Thu 1/16/14 4:13 PM

Niklas Backstrom hasn't played since allowing three goals on 17 shots in last Saturday's loss to Colorado. "You want to play every time, but it's up to the coaches and the training staff to see what's going on and make a decision," said Backstrom. "As a player, you try to be ready whenever you get a chance." Darcy Kuemper will make his third straight start on Thursday night.