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Harding, Wild go for fourth straight win

Dec 20, 2007 - 1:51 PM NY Rangers (17-13-3) at Minnesota (19-12-2) 8:00 pm EST

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - The absence of goaltender Niklas Backstrom has not stopped the Minnesota Wild.

Minnesota backup netminder Josh Harding and the Wild shoot for their fourth consecutive victory Thursday when they host the New York Rangers.

With Backstrom sidelined due to illness the past three games, Harding has shined - the 23-year-old has yielded just five goals during the team's current surge.

Harding made 30 saves - including 16 in the third period - in Tuesday's 3-2 comeback victory over the Nashville Predators. Though Backstrom is available, don't expect coach Jacques Lemaire to replace the hot-handed Harding just yet.

The Rangers are coming off one of their more impressive performances this season.

A strong defensive effort made Tuesday's 4-0 triumph over the Pittsburgh Penguins much easier for Henrik Lundqvist. The goaltender needed just five saves in the first two periods, and 18 overall, to secure his fifth shutout of the season and the 13th of his career.