played this season as a result of his first round of surgery on July 20, when doctors repaired a herniated disc.

The team said Wednesday that Lehtonen had another surgery last Friday in Rochester, N.Y., to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in his back at two locations.

With Lehtonen missing the start of the season, 22-year-old Ondrej Pavelec has a 5-3-1 record as Atlanta's starting goaltender.