Niemi is considered likely to start Thursday against the Canucks, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area reports. After backup Alex Stalock got the nod a night earlier, Niemi is expected to get the honors in goal for the second game of the back-to-back. The Canucks are expected to counter with Ryan Miller, who owns a 9-1-1 lifetime record against the Sharks, perhaps making Niemi an undesirable daily option for the Thursday slate.