Sharks’ goalkeeper Antti Niemi plays an important role in taking San Jose Sharks into the Conference Finals
Last year, the story was totally different for San Jose Sharks as it was knocked out by Chicago Blackhawks in four games, which eventually went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The difference maker this time was Antti Niemi, who was with Hawks last year and now plays for San Jose Sharks.
Though players up front in Hawks’ team last year came up with a strong performance and goals were scored by experienced players like Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane and Dustin Byfuglien, a great deal of work was done by its goal keeper. Niemi was getting better
and better with each game.
He made tons of saves in the series against Sharks which effectively knocked it out of the playoffs.
This time out, Sharks’ goalie has done the same as he did the previous year.
He has played a very important role for Sharks and in the semifinal series he was superb and came up with some spectacular performances.
Niemi hasn’t lost a series in the playoffs so far, dating back to last year’s quarterfinals and is 6-0 so far.
His brilliance was seen against Detroit Red Wings against whom he made 38 saves in Game 7 to knock them out. He was also good in Game 6, coming up with 40 saves out of the 42 shots fired on his goal.
"We're excited about having the prospect of him playing in this series and hopefully doing the same thing to the Canucks", Sharks’ coach, Todd McLellan, said.
Sharks will be glad that it isn’t against Niemi this time out as last year he won Game 1 and 3 for Hawks and did enough to win Game 2 and 4.
"I think it's the pressure, you get extra energy out of it", Niemi said of why the playoffs seem to suit him well. "Obviously the team has been playing well and the tougher the game, the team is being better, too".
Even though Sharks’ previous goalkeeper, Evgeni Nabokov, spent quite some time with the team, Niemi has quickly settled into the team and players are comfortable with him guarding the goal.
Now that Vancouver Canucks is up against Sharks, it will need to come up with some special performances.
Undoubtedly, Vancouver will be aware of Niemi’s capabilities and will be looking to shut him down.
Canucks came up with a brilliant performance in Game 1 that saw it winning by 3-2 and put them in the lead. However, they will be hoping to continue on the same path to clinch the series.
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