Antti Niemi Gets Starting Nod Against Former Team

by Susan Slusser

Filed under: Blackhawks, Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- It's official, Antti Niemi will be in goal Wednesday night against the team he helped take to the Stanley Cup title six months earlier.

Niemi didn't have a lot to say about Todd McLellan's decision, but his huge smile told the tale on Wednesday after the Sharks' morning skate.

"Yeah, I'm playing," he said. "I'm pretty excited. But it doesn't matter who we're playing. .... I'm not trying to think too much that the game is special. We just need wins."

Many of the Blackhawks said the previous day that they knew how they'd approach Niemi if he got the start, considering all the hours they spent shooting at Niemi during practice. Niklas Hjalmarsson added to the chorus on Wednesday, saying, "Yeah, I do. ... Hopefully, you'll get to see it tonight."

And that from a player who went to Niemi's house for dinner the previous night. "I was trying to get into his head," Hjalmarsson said with a smile.

 

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