Can this Olympic-bound and league leader continue his dominant road performance against Los Angeles tonight?
After the Minnesota Wild's (25-10-7) win over the Anaheim Ducks (21-17-3) on Friday, Minnesota is back in action tonight against the Los Angeles Kings (16-14-9).
It is the first of two games against the Kings in California.
Here is tonight's projected goaltending matchup.
After Filip Gustavsson slammed the door on Friday, Jesper Wallstedt will start tonight for Minnesota.
Wallstedt, 23, will make his first start in net tonight since being named to Team Sweden's Olympic roster. He is 11-2-3 on the year for the Wild with a 2.21 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. He has four shutouts as well.
The young net minder leads the league in both save percentage and shutouts.
He has played against the Kings in his career. It was earlier this season when Wallstedt stopped 31-of-34 shots faced and all four shootout attempts in the Wild's shootout win. That was the debut of the celebration.
Wallstedt is 1-0-0 with a 2.77 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage in his lone start vs. Los Angeles in his career.
Other than being third in the NHL in goals-against average, Wallstedt is 5-1-2 with a 1.99 goals-against average, .926 save percentage and two shutouts on the road this season.
Former Wild goaltender Darcy Kuemper is expected to start tonight. He is 5-7-2 with a 2.77 goals-against average, a .904 SV% and one shutout in 15 starts against Minnesota.
The Canadian Olympian is 10-7-6 on the year with a 2.27 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage with two shutouts.
We will see if he gets the start tonight. Kuemper's Kings are 2-7-2 in their last ten games and have lost two straight.
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