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Antti Niemi will not dress for Finland’s Olympic opener against Austria (Thursday, 9 a.m. PST), according to a report.
Boston’s Tuukka Rask, the expected starter and perhaps the frontrunner for the Vezina Trophy, will get the call while Dallas’ Kari Lehtonen acts as backup.
Niemi, a Vezina Trophy finalist last season, is 29-12-6 with a 2.39 goals-against average and .912 save percentage in 48 games with the Sharks this season. He is second in the league in wins.
Rask has 25 wins and a 2.11 GAA and .928 SP for Boston.
Finland plays Norway on Friday and Canada on Sunday in the preliminary round in Sochi.
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