Despite the Wild's recent 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Filip Gustavsson looked to be back on his game.
Despite the Wild's recent 2-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche, Filip Gustavsson looked to be back on his game.Filip Gustavsson has had a couple of rough games recently. He allowed three goals on 15 shots in his last game against the San Jose Sharks and six goals on 31 shots a game before, against the Nashville Predators.
But before those two games, he stood on his head against the Carolina Hurricanes and the Edmonton Oilers.
Gustavsson, 25, has followed great games with bad ones and some bad games with good ones. Last night he kept the Wild in the game after surrendering the first shot.
When Artturi Lehkonen scored 40 seconds into the game on the first shot, it felt like the game was going to be a blowout. But Gustavsson stayed dialed in and stopped the next 37 shots before Valeri Nichuskin scored the overtime winner.
The Wild goaltender admitted to the reporters after the game that he hasn't been consistent enough this season and has followed up good games with really bad games.
"I think Gus is right on with what he is talking about," Wild head coach John Hynes told the media yesterday. "He's played some really good hockey in my time here but then there have been some inconsistencies. It was nice to see him be able to play the type of game you need strong goaltending in to give yourself a chance to win. Now it's what's the next one going to be like and that's something we have talked to him about and he knows that."
The Avalanche had 3.47 expected goals according to Natural Stat Trick and only scored two. This felt like the first time in a while that Gustavsson allowed fewer goals than expected which is a good sign.
But as Hynes said, what's the next game going to be like?
"We have a pretty big week here for us, we keep fighting and keep staying in it," Hynes said yesterday. "This is a good opportunity but you're not gonna be able to make a strong push over the course of the next week if you aren't getting the type of goaltending we got from Fleury last night and Gustavsson tonight."
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