Wild's Backstrom remains a saving grace

By Aaron J. Lopez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 07:05 p.m., April 14, 2008
Updated 12:23 a.m., April 15, 2008

It's a good thing Niklas Backstrom doesn't have asthma because his Minnesota Wild teammates sure aren't giving him much breathing room.

After getting nine goals of support in his first playoff appearance last year, the Wild has stepped up its pace in 2008 - barely.

Backstrom, a second-year goalie from Finland, has coped with the stress of three overtime games well and his calm demeanor in the crease has helped Minnesota take a 2-1 series lead against the Avalanche.

Backstrom made 44 saves in Game 3 on Monday night, and he was rewarded with a 3-2 win when Marc-Pierre Bouchard scored with at 11:58 of overtime.

The goal helped ease the sting of a late tying goal by the Avalanche for the second straight game. Colorado forced the extra period when Joe Sakic scored with 5:04 left in regulation.

"It's easier now that you won the game," Backstrom said. "It doesn't bother you that much."

Backstrom hardly could be blamed for Sakic's tying goal. Defenseman Sean Hill failed to clear the puck in front of the crease and Backstrom was flattened when Wild forward Aaron Voros pushed Andrew Brunette on top of him.

"I didn't see what happened at first, but I saw a replay and our guy tried to come in front of the net and hit their guy and he fell over me," Backstrom said. "It was the right call from the referee."

Up to that point, Backstrom was a major reason the Avalanche was unable to seize control of the series.

He stopped 12-of-12 shots on six Avalanche power plays and rarely looked flustered despite playing with little margin for error. Backstrom has enjoyed a lead for less than five minutes in the first three games.

"You can't think too much about the score or the outcome of the game," he said. "You have to focus on your game and be there for guys when they need it. It's a tight game, but that's the most fun part of being a hockey player. You know everything you do out there counts."

Backstrom has had to make every save opportunity count because his counterpart, Jose Theodore, has matched him nearly stop for stop.

The only three goals Theodore gave up Monday night came on odd-man rushes, and he turned away 11 shots in overtime before Bouchard ended it.

The dueling goalies figure to be the difference in a series that has seen three consecutive overtime games, all decided by a 3-2 score.

"Most goalies, you don't want the deciding factor to be the goalie," Backstrom said.

Through three games, Backstrom and Theodore have engaged in a riveting display of one- upsmanship between two goalies whose stress levels only figure to rise in the days to come.