Flames win in shootout after Harding replaces injured Backstrom
BY JOHN SHIPLEY
Pioneer Press
CALGARY, Alberta ? The Wild have been touting the talents of goalie Josh Harding for two seasons, and now we know why.
Thrown into sudden duty Wednesday night when starter Niklas Backstrom left the game with an undisclosed injury, Harding was remarkably good in his first extended duty of the season, stopping 21 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
The Wild were within five minutes of taking two points in an intense Northwest Division game, but coach Jacques Lemaire was pleased with his team's effort ? especially Harding's.
"Very good. He was really strong, made good saves," Lemaire said of Harding, 22. "Especially there in the second period."
Backstrom played the entire first period, stopping all five shots he faced, but when the second period started, Harding was in goal. Before that, Harding had played just 20 NHL minutes this season, in relief of Backstrom on Feb. 18.
The Wild called Backstrom's malady a "lower-body injury pending further evaluation." But Backstrom appeared to be walking without difficulty after the game.
"It's not bad," he said, adding that he didn't anticipate it being a long-term injury.
However, he definitely won't be ready for tonight's game at Edmonton, Lemaire said, so the Wild will bring Manny Fernandez back.
"Manny's ready," the coach said.
Assistant general manager Tom Lynn said the team also will call up Houston goaltender Miroslave Kopriva. Harding said he's ready to go back to back.
"If I'm called upon, yeah," he said. "And hopefully Nik and Manny aren't out that long. But when they're hurt, that backup's job is to step in there."
Fernandez missed his 13th consecutive game, and 14th overall, because of a sprained ligament in his left knee, but the team apparently believes he's ready to at least practice with the team. So far, his workouts have been before or after team practices.
Backstrom, 29, has been terrific while filling in for Fernandez and on Monday was named the NHL's first star of the week after going 3-0-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in victories over Dallas, Colorado and Edmonton.
Since taking over for Fernandez, Backstrom is 8-2-1 and ranks third among NHL goaltenders in GAA (2.23) and save percentage (.923). He is playing his first season in the NHL after spending nearly his entire career in his native Finland.
Harding, 22, previously had played just one period this season, filling in for Backstrom in a loss at St. Louis on Feb. 18. A second-round pick in the 2002 entry draft, he was 2-1-0 with a 2.59 GAA in three NHL games last season.
BY JOHN SHIPLEY
Pioneer Press
CALGARY, Alberta ? The Wild have been touting the talents of goalie Josh Harding for two seasons, and now we know why.
Thrown into sudden duty Wednesday night when starter Niklas Backstrom left the game with an undisclosed injury, Harding was remarkably good in his first extended duty of the season, stopping 21 shots in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome.
The Wild were within five minutes of taking two points in an intense Northwest Division game, but coach Jacques Lemaire was pleased with his team's effort ? especially Harding's.
"Very good. He was really strong, made good saves," Lemaire said of Harding, 22. "Especially there in the second period."
Backstrom played the entire first period, stopping all five shots he faced, but when the second period started, Harding was in goal. Before that, Harding had played just 20 NHL minutes this season, in relief of Backstrom on Feb. 18.
The Wild called Backstrom's malady a "lower-body injury pending further evaluation." But Backstrom appeared to be walking without difficulty after the game.
"It's not bad," he said, adding that he didn't anticipate it being a long-term injury.
However, he definitely won't be ready for tonight's game at Edmonton, Lemaire said, so the Wild will bring Manny Fernandez back.
"Manny's ready," the coach said.
Assistant general manager Tom Lynn said the team also will call up Houston goaltender Miroslave Kopriva. Harding said he's ready to go back to back.
"If I'm called upon, yeah," he said. "And hopefully Nik and Manny aren't out that long. But when they're hurt, that backup's job is to step in there."
Fernandez missed his 13th consecutive game, and 14th overall, because of a sprained ligament in his left knee, but the team apparently believes he's ready to at least practice with the team. So far, his workouts have been before or after team practices.
Backstrom, 29, has been terrific while filling in for Fernandez and on Monday was named the NHL's first star of the week after going 3-0-0 with a 1.62 goals-against average and a .933 save percentage in victories over Dallas, Colorado and Edmonton.
Since taking over for Fernandez, Backstrom is 8-2-1 and ranks third among NHL goaltenders in GAA (2.23) and save percentage (.923). He is playing his first season in the NHL after spending nearly his entire career in his native Finland.
Harding, 22, previously had played just one period this season, filling in for Backstrom in a loss at St. Louis on Feb. 18. A second-round pick in the 2002 entry draft, he was 2-1-0 with a 2.59 GAA in three NHL games last season.
