Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom was on the ice stopping shots again Tuesday morning, March 13, and hopes to be cleared for practice later this week after being sidelined since March 2 because of a groin strain.
Backstrom's work was limited to stationary drills after the team's primary skate. He cautiously dropped into the butterfly position to block pucks but avoided side-to-side moves that stress groin muscles. Still, it was the veteran netminder's second straight day on the ice. He was projected to miss two to four weeks but is maintaining an aggressive rehabilitation and seems poised to return sooner.
"I feel so. Four weeks pretty much means the season's gone," Backstrom said before the Wild played the Dallas Stars. "Mostly I'm taking it easy. Try something new every day. If it feels good, we'll see how it goes."
Backstrom injured himself barely two minutes into Minnesota's shootout loss at Montreal on March 1. He had been playing well, winning three of his previous five starts, including a team-record 48-save shutout over Stanley Cup champion Boston.
"I want to try to get back with the team," he said. "I'm trying to do everything I can so it will be soon."
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With backup Josh Harding still nursing a leg injury, rookie Matt Hackett started for the fourth time in five games against Dallas.
Lineup shuffle
Coach Mike Yeo telegraphed disgust after the Wild's sloppy 4-3 loss to Calgary on Sunday and delivered the message personally to right wing Nick
Johnson, who was scratched for the game against the Stars.
Johnson, who was on the ice for Calgary's first two goals and is minus-6 in his past five games, has lacked "urgency" in his game and needed to be held accountable, Yeo said.
"He's played some good hockey for us, but his game has slipped," Yeo said. "I don't want to say we're making an example of him, but that's what it is. I didn't like his game last game, so he's out today."
Johnson, who was claimed off waivers from Pittsburgh during training camp, had suited up for 61 straight games and has six goals among 22 points.
Toughness rules
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Yeo considered dressing Kurtis Foster as the seventh defenseman because winger Matt Kassian was nursing a groin injury. But Kassian was able to play, and the coach opted for more toughness up front against the physical Stars.
Briefly
Right wing Cal Clutterbuck returned after a two-game absence because of illness.
Distributed by MCT Information Services
