ST. PAUL, Minn. — One of these days, or years, the Edmonton Oilers might find a way to beat Niklas Backstrom.

The Minnesota Wild goalie ran his career record to 11-0 at the Excel Energy Center on Wednesday, with 30 stops in a 3-1 victory to hand the Oilers their fifth straight loss.

In those 11 games, he’s given up only 12 goals with a .960 save percentage.

Backstrom allowed a goal to Oilers forward Robert Nilsson in the game’s 15th minute, but nothing else.

Owen Nolan, another Oilers-killer, scored the winning goal late in the second period, with a nifty backhand on goalie Jeff Deslauriers.

It was Nolan’s 24th career goal against the Oilers, who have been the 37-year-old’s favourite team to beat up on.

Andrew Brunette scored the first Wild goal on a power play and Guillaume Latendresse scored into an empty net with five seconds remaining.

The Wild have dropped the Oilers 11 consecutive times at home. Only the Nashville Predators (13 in a row against Columbus at home) have a longer current streak.

Backstrom robbed Sheldon Souray on a 2-on-1 short-handed effort with four minutes left, and also stoned Sam Gagner later as the Oilers pressed.

The Wild led 2-1 after two periods, with Nolan, who has 47 points in 57 games against the Oilers.

Edmonton Journal