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Backstrom, Wild look to stay hot vs. Blackhawks

Oct 27, 2008 - 1:26 PM Chicago (3-2-3) at Minnesota (5-0-1) 8:00 p.m. EDT

ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The only Western Conference team without a regulation loss puts that distinction on the line when the Minnesota Wild host the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday.

Minnesota sits atop the Northwest division, thanks in large part to goaltender Niklas Backstrom.

The Finnish netminder has logged every minute between the pipes for Minnesota, posting a 1.97 goals against average, which is good for third in the NHL.

Minnesota's record would be spotless had it not been for a poor third period against Buffalo Wednesday. Backstrom allowed a pair of late goals that forced the game to overtime and Derek Roy gave the Wild their lone blemish on the season.

Antti Miettinen is the lone Wild player who has more than two goals with five, but he has been held off the scoresheet in each of the last three games.

Chicago has earned a point in six straight games after dropping its first two of the season, but are coming off a tough 6-5 shootout loss to Detroit in which it surrendered a 4-2 third period league.

Patrick Sharp and Patrick Kane have five goals apiece for the Blackhawks, who will play a road game for just the second time in two weeks. They are 0-2-1 in their previous three games away from home.