Manny Fernandez is expected to be in uniform for the Wild's game against San Jose tonight, but coach Jacques Lemaire said Monday that Niklas Backstrom will start in goal.
Nonetheless, serving as the backup goalie will be a step in the right direction for Fernandez, who has missed the past 14 games because of a sprained left knee.
"I think he's ready," Lemaire said. "He feels better. We'll go with Backstrom because Manny is not quite ready to be in. He needs a little more work in practices, but it will be a matter of time before he gets back in the net."
Lemaire wanted to have Fernandez in uniform for the Wild's 4-3 shootout loss Sunday in Vancouver, but after the morning skate the goalie told the coaching staff he wasn't ready.
Fernandez, who re-injured his knee Jan. 30 and hasn't played since, returned to practice Friday. There has been no need to rush him back because Backstrom has played well. And when he injured his groin last week, Josh Harding stopped 30 shots in a shutout at Edmonton.
The Wild had all three goalies on the ice Monday at Xcel Energy Center when it went through a late afternoon practice after returning from Vancouver. Fernandez, who received plenty of the workload, declined to speak to reporters afterward.
The Wild will play road games Thursday and Friday against Boston and Buffalo. It would seem logical Fernandez would see action in one of those games, especially since Backstrom has been lifted on the two occasions he has started the second of back-to-back games this season.
Ready to return?
Mark Parrish took part in practice, and the right winger is expected to play tonight after missing one game. Parrish, who has been named the Wild's captain for the second consecutive month, suffered an "upper-body injury" Thursday against the Oilers.
He refused to say if he thought he could go tonight -- "It's not really my call at this point," Parrish told reporters -- but Lemaire sounded optimistic. "He skated fine," Lemaire said. "If his neck is OK, he'll be going."
Parrish admitted not being able to play was frustrating.
"It's tough sitting in the press box and watching your team play," he said. "But, luckily enough, we're playing pretty well right now and you don't feel rushed or in a hurry to come back and maybe worsen yourself a little bit. You can kind of sit back, heal and get ready for the playoffs."
A long wait
Defenseman Kim Johnsson has been a valuable addition with his ability to move the puck out of the zone quickly and start rushes .
But what Johnsson hasn't done much is score goals. His goal Sunday was his first since he got his first two goals of the season on Oct. 12. Considering Johnsson received a four-year, $19.4 million free-agent deal last July, Lemaire was asked if the veteran might have been pressing.
"Oh, that's possible," Lemaire said. "Every good player, and guys that are getting big contracts ... there is no doubt they want to prove they are good players. They are pushing it sometimes too much and production suffers. Now, I think he's fine. ... I think he feels better about what he's doing, and things will go better."
Etc.
James Sheppard, the Wild's first-round draft pick in 2006, has been named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League offensive player of the month for February. He had seven goals and 16 assists in 10 games for Cape Breton.
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