Sharks coach Todd McLellan refuses to reveal his playoff starter

The San Jose Sharks have leaned heavily on workhorse starter and Finnish Olympian Antti Niemi over the years. Niemi has appeared in over 60 regular season games for the Sharks in each of the past four seasons, and has started every Sharks playoff game since he joined the team in the summer of 2010.

So it seems odd that Sharks head coach Todd McLellan would refuse to publicly disclose the identity of his starting netminder, but that's what occurred on Monday. From David Pollak of the Mercury News:

McLellan still held off on naming his goalie for Game 1. Yes, a decision has been made, he said. No, he won’t disclose it.

We asked if the goalie knows at this point.

McLellan, shaking head: “You guys are going to run in there and interrogate him.”

Well, he could swear the goalie to secrecy, right?

McLellan: “Maybe we’ll double cross you too. Who knows.”

Niemi had a bit of a down year this past season. While the Finnish Olympian started the bulk of San Jose's games, he managed roughly average numbers both overall (he posted a .913 save percentage), and at even-strength (he posted a .919 even-strength save percentage). Niemi's backup Alex Stalock started less often, but stopped a much higher percentage of the pucks shot his way (.932 overall, .940 at even-strength).

In the latter part of the season, Niemi struggled enormously while Stalock shined. In the last 10 games of the season Niemi posted an .897 even-strength save percentage in seven appearances, while Stalock managed a stratospheric .948 even-strength save percentage in four appearances. 

It would appear that McLellan and the Sharks have a quandary on their hands. Do they go with the hot hand in the talented but inexperienced Stalock, or stick with Niemi, their workhorse veteran with the Stanley Cup ring?