Kari Lehtonen Quotations

I had hoped to be further along with my groin injury and strong enough to help Finland compete for a gold medal, but I'm still not playing at full strength and don't feel my game is at the level it needs to be.

I didn't have any pain at all. A couple of goals I wasn't very happy about. It feels bad because we played a great game.

I was just sliding around, swimming and hoping I was going to hit it and it went under my pad.

I was hoping to play a little more earlier in the season. It's a different situation now. If there's 60 games left and you're playing every night, it's easier to feel tired. There's only (12 games) to go. It doesn't seem like that many. Mentally, that's the big thing, that's why it doesn't bother me.

To be down 4-1 and come back, it's amazing. It feels good to get the two points.

We are making some bad mistakes and I am letting some easy goals in.

This was the greatest game I have ever been involved in team-wise. We played so well. We scored when we had a chance and did not give them many chances.

We will now use the Olympic break as a part of my rehab program.

There weren't many tough ones in the first period when I didn't feel that comfortable. In the second and third I found my game, and after that I was hoping they would get even more shots because I felt so comfortable.

There were a couple of turnovers, and they came pretty hard. We were not patient enough.

It was definitely the hardest decision of my life. I'm very disappointed.

It was the biggest game of the year and I came out after 15 minutes, so it was very tough.

It was a must-win tonight, and it was great to get those two points. We need to just keep going like that.

It's the only thing I can do right now. I don't want to go over there and hurt myself. It would be a tough two weeks.

It's been tough because it seems like we play great and then we can collapse. I think nobody feels tired right now because when you get down to this point, everybody still has that extra push.

It's been crazy for the past few games. All of our fans, they've been in the games, so it's just an amazing feeling. And we got two points - that's the most important thing.

It's definitely the hardest decision of my life. But I had to face facts. I can't handle 10 games in two weeks, or whatever it would be.

It was 1-0 after 25 minutes, and we had a power play, and that turned it around. It was a lucky bounce for them, but unfortunately, it also gave them confidence.

It was just amazing how we played that last period. We turned it around. I was very confident in overtime because we were playing so well. When we didn't score in overtime, I was a little worried because basically I didn't do anything for the last 25 minutes. It's just nice to make some saves and get the two points.

It was just a lucky bounce and it came so late that we didn't have time to regroup.

I'm very disappointed that I'm unable to represent my country, but after speaking with our doctors, we feel it's the best thing to do at this time and my only real option. We will now use the Olympic break as a part of my rehab program in an effort to continue strengthening the injury for the final stretch of the season.

I knew they were gonna come hard they did. It's tough when everything goes right for them and they got a three goal lead. It's not easy to play after that.