The Minnesota Wild can clinch a playoff berth if they beat Edmonton on Friday, but even sooner if the Dallas Stars beat the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night.
Here’s a closer look at possible scenarios.
Michael Rand says the Wild have a 97.3 percent chance to make the playoffs.
If the Wild makes the playoffs, they’ll continue starting Niklas Backstrom in goal.
“I feel pretty good,” he told the Pioneer Press. “I don’t think anyone has said to me that I’ve played too much. I don’t think I feel it myself.”
Backstrom has been nothing short of a workhorse this season. He’s started 13 straight and 25 of 26 games.
Backstrom and the Wild got a taste of playoff intensity in Tuesday’s 2-1 win over the Kings.
