GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NHL: MINNESOTA (3-0) at PHOENIX (2-2)

NHL: MINNESOTA (3-0) at PHOENIX (2-2)

<h3>Backstrom leads red-hot Wild against Coyotes</h3>

<div class="pre">Minnesota (3-0-0) at Phoenix (2-2-0) 10:00 pm EDT</div>

GLENDALE, Arizona (Ticker) -- The red-hot Minnesota Wild lookto continue their season-opening win streak when they play thePhoenix Coyotes on Saturday.


The Wild have won their first three games of the season due inlarge part to goaltender Niklas Backstrom. The 29-year-oldalready has registered two shutouts, allowing his only two goalsof the season to the Columbus Blue Jackets on October 6.

While sharing time with Manny Fernandez last season, Backstromfinished with a 23-8-6 record and a league-leading 1.97goals-against average. He is now the clear-cut starter as theWild traded away Fernandez to the Boston Bruins during theoffseason.


The move is paying off this season as Backstrom has retained theform that had him in contention for the Vezina and Harttrophies last season.


While Backstrom has played well against all of his opponents, hetruly shines against the Coyotes. He posted a 3-0-0 recordagainst Phoenix last season while registering a miniscule 0.67GAA.


The Coyotes will try to avenge the lost season series from aseason ago, as they went just 3-1-0 in four games against theWild.

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL AT PHOENIX
STARTING GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
PHO - ALEX AULD

OFFICIALS: REF - DAN MAROUELLI, GORD DWYER
LIN - JONNY MURRAY, LYLE SEITZ</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">MINNESOTA VS PHOENIX - SCRATCHES

MINNESOTA PHOENIX

K CARNEY HEALTHY D AEBISCHER HEALTHY
M FOY HEALTHY P MUELLER HEALTHY
D MOORE ABDOMINAL</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 0
PHOENIX 0 19:55 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 0
1ST PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 1 (PAVOL DEMITRA, WES WALZ) 4:09</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 0 14:10 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 0 8:48 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 1
1ST PRD: PHO - (PP) DANIEL CARCILLO 1 (SHANE DOAN, ED JOVANOVSKI)
14:51</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2
1ST PRD: PHO - DANIEL CARCILLO 2 (NIKO KAPANEN) 17:08</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 1:57 LEFT, 1ST PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 1ST 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 1
PHOENIX 2 2 END OF THE 1ST

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 1 (PAVOL DEMITRA, WES WALZ) 4:09
PHO - (PP) DANIEL CARCILLO 1 (SHANE DOAN, ED JOVANOVSKI)
14:51
PHO - DANIEL CARCILLO 2 (NIKO KAPANEN) 17:08

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 10 10
PHO 16 16

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
PHO - ALEX AULD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 19:10 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 15:20 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 11:57 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 6:58 LEFT, 2ND PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL END OF THE 2ND 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MINNESOTA 1 0 1
PHOENIX 2 0 2 END OF THE 2ND

GOAL SCORING:

1ST PRD: MIN - MARIAN GABORIK 1 (PAVOL DEMITRA, WES WALZ) 4:09
PHO - (PP) DANIEL CARCILLO 1 (SHANE DOAN, ED JOVANOVSKI)
14:51
PHO - DANIEL CARCILLO 2 (NIKO KAPANEN) 17:08
2ND PRD: NONE

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1ST 2ND 3RD TOTAL
--- --- --- -----
MIN 10 5 15
PHO 16 9 25

GOALIES: MIN - NIKLAS BACKSTROM
PHO - ALEX AULD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">------------------------------
Minnesota 1 0 --1
Phoenix 2 0 --2
------------------------------

FIRST PERIOD -- Scoring: 1, Minnesota, Marian Gaborik 1 (Pavol Demitra,
Wes Walz), 4:09. 2, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 1 (power play) (Shane
Doan, Ed Jovanovski), 14:51. 3, Phoenix, Daniel Carcillo 2 (Niko
Kapanen), 17:08. Penalties: R Vrbata, Pho (high sticking), 6:10; D
Morris, Pho (cross checking), 7:39; K Foster, Min (interference),
13:08.

SECOND PERIOD -- Scoring: None. Penalties: N Kapanen, Pho (tripping), 4:41; M Gaborik,
Min (slashing), 8:03.

Shots on goal:
----------------------------------
Minnesota 10 5 --15
Phoenix 16 9 --25
----------------------------------

Goalies : Minnesota, Niklas Backstrom (25 shots, 23 saves). Phoenix,
Alex Auld (15 shots, 14 saves). Referees: Dan Marouelli, Gord Dwyer.
Linesmen: Jonny Murray, Lyle Seitz.</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 19:55 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 14:34 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>

 

NHL: MINNESOTA at PHOENIX

<div class="pre">NHL MINNESOTA 1
PHOENIX 2 12:14 LEFT, 3RD PRD</div>