PITTSBURGH -- NHL points leader Mario Lemieux will miss Sunday's All-Star Game because of a groin injury and will not be ready to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins until at least next week.

	Lemieux

Lemieux, who leads the NHL in scoring with 68 points in 41 games, has not played for the last six games and missed eight of the past nine. He was to miss Tuesday night's against the Islanders in New York and Thursday's game against Washington.

"I'd like to thank the fans for voting me to start in the All-Star Game," Lemieux said Tuesday. "It's a great honor, and I wish I could be there for them."

He and Toronto's Mats Sundin (shoulder injury) were replaced on the East's roster Tuesday by Tampa Bay center Vincent Lecavalier and Buffalo right wing Miroslav Satan.

Lecavalier, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 draft, has 21 goals and 25 assists. It will be his first All-Star game. Satan has 18 goals and 27 assists to lead the Sabres in scoring and is headed to his second All-Star game.

Lemieux said it was more important that he concentrate on the team's 30 remaining games and the playoffs.

"The recovery from this groin injury has taken a little longer than I'd hoped," Lemieux said after skating Tuesday at the Penguins' practice facility. "I am making improvement, but I'm not going to be ready for game action until at least next week.

Lemieux has 68 points in 41 games, leading Vancouver's Markus Naslund by five points.

On Monday, the league said Toronto goaltender Ed Belfour, Montreal center Saku Koivu and defenseman Brian Leetch of the New York Rangers had pulled out of the game.