CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and defenseman Clayton Stoner did not practice on Thursday, increasing the possibility they will be unavailable for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Wild forward Jason Pominville also missed Thursday’s practice and will not travel to Chicago for Friday’s game. He missed Game 1.
Coach Mike Yeo says if Backstrom is unable to go, Josh Harding will get the start on Friday night after he made 35 saves in Minnesota’s 2-1 overtime loss in the opener Tuesday night.
Blackhawks center Dave Bolland and goalie Ray Emery have been ruled out for Game 2 due to lower-body injuries. But Emery skated on Thursday, and coach Joel Quenneville says both players could travel to Minnesota for Game 3 on Sunday.
