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Harding may get second chance when Wild visit Oilers

Mar 1, 2007 - 4:48 PM Minnesota (35-23-6) at Edmonton (30-28-6) 9:00 pm EST

EDMONTON, Alberta (Ticker) -- A solid performance in an emergency appearance may have earned goaltender Josh Harding another chance to play.

Harding likely will be in goal again Thursday when the Minnesota Wild continue a three-game road swing against the Edmonton Oilers.

Recalled from the minors on February 1, Harding made his second appearance of the season and sixth of his career Wednesday after starter Niklas Backstrom left following the first period with a "lower-body injury".

Harding made 21 saves in the final two periods and the overtime before yielding a shootout tally to Jarome Iginla in a 2-1 loss to the Calgary Flames.

Despite the loss, Minnesota moved within one point of Calgary and the Vancouver Canucks for first place in a tightly-packed Northwest Division.

Playing the second contest of a four-game homestand, the Oilers have dropped six of their last eight contests and are nine points behind Calgary and Minnesota for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

Hours after leading-scorer Ryan Smyth was traded to the New York Islanders, the Oilers failed to score on 26 shots, including just two in the first period, in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Minnesota posted a 4-1 victory over Edmonton in their most recent encounter on Sunday. The teams have split their first four matchups this season.