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Backstrom, Wild shut down Canadiens

Oct 5, 2008 - 1:46 AM MONTREAL (Ticker) -- If the Minnesota Wild intend on repeating as Northwest Division champions, Niklas Backstrom will need to continue his surge toward becoming a top-tier goaltender.

Preparing to take that step in his third season, Backstrom stopped all 25 shots he faced as the Wild rolled to a 3-0 preseason victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

The Finn stopped eight shots in the first and third periods, and nine in the second session.

Bounced by the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference quarterfinals, the Wild recorded just 12 goals in six games - none by offensive star Marian Gaborik.

Gaborik gave Backstrom all the support he would need in this one, putting the Wild on the board 5:24 into the first period after feeds from Stephane Veilleux and James Sheppard.

Goaltender Carey Price was solved again as Veilleux extended the Wild's advantage to 2-0 just 1:45 later.

After an impressive rookie campaign en route to leading Montreal to the playoffs, Price is entering his first stint as a full-time starter. The 21-year-old went 24-12-3 with a 2.56 goals-against average in 2007-08, when he was named the team's starter once Cristobal Huet was dealt to the Washington Capitals.

Price yielded a goal 2:14 into the third to Antti Miettinen, but finished with 22 saves.