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Backstrom, Wild blank Oilers

Oct 11, 2007 - 4:05 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Niklas Backstrom is making it look too easy.

Backstrom recorded his second shutout of the young season by stopping all 21 shots he faced as the Minnesota Wild blanked the Edmonton Oilers, 2-0, on Wednesday.

The second-year goaltender now has seven career shutouts - including three straight against Edmonton.

"It's hard to explain, we've played awesome against them," Backstrom said. "It's always fun to play them. They skate hard, they come to the net every game."

Backstrom extended his streak to 183 minutes, 57 seconds without allowing a goal against the Oilers. In addition, he has won all five career starts vs. Edmonton, allowing just two tallies.

"This is one of our biggest opponents," the Finn said. "We have to play them tough. It's like a playoff game when we play this team."

On Wednesday, Backstrom stopped five shots in both the first and second periods and 11 in the final session.

Defenseman Brent Burns and Pavol Demitra provided the offense for the Wild, who have won all three games at home. Last season, Minnesota recorded 29 home victories, one shy of league-leading Calgary.

Burns scored for second time in as many games. After netting the game-winner in Minnesota's 3-2 victory over Columbus on Saturday, Burns opened the scoring 12:22 into the first period of this one.

Marian Gaborik fed the defenseman from behind the net. Burns blasted a slap shot from the top of the right faceoff circle, beating former Wild goaltender Dwayne Roloson high to the stick side.

"I don't look to play offensively. If the chances come, they come," Burns said. "A chance happened again tonight."

"He has a lot of skills, he has a great shot," added Demitra, who assisted on Burns' goal. "That is helping a lot with his confidence."

For Gaborik, it was his first point of the season. The 25-year-old Slovakian was held scoreless in consecutive games just twice last campaign and tallied a point in 13 of the final 14 contests to end the 2006-07 season.

"I was trying to get the puck to (Wes) Walz there," Gaborik said. "It was a good thing Burns was there, he made a good shot."

Demitra gave the Wild some breathing room in the second period, poking in a loose puck in the crease after Mikko Koivu backhanded a shot on net.

"It was an important game for our line," Demitra said. "We got a couple of goals and helped our team win a game. It's a good feeling."

The Oilers continued to struggle on the power play, failing to capitalize on four man-advantage opportunities. Edmonton is now 0-for-16 with the extra skater this season.

Dustin Penner had the Oilers' best opportunity in the second period, firing a wrist shot from the slot while Edmonton had the man advantage. Backstrom got his glove on the shot, however, and deflected the puck wide.

"They played a tight defensive game," Roloson said. "They're successful at it."

Roloson stopped 24 shots for the Oilers.