Niklas Backstrom Practices But Minnesota Wild Still Undecided on Starter
By Josh Hill
Minnesota Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom was supposed to start Game 1 of the Wild’s quarterfinal showdown with the No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks, but after suffering a lower body injury in warmups, Backstrom has yet to start this postseason. The injury opened the door for Josh Harding to turn in a brilliant start, but after a 5 goal night in Game 2, the Wild may reconsider who starts between the pipes in Game 3.
Harding is the favorite to start but that’s merely by default. Backstrom practiced on Saturday for the Wild and appears to be in the running to make his playoff debut when the Wild return home in Game 3 on Sunday.
But while some may want to give Backstrom a shot against the Blackhawks, Wild head coach Mike Yeo said that one bad game won’t force him to “reinvent the wheel”.
“Because we played one game that wasn’t good,” Yeo said after the Wild practiced on Saturday afternoon. “I don’t think we need to reinvent the wheel.”
Backstrom started virtually all of the Wild’s games this season and did a respectable job. But Harding has the hot hand at the moment, as even with the five goal performance on Friday, he’s stopped 78 of 84 shots and is posting a .929 save percentage through two games. The decision will be up to Yeo and it’s really hard to tell which way he’ll lean.
Obviously, logic suggests that Harding will get the start given his success in Game 1 and immediate knowledge of the way the Blackhawks play. But Backstrom is the starting netminder for the Wild and may get a shot. However, Backstrom may still be nursing his injury a bit and it’s far more likely that Yeo would make a switch in Game 4 if Harding loses another game and gets lit up twice in a row.
It’s a game time decision, but expect to see Josh Harding between the pipes for the Wild in Game 3.