In a potential nightmare for the Wild, No. 1 goalie Niklas Backstrom got hurt during warmups tonight and will not start Game 1 of the Western Conference quarterfinals against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Backstrom, who tied for the league lead with 24 wins, looked like he stretched awkwardly when reaching for a rebound early in warmups. Looked like a lower-body injury on the left side.

Harding hasn't started in the NHL since giving up two goals on four shots and being pulled 6:45 in against Chicago on Jan. 30. His lone postseason action came in 2008 when he played 20 minutes and stopped all 11 shots.

He missed more than two months due to complications for multiple sclerosis.

There is no backup behind Harding. For some reason, the Wild doesn't have Darcy Kuemper here even though Houston doesn't have a playoff game tonight and they're in nearby Grand Rapids.