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Ex-Blackhawk Niemi Gets Four-Year Extension

Former Chicago Blackhawks' goalie Antti Niemi helped the team win the Stanley Cup Championship last season before moving on to the San Jose Sharks as a free agent, on Tuesday he signed a four-year extension.

So far this season Niemi is 23-15-3 with a 2.44 goals agaisnt average and a .919 save percentage. The second-year goaltender got off to a horrific start to the season but has steadily improved with each passing month.

Month         Games    W          L       OTL     Save %
October          4            1            3         0          4.50
November     5            2            2         1           3.58
December     10          5            4          1          2.38
January         10          5            4          1           1.99
February       13          10          2          0          1.89

The contract negotiations between Niemi and the Blackhawks, after the 2010 season, went to arbitration after the two sides couldn't agree to a deal. The arbitrator awarded Niemi a one-year $2.75 million contract for the 2010-11 season. The Blackhawks instead chose to release Niemi to free agency and sign Marty Turco.

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