Niklas Backstrom is expected to start in goal Tuesday night. The Wild have really picked up their game around Backstrom, who has been good all season long. With an absolute stranglehold over the No. 1 job, Backstrom could be a strong fantasy option as long as the Wild continue to play well in front of him.

Niklas Backstrom was a big reason for Minnesota's defeat of the Canucks on Sunday, as he stopped 25 of the 27 shots he faced in the win. The Minnesota netminder has a stranglehold on the starter's job and his teammates are beginning to raise their level of play, which bodes well for him. He's a solid number two fantasy goaltender.

Niklas Backstrom was sturdy in net for the Wild, making 24 saves in the team's 2-1 shootout win against the Predators on Saturday night. It was a nice bounce-back performance for Backstrom, who yielded four goals on 17 shots in in one period of the prior game before getting yanked. Backstrom has a 2.32 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.

Niklas Backstrom will start for Minnesota Saturday and he'll be looking for a bounce-back performance after getting pulled Tuesday against Chicago. He allowed four goals on 17 shots before getting the hook. Backstrom will enter Saturday's match-up versus Nashville with a 9-6-2 record, a .911 save percentage and a 2.41 GAA.

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.

Niklas Backstrom is the likely starter in goal Tuesday night. Backstrom is on a roll and was named the NHL's third start of the week Monday. As long as Backstrom is healthy, owners should expect solid, consistent production and a majority of the team's starts for the rest of the season.

Niklas Backstrom has been named the third star of the week by the NHL. He posted a 3-0-0 record with a 2.00 goals-against average and a .914 save percentage in three appearances for the Wild last week. Backstrom has been a solid goaltending option this season and more of the same should be expected from him for the rest of the year.

Wild netminder Niklas Backstrom turned away 19 of 21 shots in a 4-2 win over Edmonton Sunday. Backstrom has very quietly put together a solid campaign, as he always does. He's 9-5-2 in 16 starts this season.

Niklas Backstrom made 25 saves as the Wild edged the Coyotes on Thursday night 4-3. The offseason additions were supposed to infuse some offense into the lineup, but instead the Wild sit as one of the worst offensive teams in the league, meaning Backstrom has not had a lot of wiggle room to his benefit. Backstrom has earned points in six of his last seven games, though, and he has a 2.22 goals-against average and .918 save percentage on the year.

Niklas Backstrom made 20 saves in a 2-1 overtime win over Calgary Tuesday night. Backstrom was busy in the first with 12 shots against, but he didn't face much rubber the rest of the game as Minnesota come back from a 1-0 deficit late in the third frame. With the victory he currently has a 7-5-1 on the year to go with a .919 save percentage and a 2.17 goals-against average.