"Sharks No. 1 goaltender Antti Niemi was back between the pipes at practice Friday, and he pronounced himself fit to play Saturday against the Phoenix Coyotes after missing one game because of a minor injury.

But unlike last season, when Niemi started 31 of the Sharks' final 32 games, he probably is going to get some help down the regular-season stretch.

The development of Thomas Greiss into a top-flight backup and the brutal schedule ensure that the Sharks will go with something closer to a goaltending tandem in the final two months.

"Between now and the end of the year, we play a jam-packed schedule," coach Todd McLellan said. "And having the team confident in both of them is a valuable thing. We know we're going to need both."

It will be a delicate balancing act for the Sharks, because the workaholic Niemi thrives when he plays on a consistent basis. He's the primary reason the Sharks were a torrid 23-6-3 after the All-Star break a year ago."