The Minnesota Wild have bounced back a bit after a rough start to the season, but are unfortunately stuck in what is an increasingly crowded playoff field in the Central Division.
While Colorado sits in first place by a considerable enough margin, the Wild are right in it alongside Winnipeg, Dallas, Chicago, and Utah. To remain in the chase and hopefully move ahead, Minnesota has to figure out some scoring outside Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, but the Wild can take solace in knowing they have a reliable goalie in net -- rookie Jesper Wallstedt.
Primarily a backup option, Wallstedt has been lights out throughout the season and managed to hold his own against a Stanley Cup-caliber team in the Hurricanes. He did allow three goals, but they came on a staggering 45 shot attempts faced.
Not too shabby for a rookie.
Perhaps most importantly, Wallstedt shut out the Hurricanes in the shootout. Look no further than his save against Andrei Svechnikov.
Jesper freaking Wallstedt 🫡 pic.twitter.com/BioCvRUU5A
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 20, 2025
The Wild picked up the 4-3 win after Boldy's goal in the shootout. Just like that, Wallstedt provided further proof that he is the franchise's goaltender of the future.
Jesper Wallstedt continues to prove he's Wild's goalie of the future
Entering this game, Wallstedt had an incredible streak going for him, as he didn't surrender a single goal, dating back to Minnesota's game against the New York Islanders on Nov. 7. That shutout streak eventually ended at 175:12, just 22 minutes shy of the franchise record set by Devan Dubnyk. But Wallstedt did make some history.
Wallstedt's 42 saves in the win over the Hurricanes are now the second-most ever recorded by a rookie in franchise history.
On the year, Wallstedt has a 5-0-2 record, a 2.20 goals allowed average, a .926 save percentage, and two shutouts to his credit. You couldn't ask for anything better from the rookie backup goaltender.
With his win tonight, Jesper Wallstedt improves to 5-0-2 with a 2.20 GAA, a .926 SV% and two shutouts. He leads the NHL in SV% and shutouts and ranks third in GAA. His 42 saves tonight sets a new career-high and is T-2nd most by a rookie in #mnwild history. pic.twitter.com/4XQZ4jF4cX
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) November 20, 2025
Wallstedt has been the much more steady option in net than veteran Filip Gustavsson. In 14 games, Gustavsson owns a 2.99 goals allowed average, a .897 save percentage, and a 5-7-2 record.
This is quite the rebound from Wallstedt, as he recorded a 3.59 goals allowed average, a .879 save percentage, and a 9-14-4 record in the AHL last season. Now, Wallstedt is locked in to each start, and gives the Wild the best chance to in and keep them in the hunt in the Central.
For the Wild and their fans, they can feel confident about their chances to win when Wallstedt is in net.