In a bit of a surprise move, Niklas Backstrom won't start today's 3 p.m. game against the Edmonton Oilers. Instead, Josh Harding will make his third straight start in search of his sixth win in the past seven starts.
Backstrom is 20-2-1 with a 1.66 GAA, a .938 SV% and four shutouts in 25 starts against the Oilers…At home he is 15-0-0 with a 1.19 GAA, a .954 SV% and four shutouts.
But Harding is 6-0-1 at home this season with a 1.46 goals against average and .951 save percentage. He is 10-0-1 in his last 11 decisions at home and hasn't lost at Xcel Energy Center as a starter since Oct. 30, 2008.
Same lineup today up front and on D.
