Niemi is the apparent starter Thursday night against the Predators, as he was the first netminder off the ice in the morning skate.

EDGE Analysis

Niemi has been spectacular in December, with a 5-2-3 record, 1.82 GAA and .931 save percentage in seven starts and 10 total appearances. The Stars have split the goaltending work quite evenly between Niemi and Kari Lehtonen. Nemo has made 21 starts to 17 for Lehtonen, though the latter missed time with an upper-body injury in late November.