Harding plays well after subbing for Backstrom

[Fuhgeddaboudit]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=668588
 

While going through pregame warm-ups at United Center, Minnesota starting goalieNiklas Backstrom left the ice after appearing to stretch awkwardly to collect a rebound of a shot by a teammate.

He soon was scratched and replaced bybackup Josh Harding – who'd only played in five games for the Wild during the regular season while missing more than two months dealing with effects of multiple sclerosis.

"I just figured that I was in if I took the rest of the warm-up and prepared like I was playing," said Harding, who declined to speak about his personal-health battle. "I prepared like I should've. Obviously, we would've liked a better outcome, but we definitely put up a fight tonight and we're going to come back, put the work boots on [Wednesday] and get better [Wednesday]."

 
 
Statistics of Game 1:
JOSH HARDING
GOALIE - MIN
RECORD: 0-1
GAA: 1.56 | SVP: 0.946
 
He played well and didn't know he was coping with multiple sclerosis.