Antti Niemi (undisclosed) will not start Thursday's game against the Wild, but will be on hand to back up Alex Stalock, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area reports.

Niemi (undisclosed) will not start Thursday's game against the Wild, but will be on hand to back up Alex Stalock, Kevin Kurz of CSN Bay Area reports.

Analysis:

The Sharks are labeling Niemi's injury as minor after he was a late scratch Tuesday in favor of Alex Stalock, so the team appears to be taking precaution in using him as the backup. Niemi resumed on-ice work Wednesday and could be back at full health for the Sharks' next game Saturday versus the Predators.