Niklas Backstrom will start in goal tonight for the Minnesota Wild’s home game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Star Tribune reports that Josh Harding, who leads the NHL in goals-against average and save percentage, was feeling under the weather last night so he’ll be on the bench as the backup to Backstrom.
For Backstrom, this will be his fifth game of the season — a far cry from last season when he started 41 games in the lockout-shortened season.
“It’s been a little bit difficult to get (Backstrom) in just because of how well Harding has been playing,” coach Mike Yeo said Wednesday, via the Pioneer Press. “But this is a good opportunity for him, and obviously we have a lot of confidence in him.”
According to FOX Sports North, the Wild has earned at least one-point in nine of 10 games since losing back-to-back games at Toronto and Tampa Bay in mid-October.
Note: Tonight’s game starts at 6:30 p.m.
