The Dallas Stars were able to take care of business against the Nashville Predators in Saturday’s regular season finale to sew up the Central Division title and the top spot in the Western Conference playoffs.
Now, who to start in goal in the playoffs?
The Stars have two starting goalies in Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen, and while one would take over the job for prolonged stretches during the season, they remain a goaltending tandem, and the team feels good about both—as evidenced by Stars’ coach Lindy Ruff’s decision to split the final eight regular season contests between them.
Both Lehtonen and Niemi were good in those late season games, leaving Ruff with a decision to make—and as of Saturday morning before the Predators game, he wasn’t leaning one way or the other.
"I don't think there's any wrong answer right now, and I've got to give both these guys credit for what they've done down the stretch here,” Ruff said, per Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News. “Either one is a good pick right now."
