Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom helped off ice after collision in net
After Predators forward Eric Nystrom earned a penalty shot on Tuesday night, he crashed into Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom, who had to be helped off the ice.
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Tuesday was not a good night to be a veteran goaltender.
Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom had a rough start get rougher on Tuesday night when he had to be helped off the ice after a collision with Eric Nystrom of the Predators. Nystrom crashed into Backstrom, shoving the goaltender back and into the goal post.
Backstrom would not return.
Backstrom out rest of game with lower body injury. Will be re-evaluated tomorrow #mnwild
— mnwildLIVE (@mnwildLIVE) October 9, 2013
At that point the Wild were already down 2-1 in the first period and on the play that injured Backstrom, Nystrom earned a penalty shot. When backup Josh Harding came in, the first thing he had to do was face Nystrom in that spot and Nystrom beat him for a 3-1 lead.
Meanwhile, the bigger concern for the Wild has to be the health of Backstrom. He played in 42 of 48 games last season, however his save percentage dipped to .909. Not terrible but certainly well below his career average of .917.
Backstrom was the second goalie to leave the ice on Tuesday night with an injury as Panthers goalie Tim Thomas suffered a similar, twisted fate.
