DETROIT -- Preparing to be without No. 1 goaltender Niklas Backstrom for two to four weeks, the Minnesota Wild on Friday called up goalie Matt Hackett from the Houston Aeros of the AHL.
Backstrom stopped five of six shots before leaving Thursday's night's loss to the Montreal Canadiens at the 2:52 mark of the first period, and Wild coach Mike Yeo confirmed before Friday's game against the Detroit Red Wings that Backstrom injured his groin.
"It's just a strain," Yeo said of the injury to a player with a history of hip problems. "There is no issue with his hip or anything like that. It's not as bad as some of the groin strains can be. It's not real close to the bone. It's all in the muscle, so that's a real good thing, I guess."
Backstrom needed assistance from the Wild's team trainer to get to his feet after making a save and didn't put pressure on his left leg as he skated off the ice.
No. 2 goalie Josh Harding made 19 saves after taking over for Backstrom in the 5-4 shootout defeat. Harding, who was red-hot as a fill-in for Backstrom early in the season, is 0-3-1 with a 3.54 goals-against average in his last four games.
"Fortunately, we have two guys that have proven themselves," Yeo said of Harding and Hackett.
Hackett, 21, is 2-0-0 with a 0.68 GAA and a .979 save percentage in four games with the Wild this season. He has stopped 94 of 96 shots faced.
"He has to take the opportunity for what it is -- a good chance to prove himself," Yeo said of Hackett. "He is just a guy that is excited to be here."
