Niemi gave up five goals on 27 shots in a loss to the Blackhawks on Sunday. A matchup with Chicago is never an easy one, but the loss marked his sixth in his last seven starts. Tonight he faces the Lightning who are 0-2-0 on their current road-trip and have been outscored 11-5 in those two losses.

Niemi stopped 34 of 35 shots in a big win over the Canucks on Thursday. It was a nice bounce back for Niemi who lost five straight heading into Thursday. He faces a tough Blackhawks team on the road tonight.

Niemi stopped 34 of 35 shots in a big win over the Canucks on Thursday. It was a nice bounce back for Niemi who lost five straight heading into Thursday. He faces a tough Blackhawks team on the road tonight.

Niemi was given the night off on Tuesday after losing five straight starts. In those five starts he posted a 3.83 GAA and .878 SV% - and the Sharks still forced OT in four of those contests. Niemi will look to get back on track tonight, but it won't be easy against the Canucks. He is 2-1-0 (2.48 GAA / .902 SV%) against Vancouver this season.

Niemi was given the night off on Tuesday after losing five straight starts. In those five starts he posted a 3.83 GAA and .878 SV% - and the Sharks still forced OT in four of those contests. Niemi will look to get back on track tonight, but it won't be easy against the Canucks. He is 2-1-0 (2.48 GAA / .902 SV%) against Vancouver this season.

ALL GOALIES CONFIRMED UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED AT TIME OF PRINT With the loss of Jonathan Quick to the dreaded LBI (lower-body injury), Ben Scrivens will see most of the action in net for the Los Angeles Kings. Scrivens takes on Kevin Poulin of the New York Islanders who is looking to push his foot in the door a little further for the Isles' starting job. Evgeni Nabokov hasn't instilled a lot of confidence in the coaching staff with a 3.24 GAA and .894 SP.  The team has played much better in front of Poulin as his numbers show (2.35 GAA & .924 SP) and he has started 4 of the past 6 games for the Islanders. The Kings are coming off a tough loss to the Buffalo Sabres but look for that to continue on the Island.  On home-ice, the advantage belongs to Poulin.... Jean-Sebastien Giguere draws a tough assignment tonight for the visiting Colorado Avalanche as they take on Jaroslav Halak and the St. Louis Blues. Giguere is playing lights out with a 1.00 GAA and .970 SP and a perfect 5-0-0 record.  Halak is playing well also with a 9-2-2 record but his stats don't match Giguere's.  However, the Notes have the home-ice advantage and the team should be ready to take on the NHL's biggest surprise so far this year in the Avalanche.  I would love to get "Jiggy" with it, but I just can't.  Blues at home after a tough OT loss to Phoenix.... Sergei Bobrovsky and the Columbus Blue Jackets head to Beantown to take on the Boston Bruins. Chad Johnson gets the call as the B's give Tuukka Rask a night off. This will be Johnson's third start of the year and the Bruins look to extend their winning streak to 4.  This is a good game for Johnson to play as the Blue Jackets have lost 6 of their last 7.  The B's won't leave Chad hanging in this one.... Tonight pits the two Conference leaders against one another as  Ben Bishop is in net for the Tampa Bay Lightning while Jonas Hiller gets back in the net for the Anaheim Ducks after 3 straight starts by rookie goalie phenom, Frederik Andersen.   The Bolts are coming off a 3-game road trip that was successful with 2 wins against Montreal and Detroit but suffered a devastating loss in Boston when their superstar scorer Steven Stamkos went down with a broken leg.  Bishop has been a rock for the Lightning in net, winning his last 5 starts.  The Bolts will return to the road after tonight's tilt.  Look for the Ducks to rebound after losing to the Florida Panthers 3-2 the other night.  Hiller will be the pillar in net for the Ducks tonight... ...

Niemi allowed four goals on 46 shots in a loss to the Jets on Sunday. It was Niemi's fifth straight loss and the fourth time in those five losses that he has allowed four goals. He and the Sharks have drastically cooled off after a blistering start, but a trip to Calgary tonight should help them right the ship.

Niemi was yanked for the first time this season after giving up four goals on 13 shots. After a blistering start to the season, Niemi has lost each of his last four starts. He has a good opportunity to get back in the win column tonight vs. the Jets.

After a ridiculous start to the season, Niemi has lost three straight starts. Niemi has allowed four goals in two of his last three starts and has seen his GAA bump up to 1.88. We are not worried about Niemi but he takes on the Canucks tonight, which isn't an ideal matchup.

After a ridiculous start to the season, Niemi has lost three straight starts. Niemi has allowed four goals in two of his last three starts and has seen his GAA bump up to 1.88. We are not worried about Niemi but he takes on the Canucks tonight, which isn't an ideal matchup.