Niemi stones Pens; Kessel comes up short

— -- DALLAS -- As opening night scripts go, it probably couldn't have turned out better for Antti Niemi and the Dallas Stars.

But what might have been as telling, if not nearly as impressive as Niemi's stellar 37-save shutout of the powerful Pittsburgh Penguins, was seeing Niemi joking around with teammate Kari Lehtonen shortly before meeting with the media after Thursday's 3-0 victory.

Dallas head coach Lindy Ruff rewarded Niemi for a stronger training camp with the start in the Stars' home opener. No doubt it was difficult for Lehtonen, who has been the Stars starter since coming from the Atlanta Thrashers in February 2010.

But after the win, the two could be seen in the dressing room, all smiles, chatting in Finnish.