• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Backstrom, Wild try to continue winning ways

Feb 2, 2008 - 12:09 PM Minnesota (29-19-3) at Columbus (25-22-6) 7:00 pm EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Niklas Backstrom and the Minnesota Wild look to continue their winning streaks on Saturday when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The Northwest Division-leading Wild picked up their second straight win and third in the last four games on Wednesday with a dominant 5-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks.

Brian Rolston, All-Star Marian Gaborik and Mikko Koivu each scored for Minnesota in the first 3:18 of the second period to provide a 3-0 lead it did not relinquish. With the win, the Wild improved to 16-2-0 this season when Gaborik scores a goal.

Rolston's tally extended his goal-scoring streak to four games.

Backstrom made 20 saves against the Ducks to pick up his third straight win and improve to 19-10-2 this season. The 29-year-old netminder has registered a .915 save percentage and 2.48 goals-against average in 32 games.

The Blue Jackets are aiming to end a two-game slide. Columbus also has dropped four of its last six contests, scoring more than two goals just once during that stretch.

Currently third in the Central Division with 56 points, the Blue Jackets have played well against the Wild this season, posting a 4-0 road victory on November 23 while suffering a pair of one-goal losses.