| 5/16/2013 7:42:00 PM |
Description: Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom had surgery to fix a sports hernia on Thursday. SOURCE: Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune | Insight: He went 24-15-3 with a 2.48 GAA in 2013. The 35-year-old is set to become a free agent this offseason. | | |
| 4/30/2013 7:59:00 PM |
Description: Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom suffered a lower-body injury Tuesday while reaching for a rebound in pre-game warmups prior to Game 1 of the team's playoff series against Chicago. | Insight: Backstrom tied for the NHL lead with 24 wins and had a 2.48 GAA this season, so this is obviously a big loss for the eighth-seeded Wild. Josh Harding will start for the first time since allowing two goals in seven minutes Jan. 30 against these same Chicago Blackhawks. | | |
| 4/18/2013 6:38:00 PM |
Description: Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom has won two straight starts but he owns a 2.61 GAA and .894 SV% in April. | Insight: Backstrom is a shaky play Thursday against streaking San Jose based on his recent struggles. | | |
| 4/16/2013 5:37:00 PM |
Description: Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom will start Tuesday against the Oilers. | Insight: Backstrom won eight straight starts to end March but he has gone 2-5-1 with a 2.55 GAA in April. | | |
| 4/7/2013 9:39:00 PM |
Description: Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom saved 24 shots Sunday in a 3-0 win against Columbus. | Insight: It was Backstrom's second shutout of the year and the 28th of his career. Backstrom's numbers have been pretty pedestrian this season (2.52 GAA, .910 save percentage entering Sunday) but he'll help out fantasy owners with a strong game every now and then. | | |
| Hot | 3/23/2013 5:26:00 PM |
Description: Minnesota goalie Niklas Backstrom made 33 saves Saturday against the Sharks for his first shutout of the season. | Insight: Backstrom has started the last 10 games for Minnesota. He is 13-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA over his last 17 starts. | | |
| 3/20/2013 5:47:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom will make his ninth consecutive start when he faces Detroit Wednesday night. | Insight: Backstrom is 6-2 with a 2.57 GAA and .910 SV% in March. He has 14 wins, tied for third in the NHL. | | |
| 3/5/2013 11:13:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom was pulled from Tuesday's game after allowing four goals on 17 shots in the first period. | Insight: There's no shame in falling to the Blackhawks buzzsaw. Backstrom had a 2.21 GAA coming into Tuesday. | | |
| 2/21/2013 5:54:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom will start Thursday's game against the Oilers. Backstrom missed Minnesota's last game due to an illness. | Insight: Backstrom (5-4-2, 2.39 GAA, .912 SV%) had plenty of time to recover and makes for a solid play Thursday. Minnesota has gone to overtime in each of Backstrom's last three starts. | | |
| 2/17/2013 10:08:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom didn't start Sunday due to an illness. The Wild have off until Thursday, so Backstrom has plenty of time to recover. | Insight: Backstrom (5-4-2, 2.39 GAA, .912 SV%) was scheduled to play but had to sit in favor of Darcy Kuemper, who beat Detroit with 29 saves for his first NHL win. | | |
| 2/7/2013 5:39:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom will make his third straight start Thursday versus the Canucks. | Insight: He has the No. 1 goaltender spot locked up. Backup Josh Harding hasn't played since giving up two goals in seven minutes on Jan. 30 against Chicago. Backstrom relieved Harding in that game and blanked Chicago in 58 minutes to pick up a win but has lost his last two starts. | | |
| 2/1/2013 5:14:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom will start Friday's game against the Ducks. | Insight: Backstrom blanked Chicago in 58 minutes Wednesday after coming on in relief of Josh Harding. Harding has a shutout on his resume this season but he has allowed seven goals in 64 minutes in his other two starts. Backstrom could distance himself further from Harding with a strong start Friday. | | |
| 1/30/2013 11:01:00 PM |
Description: Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom came on in relief and blanked Chicago over 58 minutes Wednesday to deal the Blackhawks their first loss of any kind this season. Minnesota won 3-2 in a shootout. | Insight: Josh Harding gave up two goals in the first seven minutes and was yanked. Backstrom doesn't get credit for the shutout because he didn't start but it's still a performance that could widen the split between the two goaltenders. Backstrom has started four games to Harding's three this season. | | |
| 1/29/2013 6:27:00 PM |
Description: The Wild will have Niklas Backstrom between the pipes Tuesday against the Blue Jackets. | Insight: Backstrom has been mediocre in two of three starts this season and is 1-1-1 with a 3.31 GAA. Josh Harding has also been cutting into his playing time and will likely start Wednesday against Chicago. | | |
| 1/27/2013 1:25:00 PM |
Description: Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom will take on St. Louis Sunday. | Insight: Backstrom and Josh Harding have split the starts in the team's first four games and that setup could continue over the course of the season. | | |
| 1/22/2013 5:57:00 PM |
Description: Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom will get the start Tuesday versus Nashville. | Insight: Backstrom won the season opener with 25 saves on 27 shots in 60 minutes against the Avalanche. Nashville roughed up Blues ace goaltender Jaroslav Halak on Monday but Backstrom should still be started by fantasy owners on Tuesday. | | |
| 1/7/2013 1:55:00 PM |
Description: Minnesota goaltender Niklas Backstrom (ankle) is ready to play, according to a Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune report. | Insight: Backstrom (19-18-7, 2.43 GAA, .919 SV%) was supposed to head to Dynamo Minsk in the KHL during the lockout but re-injured the ankle and didn't leave Minnesota. We expect him to be ready for Opening Night, whenever that is. | | |
| 3/31/2012 1:58:00 PM |
Description: Niklas Backstrom came out of Thursday's 3-2 win, his first game back since injuring his back on March 1, without incident. | Insight: Backstrom, despite a mediocre 18-17-6 record has a solid 2.43 GAA and .920 save percentage, including four shutouts. As long as he stays healthy, he's the Wild's No. 1 goaltender and should be in net against the Kings tonight. | | |
| 3/24/2012 8:59:00 AM |
Description: Niklas Backstrom isn't expected to be in goal on Saturday night. Josh Harding should get the start | Insight: Backstrom has an unspecified lower body injury. With Harding having won his last two starts, there is no reason to rush Backstrom back onto the ice. | | |
| 3/20/2012 11:35:00 AM |
Description: Niklas Backstrom hasn't played since March 1, but did serve as the Wild's backup goaltender on Monday. | Insight: Monday's starter Josh Harding was perfect in a 2-0 shutout so there is no reason to hurry Backstrom into the lineup. | | |
