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Backstrom, Wild face banged up Oilers

Nov 5, 2007 - 3:27 PM Edmonton (5-9-0) at Minnesota (8-4-2) 8:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - Niklas Backstrom is healthy and the Minnesota Wild couldn't be happier.

Backstrom and the Wild aim for consecutive wins for the first time in more than two weeks when they host their Northwest Division rival Edmonton Oilers on Monday.

Minnesota stormed out of the gate with five straight wins, but lost six of its last eight games.

Four of those losses came without Backstrom, who missed time with a strained groin, but returned to stop 23 shots in a 4-1 win over Calgary on Saturday.

The second-year goaltender has been impressive this season, posting a 6-1-1 record with a 1.68 goals-against average thus far.

Marion Gaborik, who returned from a groin injury on Friday, scored two goals and added an assist in the win.

In the last meeting between the clubs, Backstrom stopped 21 shots to record his second shutout of the season in a 2-0 win on October 10.

As for Edmonton, it is coming off a 4-1 setback to Nashville on Saturday, and has been plagued by injuries.

The Oilers' blue line is missing key members like Matt Greene (broken ankle) and Sheldon Souray (shoulder) as well as Joni Pitkanen (knee).

Edmonton, which has lost five of seven, also lost defenseman Mathieu Roy to a shoulder injury in Saturday's loss.