Niklas Backstrom was pulled after the first period, as he allowed four goals on 17 shots in the Wild's 5-3 loss to Chicago on Tuesday. All four goals came within a six-minute span in the latter half of the first frame. Backstrom entered the contest on a three-game winning streak, but he couldn't shut down the potent Blackhawks attack. The 35-year-old netminder drops to 9-6-2 on the year, and sports a G.A.A. just below 2.30. Wild backup Darcy Kuemper came in relief of Backstrom, and stopped 14 of the 15 shots he faced.