GDT: 22 Oct 2011 - Wild @ Canucks - 3PM CST - FSN & NHLN / 107.9 FM

[GopherState]

Originally Posted by Northland Wild Man

I don't know about all the Backstrom criticism. He did let one in yesterday that was a little soft, but he has saved our bacon in a few games so far.

This needs to be reiterated.

[squidz*]

Didn't see this game (spent the weekend in civilization so I didn't have FSN) but Backstrom has been an interesting character this year. He has made some amazing saves and truly bailed the team out. When he has started there have been at least 2 saves every game that Harding would have never had a chance at. What's frustrating is that it seems like he lets a softie in every game as well. So far it seems like he has come out ahead (making more amazing saves than allowing softies) but I can understand why the "haters" might crawl out of the woodwork over a couple that he has allowed. But hey, Rinne allowed 4 goals and was pulled after 1 period the other day, does that mean that Nashville needs to staple him to the bench?

[llamapalooza]

Originally Posted by squidz

Didn't see this game (spent the weekend in civilization so I didn't have FSN) but Backstrom has been an interesting character this year. He has made some amazing saves and truly bailed the team out. When he has started there have been at least 2 saves every game that Harding would have never had a chance at. What's frustrating is that it seems like he lets a softie in every game as well. So far it seems like he has come out ahead (making more amazing saves than allowing softies) but I can understand why the "haters" might crawl out of the woodwork over a couple that he has allowed. But hey, Rinne allowed 4 goals and was pulled after 1 period the other day, does that mean that Nashville needs to staple him to the bench?

I can't speak for everyone, but I haven't been saying Backs should be stapled to the bench. Just that Harding shouldn't be, either.

[Jarick]

Softies or not, he's still got respectable numbers (2.20 and 0.920). On the whole, he's doing his job quite well. And while the defense in front of him is better at keeping shooters to the outside and not screening shots than they were the last couple years, they also can't get the puck out of the zone to save their lives.

But I don't see why we need to put Backs in for ever game. Honestly I'd do about a 2:1 ratio for starts Backs to Hards.

[Engebretson]

Caught the first period, thought they looked decent, then apparently I fell asleep and woke up with about 5 minutes left in the game.

I don't know, considering how often we get blown out when we're playing in Rogers Arena, coming away with 1 point and only 2 goals allowed by Backstrom sound like a moral victory to me. Hopefully lessons were learned with the mistakes that were made, but overall I'm not going to get bent out of shape over an OT loss in Vanny... except for the Heatley slash, uggh that was brutal.