After 1.5 years of actually watching the Dallas Stars with both Finns i don't think there are many if any who would declare Niemi the better goalie than Lehtonen. There are some big problems with Lehtonen but he's still much more capeable to actually win you games on a somwhat regular basis than Niemi.
Niemi had a very strong start in Dallas but in January / February of last year he completely imploded and posted like a .870%~ SV% for the remainder of last season.
This year its not even a really a question .
If any goalie on the team last year deserves a pass or more fingers should be pointed at the defense/skaters on the team than the goalie himself, it's definitely Niemi. He allowed an absurd 11 goals on 32 shots faced last year, while the Stars were on the PP. That's unheard of and pretty unlucky. This year, he's allowed 3 goals on 24 shots while the Stars were on the PP. 11 goals on 32 shots in any situation is almost unheard of. Last year, Niemi's even strength save percentage was identical to his final 2 seasons with the Sharks. Lehtonen was just superior on special teams, while Niemi was superior at even strength.
I realize this is not the case this year, as Lehtonen has been fine at even strength, while Niemi has been below average at the very best at even strength.
Last game where Niemi gave up 2 goals on 5 shots, I would ding him on the first goal he allowed, even though it was pretty much Kane driving the net and it was high quality. Not a brutal goal, but kind of stoppable. I wouldn't ding him on the goal after that one on the PP. Went 5 hole but it was a bang bang play from like 2 or 3 feet away. Nilsson gave up two weak goals in that game for Buffalo though. And in that game where they played the Rangers, most of 6 goals were not Niemi's fault, probably one bad one in there. But I'm firmly believe that it's not the blowouts (even though they won that game) where the bad goaltending usually hurts you. It's more noticeable in those 3-2 losses, where one weak goal allowed decides the game.
Though the 3 goals he allowed on 3 shots the other week to Minnesota, those were all at least partially on Niemi. One went right through him from distance, off his angle on another one from a good distance and one of the worst rebounds you can allow on another one.
One of them needs to go next year, the Stars making the playoffs last year with their weak goaltending (which was just as bad last year as it's been this year) is a testament to the team being a pretty good one IMO.
