Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt stands out winning his NHL playoffs debut over the Stars
Minnesota Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt was a little surprised when told he was starting the postseason opener. Wallstedt certainly was, making 27 saves in his NHL playoffs debut as the Wild beat the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday. The Wild went with the 23-year-old Wallstedt in net over playoff-experienced Filip Gustavsson, who in his playoff debut three years ago had 51 saves in a 3-2 double-overtime win at Dallas in a Game 1 then.
DALLAS (AP) — Minnesota Wild rookie goalie Jesper Wallstedt was a little surprised when told he was starting the postseason opener. “Obviously I was hoping to play. I wanted to play and I felt like I’d been going good,” Wallstedt said.
“A little surprised, but I was very excited as soon as I got the news, and just made sure I was going to be ready. ” Wallstedt certainly was, making 27 saves in his NHL playoffs debut as the Wild beat the Dallas Stars 6-1 in Game 1 of the Western Conference playoffs Saturday. The Wild went with the 23-year-old Wallstedt in net over playoff-experienced Filip Gustavsson, who in his playoff debut three years ago had 51 saves in a 3-2 double-overtime win at Dallas in a Game 1 then.
Minnesota still led only 1-0 with Dallas on the power play midway through the first period when Wallstedt, shielded and looking to the right of traffic in front of the net, reached back to his left to make a glove save on a shot by Jason Robertson. “He’s a very confident kid. He’s very confident goaltender,” coach John Hynes said.
“And I think the way that he’s playing, and the way he was playing coming in to tonight, he’s made those types of saves and I think it was a big moment. There’s going to be times obviously throughout this series where there’s going to be breakdown. There’s going to be a mistake or there’s going be a great play made by a great player on their team where you’re going need a big-time save at a key time.