Filip Gustavsson to start Game 2 after Wallstedt's eight-goal Game 1
filip gustavsson will start Game 2 for Minnesota against Colorado on Tuesday after John Hynes pulled Jesper Wallstedt following a 9-6 loss in Game 1. Wallstedt allowed eight goals on 42 shots Sunday, and seven of those goals came at five-on-five.
Hynes said the move came after weighing several factors. "Every time you make a decision, I think in a lineup decision, you take a lot of things into account," he said.
Hynes turns to Gustavsson
The switch sends Gustavsson back into the crease after Wallstedt had handled Minnesota's first seven playoff games. Hynes said, "We've had two very good goalies all year long. Gus has played a lot of good hockey for us. Wally's taken the brunt of the playoffs; he's played seven straight games."
Gustavsson started 49 of 82 regular-season games in his fourth season with the Wild, while Wallstedt posted a.916 save rate. Gustavsson finished the regular season at.904.
Minnesota's rotation plan
Hynes said the team expected Gustavsson to be the starter entering the year, but Wallstedt earned more work as the season unfolded. "But then, Wally came in and showed he was really prepared and ready to play. And basically, for the year, we rotated them. And I think it was very beneficial to our team. It was very beneficial to the goalies," he said.
That rotation gave Minnesota two rested options entering the second-round series, and it leaves the Wild with a different look after giving up nine goals in Game 1. Colorado has not named a starter for Tuesday, though Jared Bednar is expected to stick with Scott Wedgewood after he allowed six goals Sunday, one more than he gave up during the four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Kings in the first round.
Colorado's crease options
Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood split the starts 43-36 during the season, with Wedgewood going 31-6-6 and posting a.924 save percentage. Blackwood started the season as Colorado's top goalie and finished at 23-10-2 with a.904 save percentage.
The series now moves into a Game 2 that could keep testing both benches' willingness to adjust in net. Minnesota has already made its move; the Wild will see whether Gustavsson steadies the crease after one rough night from Wallstedt, while Colorado still has not locked in its own choice.
