DENVER (AP) 鈥� The are making a switch in net for Game 2, going with Filip Gustavsson on Tuesday night after Jesper Wallstedt allowed eight goals in a to Colorado.
Wild coach John Hynes announced the goaltender swap several hours before puck drop. Gustavsson hasn’t played since allowing five goals at St. Louis on April 13. He went 28-15-6 with a 2.69 goals-against average during the regular season.
Wallstedt surrendered 14 goals in six games during a over Dallas. He struggled in Game 1 against the high-scoring Avalanche in allowing eight goals on 42 shots. Wallstedt and Gustavsson split time throughout the season.
鈥淲e have confidence in both of our goalies. They鈥檙e both excellent,鈥� Hynes said. 鈥淭hey both played really good hockey. We believe either one of them can win us a game. It鈥檚 a good opportunity to get Gus in the net. He鈥檚 hungry to get in.鈥�
Gustavsson has played in 11 postseason games for the Wild, posting a 4-6 mark with a 2.54 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. The 27-year-old Gustavsson stayed sharp waiting for his turn, Hynes said, and has been “very supportive” of the decision to go with Wallstedt.
鈥淏ut the thing I liked about it, too, was that he didn鈥檛 just concede it, either,鈥� Hynes said. “He wants to play. He wants to get in the net. He was working for it. He鈥檚 making sure that he was prepared to do it.
“It could be a little bit of a negative response, but his was, 鈥業 understand the decision.鈥� As it went on, he wanted to get into the net. But his attitude toward the team and toward Wally was top shelf.鈥�
The Wild remain without forward Joel Eriksson Ek and defenseman Jonas Brodin because of lower-body injuries. Hynes said there could be more tweaks to the lineup, but those will be game-time decisions based on health.
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AP NHL playoffs: and
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