Antti Niemi To Start Game 4

Kari Lehtonen started the first three games of the series in goal for the Stars

It looks like the Dallas Stars have made a change at goalie.

After Kari Lehtonen started the first three contests of the series against the Wild, going 2-1 in those games, Antti Niemi will get the start in goal for the Stars Wednesday night in Minnesota. It will be Niemi’s first action of the playoffs.

Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News reports that Niemi was the first off the ice at the team’s morning skate, indicating that he’ll start Game 4.

Lehtonen put up a shutout in Game 1, and almost had a repeat performance in Game 2, when the Wild got on the board with seven minutes remaining. However, he surrendered four goals on 24 shots in the team’s 5-3 loss in Game 3.

Niemi finished the season 25-13-7.

“I am ready. That’s how I want to prepare myself to always be ready,” Niemi said. “I try to treat every day as exactly the same, whether I am playing or not. I try to treat every day as if I am playing.”

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