Gustavsson to start in goal for Wild in Game 2 of Western 2nd Round

DENVER -- Filip Gustavsson will start in goal for the Minnesota Wild in Game 2 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Arena on Tuesday (8 p.m. ET; ESPN, SN, TVAS, CBC).

It will be Gustavsson’s first appearance in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Jesper Wallstedt started the Wild’s first seven games, including six against the Dallas Stars in the first round. He allowed eight goals on 42 shots in a 9-6 loss here in Game 1 on Sunday.

Wallstedt is 4-3 with a 2.81 goals-against average and .903 save percentage this postseason.

“Every time you make a decision, you take a lot of things into account,” Minnesota coach John Hynes said after the morning skate. “We’ve had two very good goalies all year long and ‘Gus’ has played a lot of good hockey for us.

“‘Wally’ (Wallstedt) has taken the brunt of the playoffs; he’s played seven straight games played very well. Quick turnaround at the end of the (first) series to come to Colorado.”

Gustavsson was 28-15-6 with a 2.69 GAA, .904 save percentage and four shutouts in 50 regular-season games (49 starts). He hasn’t played since April 13, when he allowed five goals on 21 shots in a 6-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues. 

“We have confidence in both of our goalies,” Hynes said. “They’re both excellent, they’ve both played really good hockey. We believe either one of them can win us a game, and I think it’s a good opportunity to get Gus in the net. He’s hungry to get in.

“He dealt with not playing for a while; obviously Wally played very well, our team won and continued to go through, but we have another excellent goalie who’s hungry to get back into the net.”

Hynes said there could be another “tweak or two” to his lineup for Game 2, but those would be game-time decisions.