CHICAGO (AP) — Minnesota Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom was a late scratch from the lineup for Tuesday’s playoff opener against the Chicago Blackhawks because of a leg injury.
Backstrom appeared to injure his left leg reaching for a puck during pregame warmups and headed to the locker room. He was replaced in the lineup by Josh Harding.
The Wild were also without right wing Jason Pominville, who missed the last two games of the regular season after he was elbowed in the chin by Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings.
The Wild finished eighth in the Western Conference. The Blackhawks led the NHL with 77 points in the lockout-shortened 48-game season.
