Niemi faced his former team Saturday, stopping 29 of 32 shots in a loss to the Blackhawks.

EDGE Analysis

It wasn't an awful night for Niemi, but the Blackhawks were just too much to handle, as Patrick Kane helped lead the visitors to their fifth straight win. Neimi drops to 3-2-1 on the season with a .900 save percentage. The Stars' massive injury list is a concern for Niemi fantasy owners, but he does appear to be splitting starts evenly with Kari Lehtonen, so when he is getting the nod, there are certainly worse fantasy options than the former Shark.

Niemi will start in the blue paint Saturday night against the visiting Blackhawks.

EDGE Analysis

The Stars generally like to split the starts evenly between Niemi and Kari Lehtonen, but the latter netminder only has one win and an ugly .900 save percentage through five games. Still, Niemi has an 8-9-1 record and 2.84 GAA in 18 games against his former club, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence in using him from a fantasy hockey standpoint.

Niemi turned away 28 of 38 shots in Thursday's 6-2 victory over visiting St. Louis.

EDGE Analysis

Despite a mediocre effort against Columbus his last time out, Niemi got the call again versus a dangerous Blues offense and delivered the goods. His rate stats will improve from their currently ugly levels (3.35 GAA, .899 save percentage) -- but probably not much, as Niemi's generally pretty inconsistent and the Stars aren't known for their defensive play. If you're deploying him, it's in pursuit of wins; any help elsewhere is just gravy.

Niemi will command the crease as Thursday's home starter against the Blues, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi has only won two of five games, and he wasn't able to hang through the overtime frame in Tuesday's road contest against the Blue Jackets. Still, his pair of wins this season have taken place at American Airlines Center in Dallas, so he's a bounce-back candidate on a heavy 12-game slate Thursday.

Niemi gave up three goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

That's back-to-back losses for the Finnish netminder, who has fared much better at home than on the road so far this season. Regardless of his splits, his rate stats (3.65 GAA, .893 save percentage) are downright terrible right now, making it tough to recommend Niemi given his inconsistency on a Stars squad that's been riddled with injuries in the early going.

Niemi will defend the net Tuesday against the Blue Jackets, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi has evenly split starts with Kari Lehtonen through the first eight games of the season and the inconsistency of the two netminders explains why neither has taken a lead role. Niemi owns a 2-1-0 record through his four outings, but the numbers aren't very impressive when matched with a 3.86 GAA and .893 save percentage. HIs two bad outings of the year have come on the road, but he will look to break that trend Tuesday in Columbus.

Niemi was tagged for four goals on 36 shots in Thursday's loss to Winnipeg.

EDGE Analysis

Inconsistency's been the name of the game for the veteran netminder in his first four starts, as he's alternated good and bad outings. Indeed, Niemi was mostly sharp against these very same Jets just two days prior, holding them to just two goals in a winning effort. Look for Kari Lehtonen to draw back in between the pipes when the Stars continue their road swing in Minnesota on Saturday.

Niemi will start in goal Thursday night against host Winnipeg, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi's dud against the Avalanche last Saturday -- five goals on 20 shots -- has skewed his rate numbers a bit, but look closer and you'll see that he's won two of three starts, backed by an electrifying offense that has provided him with 12 goals of support. He faced the Jets at home his late time out, allowing only two goals on 30 shots for a .933 save percentage.

Niemi stopped 28 of 30 shots in Tuesday's 3-2 win over the visiting Jets.

EDGE Analysis

He would have had an even sharper line if not for Mark Scheifele scoring a power-play goal on him with 10 seconds left in the game. In fact, both of Winnipeg's goals were of the late-period variety, as Joel Armia scored on Niemi with five seconds remaining in the second frame after the veteran netminder misplayed the puck behind his net. It may be fair to say that at least that one goal came due to a lapse in concentration with time expiring; either way, it has to sting his fantasy owners a bit that only a few ticks of the clock separated this solid two-goal effort from a shutout.

Niemi will start in goal Tuesday night against the visiting Jets, Ken Wiebe of the Winnipeg Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi stopped 33 of 35 shots for a win over the Ducks in his season debut, but he was burned for a .750 save mark before getting pulled against the Avs last Saturday. Despite the inconsistencies, Niemi should continue to see an even timeshare with Kari Lehtonen.