Niemi was pulled Saturday against Colorado after giving up five goals on 20 shots.

EDGE Analysis

After standing on his head in the season opener, Niemi came back down to earth two days later against the Avalanche. While he could pile up a decent amount of wins sharing the crease with Kari Lehtonen on an offensively talented Stars team this season, the former Shark posted a .905 save percentage last season and is known for being inconsistent.

Niemi will draw into the lineup Saturday as the starting backstop against the host Avalanche, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi was effective in Thursday's season-opening win, stopping 33 of 35 shots fired by the Ducks. A former Stanley Cup Trophy winner (Blackhawks, 2010), Niemi has proven capable of keeping his team in games, but be advised that he posted a 3.03 against other teams in the Central Division, which was worse than his cumulative rate against any other grouping of teams within the league.

Niemi stopped 33 of 35 Ducks shots in Thursday's season-opening 4-2 win.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi was the game's No. 1 star thanks to an outstanding performance in which he kept Dallas in the game after getting out-shot 17-1 in the first period and 35-20 overall. Kari Lehtonen is still around to split time, but Niemi proved tabbing him as the opening-night starter was the right call by coach Lindy Ruff.

Niemi will start between the posts Thursday night for a home contest against the Ducks, Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi and Kari Lehtonen recorded 25 wins apiece last regular season, but the Finnish duo was quite shaky in the playoffs, relying on the high-powered offense in a failed bid to earn the coveted Stanley Cup -- Dallas would get knocked out by the Blues in seven games of the conference semifinals. Niemi has posted a 2.43 GAA and .915 save percentage in 386 career games between the Blackhawks, Sharks and Stars.

Niemi turned aside 38 of 41 shots during Friday's 6-3 exhibition win over the Kings.

EDGE Analysis

While it was impressive that Niemi was able to survive an onslaught by the Kings, this is the typical game that would make one think he's turned it around. The 33-year-old is a victim of a timeshare with Kari Lehtonen, and even when he's been awarded the chance to take ahold of the No. 1 spot, he's faltered. The Finnish goalie was underwhelming last year, posting .905 save percentage and 2.67 GAA, and will most likely float around those numbers again.

Stars coach Lindy Ruff defended his strategy of giving Niemi and Kari Lehtonen equal playing time in 2015-16, the Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

For the most part, the Stars netminders stayed healthy this season, but both goalies owned a save percentage that ranked no better than 55th overall. Niemi and Lehtonen each had 25 wins in the regular season, but it was Lehtonen getting the lion's share of the starts in the playoffs, ultimately falling flat in Game 7 of the conference semifinals against the Blues. Stars general manager Jim Nill declined to say whether he plans to buy out Niemi's $4.5 million contract, which has two years remaining.

Niemi gave up two goals on 10 shots after replacing Kari Lehtonen in Wednesday's 6-1 Game 7 loss to the Blues.

EDGE Analysis

Both Stars goaltenders struggled in this one, though Niemi was actually the less incompetent of the two. He finishes with just one win and an ugly 3.29 GAA in five postseason appearances.

Niemi gave up three goals on 12 shots before being pulled in the second period of Tuesday's 6-1 loss to the Blues in Game 3.

EDGE Analysis

This experiment failed for coach Lindy Ruff. After entering Game 2 in place of a struggling Kari Lehtonen and performing admirably, Niemi was trusted in Game 3 as the starter. Unfortunately, as was the case in the regular season, the netminder was unable to carry over the solid play, which landed the Finn back on the bench. The 32-year-old's 2.75 GAA and .856 save percentage in the playoffs is enough to ignore Niemi when he's between the pipes.

Niemi led his team out for warmups Tuesday, meaning he'll start Game 3 against the Blues, Mike Heika of The Dallas Morning News reports.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi was the first goalie off the ice at morning skate Tuesday, leaving hockey fans scratching their heads since Kari Lehtonen was named the starter by coach Lindy Ruff earlier in the day. As it turns out, Ruff wasn't serious when he originally named Lehtonen the starter, and so the goalie carousel continues. Unlike Lehtonen, Niemi has earned the Stanley Cup in his career -- he lifted the hardware with the Blackhawks in 2010. However, the Finn has struggled this postseason based on a .892 save percentage through three games.

Niemi entered at the start of the second period in Sunday's Game 2 loss to the Blues, stopping 19 of 20 shots.

EDGE Analysis

Starter Kari Lehtonen struggled mightily, allowing three goals on just five shots in the opening frame, paving the way for a change in net. Niemi played admirably in his stead, but unfortunately the one goal he allowed came in overtime, as St. Louis evened up the series. Lehtonen has been mostly reliable in the playoffs though, so Niemi likely will return to the bench for the start of Game 3.