Niklas Backstrom allowed two goals on two shots before being replaced in the Minnesota Wild's 3-0 loss to the Kings in Los Angeles Thursday night. Backstrom has lost three consecutive games. He was replaced Thursday by Darcy Kuemper, who surrendered only one goal on 12 shots. So the Kings took only 14 shots on net, but that was plenty on a night when the Wild wasn't scoring. It was the second time Backstrom was pulled from a game this season and the first since March 5, when he gave up four goals on 17 shots in the first period in a loss at Chicago. It was Kuemper's first appearance since he relieved him in that game.