Being Wrong About Filip Gustavsson

 

Back in October, right at the start of the 2022-2023 NHL season, I wrote about Filip Gustavsson, his joining the Wild, and whether or not there was going to be a possible back-up goalie controversy here in Minnesota (you can read it here).

 Well, I will admit I was completely wrong about a possible back-up goalie controversy here with the Wild. In my previous post, I did mention the plan was to have Jesper Wallstedt play in Iowa in tandem with Zane McIntyre to get acclimated to the North American rinks and give him at least one full season there.

Filip Gustavsson in net for the Minnesota Wild

Now…back to Gustavsson. Like I stated previously, I didn’t know much about him before this season with him having spent the past two years either with Ottawa or with their farm team and that my first real good look at him in net for the Wild came when he was in net for a preseason game against Chicago. I did get to see him play in person back on January 4 against the Tampa Bay Lightning where he ended up leaving the game during the third period due to an illness (which Wild coach Dean Evason later stated that it was a stomach bug). Gustavsson ended up getting the win, having been the goaltender of record in the Wild’s 5-1 win that night.

Since then, I’ve been able to watch Gus in net for the Wild a lot more and all I can say is “WOW” with the way he has been playing in net as of late. He was just named the NHL’s Third Star of the week having won both of his starts against the Islanders on Feb. 28^th and shutting out Calgary on March 4. He went 2-0-0, with a 0.48 GAA, and .986 SV%. He stopped 70 out of 71 shots he faced and he recorded his second shutout of the season. He’s 16-4-2 since Nov. 19^th, posting a 1.68 GAA, .942 SV% and two shutouts, leading the NHL in GAA and SV% in that span. He has since recorded third shutout of the season on March 7 against Calgary, even though the Wild lost in a shootout.

Filip Gustavsson reaching out to make a save

  Gustavsson has played a huge role in the Wild’s    streak right now that has them in second place in    the Central division and two points behind Dallas    (83 points). Dallas currently leads the division        with a 35-17-13 record. 

   

 

 

In my previous post, I asked if there was a possible back-up goalie controversy and if Jesper Wallstedt might see any time in the NHL season. Well, there’s no back-up goalie controversy. The plan is for Wallstedt to “bake” down in Iowa. Gustavsson has been pretty hot as of late and has been playing “lights out” in the net for Minnesota. 

 As far as the trade goes that brought Gustavsson to Minnesota for Cam Talbot going to Ottawa, Minnesota definitely won that trade.

Sources:

Filip Gustavsson Named NHL's Third Star of the Week (wild.com/nhl.com)