SHARKSPAGE

San Jose Sharks goaltender Antero Niittymaki interviewed by KNBR on the Heatley-Ottawa aftermath, SJ goaltending tandem, what he can bring in playoffs

SJ GOALTENDER #30 ANTERO NIITTYMAKI INTERVIEWED BY KNBR FRIDAY

The top sportstalk radio program in the Bay Area, KNBR’s Razor and Mr. T show with Ralph Barbieri and Tom Tolbert, interviewed San Jose Sharks goaltender Antero Niittymaki on Friday. Niittymaki discussed the aftermath of Dany Heatley’s Lebron-esque return to Ottawa, how unruly crowds in North America compare to those in Europe, how the tandem in goal with fellow Finn Antti Niemi has played out so far this season, and weighed in on what he could bring to the Sharks after the departure of Evgeni Nabokov among several other topics.

A partial transcript of the interview:

“It was probably similar to the reaction Lebron received in Cleveland. Not as big, but a lot of boo’s going on every time he was on the ice. Happy for Heater, he got a point and we came out with two points. It was interesting. There were a couple of beercans thrown on the ice after the game, and a couple of Heatley jerseys they were throwing on the ice during the game. Ottawa fans are really passionate about their hockey. It was a really big deal in Canada.”

“It depends on the country, sometimes I see some fans throwing stuff on the ice, in Germany. I think Finland is pretty clean. When I played there, there was nothing that was a problem. There are places in any sport where it can get out of hand. I haven’t seen anything crazy (thrown on the ice). It kind of sucks when you get beer cans thrown at you, and you are all wet afterwards. That happened last night. I wasn’t happy about that. I still think it is kind of cool to see it… kind of fun.”

“It has been a pretty easy (transition to the Sharks), there are great guys in the locker room. It was really easy to come, right from the first day. That helps a lot with the transition. I think hockey locker rooms are pretty much the same no matter where you go. Guys are the same. I am a goalie, so I don’t really need to pay attention to all that stuff. I just have one job, to stop the puck.”

“I think that is one of the strengths of our team, all the big names we have are the same way. That is why it has been really easy to come to this team. (Thornton) is just enjoying life, that is what it is. His personality, I think it is great to see.”

“I think it is going to be fairly even (for starts in goal), I don’t really know the coaches plan. I am not sure if he has a real big picture plan. He said before he has a plan, he is going to go with the guy who is playing well, who is harder. I think that is the beauty of having two goalies, hopefully one of us is always hot. If you depend on one guy and he is on a cold streak, you may lose 5-6 games in a row. That is not good. I think it is always good to have 2 goalies, and I am sure Niemi will get more starts and hopefully I get a lot of starts too. It has been good so far, and hopefully it keeps going that way.”

“That is the situation. It is fine. Obviously everyone wants to play a lot, but that is the situation we are in. We both know that. (Antti Niemi) is a good guy, it is really easy to get along with him. It has been pretty good, I think we have a real good relationship. It helps both of us, we can talk after games. He might see something in my game that I don’t see, and vice versa. It has been good.”

“People keep asking that (why a lot of goalies are from Finland). I keep talking with Finnish guys, they say everyone is asking them too. I think the coaching is good back home, but I think the coaching is good everywhere. I think it is kind of cool to be a goalie back home. Somewhere else it is that guy who can’t skate. Back home, young kids want to be goalies. There is a lot of goalies, and I think that is the reason.”

“I used to be when I was young (intense before games), I generally tried to focus on the game. I learned with age that it is not always a good thing. You play so many games, you don’t really have time to do that. You are tough on yourself if you do that. You have to be focused every day, so you can’t do that. Obviously you start thinking about the game in the morning. I try to think only about the game on gameday, and forget a win or a loss as soon as possible.”

“I don’t know (what I bring to the team that is different than Nabokov). I haven’t played in the playoffs in the NHL. I played in the minors, we won in the minors during the lockout when the league was really good, look at the lineup teams had in the allstar game that year in the minors. That is almost an allstar team in the NHL right now. I have been put in a situation where there is pressure, and I think I can handle it.”

“…It is not always easy to come to a team after a guy like that (Nabokov). Hopefully I can be almost as good as him, and hopefully I can play better in the playoffs… (Sharks GM Doug Wilson) said he saw me play in the Olympics in 06. We were underdogs, and Finland made it to the Finals. That was good, and he saw me play in the minors and win a Calder Cup. I am sure their scouts have been watching me the last few years, and I have been playing really well the last couple of years. As a backup in Philly, I didn’t get as many games as I wanted. I think I played well my last year there. I was kind of ready to play more that year. Last year in Tampa I played 49 or so games, and had a winning record on that team. That team finished with a losing record. I think I saw myself that I could be a #1 guy, I think (San Jose) saw that too.”