Niemi's new to Sharks, but he's already proven himself

SAN JOSE, Calif. - With Antti Niemi, all the questions have been answered.

Niemi has taken the Blackhawks to the NHL's final four, not with the kind of eye popping, stand-on-your-head performances that Montreal's Jaroslav Halak has turned in over in the Eastern Conference, but with calm, confident and steady efforts.

Niemi hasn't stolen games, but he hasn't lost any either.

Stan Bowman was right. The Hawks' general manager didn't pay attention to those critics who urged him to get a veteran goaltender at the trade deadline, instead proclaiming his confidence that Niemi could get the job done.

No matter what happens in the Western Conference finals that begin today at HP Paviliob, the Hawks appear to have their goalie of the future in the 26-year-old Finn.

"People create that perception that they have troubles (in goal), and this and that," Sharks goalie Evgeni Nabokov said. "I don't think they have troubles. They have a solid goaltender right now. He's proven game after game that he's solid out there."

Because Cristobal Huet played all four of the regular-season games, the Sharks will get their first look at Niemi in Game 1 today.

"We'll get his tendencies from our pre-scouts on puck handling, different kind of dumps, things like that," Sharks defenseman Rob Blake said.

"He's played well for them so far this postseason," Sharks center Joe Pavelski said. "He's a big guy and he's stopping pucks. We have to find a way to get to him."

If there are any cracks in Niemi's game, it might be his glove hand and his puck handling behind the net, but he has improved in both areas to this point and says he is confident going into the biggest games of his career.

"I feel really comfortable now," Niemi said on Saturday. "Of course, there's big pressure, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself. We wouldn't be here without the whole team playing well."

What has impressed Hawks coach Joel Quenneville most about Niemi as the season progressed and into the playoffs is his calm and collected demeanor.

"I just like how cool and patient he is," Quenneville said. "His approach every day, nothing seems to bother him and he has the same disposition every single day he comes to the rink. He looks forward to the next challenge and the next shot; he just goes about his business.

"He's not the stereotypical goalie you see. He's very relaxed and quiet, but you appreciate what he does and how he moves forward. He's handled that situation exactly the way he seems as a person."

Niemi hasn't faced the San Jose shooters before so he has had to do his homework as well. Is that an edge for the Sharks?

"Potentially, not knowing or having that feel for facing certain shooters, maybe, but when you get to the final four, I don't think you can split hairs there," Sharks coach Todd McLellan said. "He's a world class athlete and he's got his team to this level."

Niemi has met every challenge since his first start of the season in Finland, when he shut out Florida in the Hawks' second game.

"We have all the confidence in the world in him," teammate Patrick Sharp said. "There's no doubt about him in our locker room."