Backstrom stopped 19-of-21 shots but lost in a shootout Saturday to St. Louis. Backstrom is on a roll with two or fewer goals allowed in three consecutive starts. He's still second to Darcy Kuemper in net, but he could get more starts if Kuemper struggles.

Backstrom will start Saturday against the Blues. Regular goaltender Darcy Kuemper struggled over his last two starts, so Backstrom will give him a break Saturday night. He will take on a St. Louis team that is average offensively but allows just two goals per game -- tied for the best mark in the league.

Darcy Kuemper was pulled after giving up four goals in the first period of Wednesday's loss to the Kings. Backstrom replaced him and stopped all 12 shots he faced in two periods. Kuemper didn't get much help from his defense, so his poor outing may not change the mix at goaltender. Backstrom still mostly gets starts in back-to-back games and should get a start either Friday or Saturday.

Backstrom allowed just one goal on 30 shots in Monday's 4-1 win over the Panthers. Had it not been for a second-period deflection by unlikely scorer Shawn Thornton, the veteran netminder would have had his first shutout of the year. Backstrom has only made five starts this season -- posting a 3-2-0 record with a 2.28 GAA and .906 save percentage -- and doesn't figure to get between the pipes regularly with coach Mike Yeo leaning heavily on youngster Darcy Kuemper.

Backstrom will start between the pipes Monday against the Panthers, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. The veteran netminder has dealt with a few injuries in recent years, which have resulted in him being relegated to the backup role behind Darcy Kuemper. Backstrom is 2-2-0 on the season, but his .890 save percentage leaves a lot to be desired.

Backstrom allowed three goals on 22 shots before being pulled in the third period of Sunday's 4-3 overtime win against the Jets. Backstrom actually entered the third period with a shutout as the Wild led 3-0, but he allowed three goals in less than five minutes to allow Winnipeg to even the score. Darcy Kuemper came in and didn't give up another goal to pick up the win just two games after Backstrom picked up the victory after relieving Kuemper.

Backstrom will start in goal Sunday against the Jets. Coach Mike Yeo indicated Backstrom wouldl likely be the starter, and now that appears to be the case. His last appearance came in relief Thursday, where he stopped 25 of the 26 shots he faced after coming in 6:24 into the first period.

Coach Mike Yeo said that he expects to start Backstrom in goal Sunday against the Jets, Michael Russo of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Darcy Kuemper probably needed to shut out the Stars on Saturday in order to earn himself both starts of the Wild's weekend back-to-back, and he narrowly did just that, stopping 27 of 28 shots in the victory. However, Kuemper had performed miserably prior to that, so it seems likely that Yeo will rest him in favor of Backstrom, who was magnificent in relief of Kuemper his last time out. He stopped 25 of 26 shots Thursday against the Sabres, leading the Wild to a come-from-behind victory. Look for Yeo to confirm Backstrom as Sunday's starter prior to pregame warmups.

Backstrom stopped 25 of 26 shots in relief of Darcy Kuemper during Thursday's 6-3 win over Buffalo. Kuemper was pulled just 6:24 into the first period after giving up goals on each of the first two shots he faced, so this was very nearly a start for Backstrom. It's just his second win in four starts, and his best game among those by far.

Backstrom picked up two assists on Alex Ovechkin goals -- one on the power play -- in Tuesday's win over Columbus. Backstrom's clipping along as usual, with an assist-heavy nine points over his last six games. As always, he's a lineup fixture.