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Wild begin quest for first Stanley Cup

Apr 9, 2008 - 12:42 PM Colorado at Minnesota 9:00 pm EDT Western Conference quarterfinals

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) - After claiming their first division title in franchise history, the Minnesota Wild now have their sights set on their first Stanley Cup.

The Wild begin their pursuit of theat milestone on Wednesday when they host the Colorado Avalanche in Game One of the Western Conference quarterfinals.

Minnesota finished with a 44-28-10 record this season, winning its first Northwest Division championship thanks in no small part to goaltender Niklas Backstrom.

Backstrom amassed a franchise record in victories, finishing the season with a 33-13-8 record and a 2.31 goals-against average.

The Finnish netminder played his best hockey down the stretch, posting a 7-0-4 mark in his last 11 games with a 1.61 GAA and a .944 save percentage.

The Wild need Backstrom to continue his strong play against two dangerous playoff veterans - Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg.

Sakic, the Avalanche captain, is in 11th place all-time with 178 points (82 goals, 96 assists) in the playoffs and also has an NHL-best seven overtime winners in the postseason.

"We've got a lot of experience in (the postseason)," Sakic said. "Everybody has to pick it up, playoffs are a different level. And we are going to have to get there."

Forsberg also knows how to score, recording 1.15 points per game in the postseason - good enough for sixth all-time.

"I think they will be low scoring games," Forsberg said. "You've got to make sure you're playing your own system and not giving them too much. They've got some great finishers. It's going to be a tough series. ... They're a good team and we're a good team."

Captain Marian Gaborik will lead the Wild offense after posting a team-record 42 goals while adding 41 assists with eight game-winning tallies this season.