"It's time for Kari Lehtonen to play hockey again.

The Thrashers goaltender, out all season recovering from two back surgeries, left Friday for the team's AHL affiliate in Chicago to begin a two-week conditioning assignment. Lehtonen will play for the Wolves against Peoria on Saturday.

"Everything feels good, but this will be the real test," Lehtonen said. "I'm really positive now that I believe everything is going to be fine. I'm not 100 percent sure what's going to happen, but I believe everything is going to be fine. That's why we are doing this, to test everything and make sure it's OK."

Lehtonen can stay with Chicago until Feb. 6. The Wolves play seven games in the two-week period. Lehtonen said after playing Saturday, his schedule will be determined on a day-to-day basis.

Lehtonen required surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back in July. In October, he had a second surgery to remove edges of bone that were applying pressure to nerve roots in two locations in his back."