Backstrom wild about reunion
Flames goalie’s second game with club comes against former Minnesota mates
CALGARY — The NHL fraternity is close knit and for Niklas Backstrom the Minnesota Wild became his family, support system and way of life for the last 10 seasons.
It’s why Wednesday’s Wild practice came to a screeching halt at the Excel Energy Center when the 38-yearold’s former teammates saw him walking out of the opposing team’s tunnel for the first time.
“It’s nice to be here,” Backstrom said to the media, his first scrum in the visitor’s dressing room in St. Paul, Minn. “When (the trade) happened a couple weekends ago, I really didn’t have time to say goodbye ... I saw the boys and the training staff (Wednesday), so it was nice to see them and see how they were doing.”
Backstrom had been relegated to third-string goalie duties with the Wild since his last outing with the team — a 7-2 loss to Pittsburgh on Jan. 13, 2015. Minnesota acquired Devan Dubnyk from Arizona shortly after that and Dubnyk went on a hot streak.
But when the Calgary Flames traded David Jones at this year’s trade deadline and picked the veteran netminder — basically acting as a salary swap — the understanding was Backstrom would be utilized a handful of times down the stretch.
“We’ve played against him a lot,” said Flames forward Matt Stajan. “They used to be in our division, so we saw a lot of him. He stole a lot of games for his team ... he’s an experienced goalie and has a lot of games under his belt.”
Backstrom’s first game as a Flame was Sunday’s near-shutout, a 21-save performance in a 4-1 win at Montreal. Thursday will be his second game.
Coincidentally, the schedule worked out in a way that Backstrom was also able to see his wife Heidi and their two kids, Benjamin, 4, and Isabella, 2, at the couple’s home in Minneapolis.
“He’s excited,” said Wild centre Mikko Koivu. “It’s going to be a big night for him and for us as well, for sure. A little different than a usual game. We’ll be going against a goalie that’s been here for 10 years.
“I’m sure it’s going to be more strange (Thursday) when you actually see him in gear. For sure, he’s been here for 10 years wearing this logo. It’s going to be a little different.”
So who has the advantage Thursday, the shooters knowing the goaltender or the goaltender knowing the shooters?
“I don’t know, we’re going to find out,” Backstrom said with a chuckle. “For sure, (the Wild) has played 70 games — I’ve played one. So it’s a little different. I think it goes both ways. In the game, everything happens so fast and you don’t really have time to think. You just try to react.
“It’s the first time in my life I’ve been in this situation, so we’ll see.”
Not only is Backstrom beloved among his teammates, he is a fan favourite in the Twin Cities.
He is the Wild’s all-time leader in games played as a goaltender (409), wins (194) and shutouts (28).
“It’ll be an emotional night for him,” Stajan said. “He’s played here a long time and he’s played a lot of good hockey for their team.
“In a way it’s probably kind of neat for him to come back here this quickly and at his age. It’ll be a nice game for him. We’ll do our best to play well in front of him.”