The Wild are back in action tonight and have revealed their starting goaltender for tonight.
ST. PAUL - The Wild are on the road tonight in Winnipeg for their first preseason game of the year. Wild head coach John Hynes said yesterday that Jesper Wallstedt will start tonight.
"Sometimes I know that there's a little bit of ‘like it's just an exhibition game,’ but real hockey breaks out there," Hynes said on Wallstedt. "He's going to get tested, you know, on the road, in Winnipeg, you don't know what their lineup is going to be, but either way it's going to be a competitive game on the road.
"So is he comfortable in that? Is he confident? Is the size a factor? Is he reading plays? I think at the NHL it's critically important how he fights through screens and rebounds and those second effort plays in and around the net. I think all those things are important."
The Wild have circled around the idea of carrying three goalies for the upcoming season but the play of Wallstedt, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Filip Gustavsson will decide that as camp goes on.
"It’s going to be a fluid situation, so it’s all going to depend," Hynes said. "I don’t want to get too far into the future, but I think all things are on the table, with it being said that if all three guys are worthy of being in the net at the NHL level and helping us win games, we’re going to find a way."
Nonetheless, Hynes indicated Wallstedt will start tonight for the Wild against the Jets and will likely play the whole game.
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