ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Minnesota Wild goalie Manny Fernandez didn't practice Tuesday and has been directed to stay off the ice for a couple days to rest his sprained left knee.
Fernandez, who was initially hurt on Jan. 20, aggravated the injury on Jan. 30 and has played only 20 minutes -- the third period of the Wild's game on March 6 -- since then. An MRI test done Monday revealed no structural damage in the joint, the team said, but Fernandez is still sore.
Niklas Backstrom has played well in his place, and coach Jacques Lemaire recently declared Backstrom his starter until further notice.