Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Blows lead in overtime loss
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Wallstedt stopped 30 of 34 shots in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Avalanche in Game 5.
The Wild charged out to a 3-0 lead after one period, but Wallstedt couldn't make it stick. That result eliminated Minnesota, though Wallstedt was largely successful with a 2.77 GAA and a .909 save percentage despite going 5-5 over 10 playoff contests. The 23-year-old netminder will be in a contract year in 2026-27, which is also the first season of Filip Gustavsson's five-year extension. The two make a formidable tandem, which will give Wallstedt appeal as a low-end fantasy No. 2 in drafts in the fall.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Getting start in elimination game
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Wallstedt will protect the road goal versus the Avalanche in Game 5 on Wednesday, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Wallstedt will get the nod with the Wild's season on the line in this contest. He has allowed 12 goals on 110 shots over three games against the Avalanche during the second round. Should he get the win Wednesday, Wallstedt would likely keep the crease for the rest of the round.
Wallstedt stopped 29 of 32 shots in Monday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche in Game 4. The last two goals were empty-netters.
Wallstedt had a decent performance, but the Avalanche were able to hold onto the lead after Parker Kelly's goal at 11:32 of the third period. Wallstedt dropped to 5-4 this postseason, and he has a 2.66 GAA and a .912 save percentage over nine contests. The Wild have their backs against the wall now, facing a 3-1 series deficit and a trip to Colorado for Wednesday's Game 5 with the season on the line.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Guarding goal in Game 4
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Wallstedt will patrol the home crease against Colorado on Monday in Game 4, Dan Rosen of NHL.com reports.
Wallstedt is coming off a 35-save performance in Game 3's 5-1 win over the Avalanche on Saturday. He has stopped 240 of 263 shots (.913 save percentage) en route to a 5-3 record through eight appearances this postseason. Colorado has scored 28 goals in only seven outings during the playoffs.
Wallstedt stopped 35 of 36 shots in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Avalanche in Game 3.
Wallstedt was benched for Game 2 after giving up eight goals on 42 shots in the series opener. Filip Gustavsson fared no better in his first start of the postseason, so Wallstedt was given another chance and delivered his best performance yet to help the Wild avoid a daunting deficit. He's now 5-3 with a 2.61 GAA and a .913 save percentage over eight playoff outings. With Wallstedt getting back in a groove, expect him to get the nod again Monday in Game 4.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Starting Game 3
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Wallstedt will patrol the home crease against Colorado on Saturday in Game 3, Michael Russo of The Athletic reports.
Wallstedt will return to the crease after Filip Gustavsson played in Tuesday's 5-2 defeat against the Avalanche. The 23-year-old Wallstedt allowed eight goals on 42 shots in Game 1's 9-6 loss to Colorado, with the final tally being an empty-netter. He has allowed 22 goals on 227 shots en route to a 4-3 record in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Left out to dry in Game 1 loss
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Wallstedt stopped 34 of 42 shots in Sunday's 9-6 loss to the Avalanche in Game 1. The ninth goal was an empty-netter.
Defense was optional in this contest, and that didn't do Wallstedt any favors. He allowed three goals in a span of 2:01 in the middle of the first period, but it was two more tallies over 2:22 in the third that did him in. Wallstedt was entrusted with the crease to begin the first round against the Stars, but he likely can't afford to have another performance like this one, especially with a veteran in Filip Gustavsson waiting in the wings. Wallstedt is 4-3 with a 2.81 GAA and a .903 save percentage over seven playoff outings even after this awful performance. Game 2 is Tuesday in Colorado, and the Wild have yet to reveal their plans for goaltending in that contest.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Tending twine in Game 1
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Wallstedt will guard the road crease in Sunday's Game 1 against the Avalanche, Tracey Myers of NHL.com reports.
Wallstedt is coming off a strong finish to the first round against the Stars, as he won the last three games while posting a 1.81 GAA and a .933 save percentage during that stretch. The 23-year-old rising star has a 4-2-0 record, a 2.05 GAA and a .924 save percentage overall this postseason. He'll be matched up against a Colorado team that scored 13 goals in a four-game sweep of Los Angeles in the first round. Wallstedt put together a mixed bag of results against the Avalanche during the regular season, with a 1-1-1 record across four appearances.
Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Clinches first-round series
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Wallstedt stopped 21 of 23 shots in Thursday's 5-2 win over the Stars in Game 6.
Wallstedt went 4-2 in the series with a 2.05 GAA and a .924 save percentage over six games. The Wild trailed for just 54 seconds in the decisive Game 6, and a clean third period from Wallstedt helped them secure advancement. It doesn't get any easier in the second round for the 23-year-old goalie, as he'll be tasked with stopping the Avalanche, who won the Presidents' Trophy for the best record in the regular season. A start date for that second-round series has yet to be announced.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Looking to secure series
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Wallstedt will protect the home net versus the Stars in Game 6 on Thursday, Dylan Loucks of The Hockey News reports.
Wallstedt has gone 3-2 in the series, allowing just 12 goals on 162 shots (.926 save percentage). The 23-year-old will get the Wild through the second round, where the Avalanche await, if he can collect another win. Wallstedt's play so far in the postseason suggests he's locked in as the Wild's top goalie.
Wallstedt stopped 20 of 22 shots in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Stars in Game 5.
Wallstedt didn't have as much to do in this game, as the Wild blocked 26 shots in front of him. This was his second win in a row, giving Minnesota a 3-2 lead in this first-round series. He's allowed 12 goals on 162 shots over the first five games. It's all but guaranteed Wallstedt will get the net for Game 6 on Thursday as the Wild have a chance to punch their ticket to the second round, where they'd meet the Avalanche.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Starting in Dallas
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Wallstedt will defend the road net against the Stars in Game 5 on Tuesday, per the NHL media site.
Wallstedt is coming off a 43-save performance in Game 4's 3-2 overtime win over Dallas on Saturday. He has posted a 2-2 record in Minnesota's first-round series with a playoff-leading 130 saves on 140 shots.
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Wild's Jesper Wallstedt: Shines in OT win Saturday
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Wallstedt stopped 43 shots Saturday in the Wild's 3-2 overtime win over the Stars in Game 4 of their first-round series.
The only two pucks to get past Wallstedt came on Stars power plays, and he turned aside all 17 shots he faced in the third period and OT before Matt Boldy found the game-winner. The 23-year-old netminder has a dazzling 2.06 GAA and .929 save percentage through four games, as the series shifts back to Dallas for Game 5 on Tuesday.
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