Jesper Wallstedt News

Wallstedt will make his first post-Olympic start when the Wild travel to Utah on Friday. Wallstedt did briefly appear in last night's win in Colorado, allowing a goal on two shots after Filip Gustavsson left the game late in the third due to an illness. The 23-year-old Wallstedt has been excellent when called upon this season, registering a 14-5-4 record and a .912 SV% across 24 appearances. The Wild enter action on Friday at +115 on the money line.

Wallstedt was originally expected to back up Filip Gustavsson on Monday, but is unavailable due to an illness. Cal Petersen will serve as the backup in his place.

Wallstedt was terrific in Minnesota's previous game, saving 39 of 42 shots (.929 SV%) in a 7-3 win over the Edmonton Oilers. That said, Minnesota has regularly rotated goalies, and they would likely have turned to Filip Gustavsson on Monday even if Wallstedt had been healthy. The 23-year-old goalie has a 2.72 GAA and .913 SV% in 23 games this season (14-5-4).

Wallstedt was the hottest goalie in the NHL for six weeks into mid-December, posting an elite 1.53 GAA and .954 SV% in 10 games (9-1-0). However, the 23-year-old rookie goalie has struggled immensely ever since, posting an ugly 3.91 GAA and .872 SV% in his last eight games (2-4-2). Minnesota returns to action on Tuesday as a sizeable -204 home favorite against a Chicago Blackhawks team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

After an otherworldly six-week run in which he posted an outstanding 1.74 GAA and .949 SV% in 11 games (9-2-0), Wallstedt has seen a significant decline in his performance. The 23-year-old Swedish goalie has a concerning 3.81 GAA and .864 SV% in his last six games (2-2-2). Minnesota enters the action on Tuesday as +118 road underdogs against a Montreal Canadiens team that has lost two of its last three games (1-1-1).

Wallstedt stormed onto the NHL radar this season, starting the season with a phenomenal 2.04 GAA and .936 SV% in his first 13 games (10-1-2). That said, the 23-year-old Swedish goalie is battling some adversity for the first time this season, allowing three or more goals in five of his last six games (2-2-2), posting a far less impressive 3.52 GAA and .889 SV%. That said, Minnesota still enters Thursday's contest as -133 home favorites against a Winnipeg Jets team that has seemingly turned a corner, following up its dreadful 11-game losing streak (0-7-4) with three straight wins.

Minnesota has lost three of its last four games (1-1-2) and will turn to Wallstedt on Monday against the New Jersey Devils. The 23-year-old Wallstedt was excellent in his most recent game, saving 26 of 28 shots (.929 SV%) in a 3-2 overtime win over the Seattle Kraken, but has not been as dominant as he was earlier in the season. Wallstedt has followed up a 7-0-0 run in which he posted a dazzling 1.04 GAA and .971 SV% with a 4-2-2 record and 3.02 GAA and .903 SV% in his subsequent eight games. Minnesota enters Monday's contest as -165 home favorites against a reeling Devils team that has been outscored 20-5 during a four-game losing streak (0-4-0).

After a seven-game winning streak, Minnesota has suddenly lost five of its last eight (3-2-3) and will turn to Wallstedt on Thursday against the Seattle Kraken. The 23-year-old rookie goalie has allowed three or more goals in three straight games (1-1-2). Still, he boasts an excellent 2.30 GAA and .926 SV% in 17 games this season (11-2-4).

Wallstedt has not been able to maintain the otherworldly 1.14 GAA and .967 SV% he had in six November games (6-0-0), but has still been stellar in December, posting a 2.54 GAA and .919 SV% in six games (4-2-0). Minnesota enters Wednesday's contest as -166 road favorites against a San Jose Sharks team on a two-game winning streak.

Wallstedt gave up four goals on 41 shots in the Wild's 5-1 loss to the Avalanche last Sunday. After scorching hot November, Wallstedt has cooled off a bit as of late, going 2-2-0 with a 3.05 GAA and .906 SV% in his last four starts. On Saturday, he'll face a Jets team that has lost seven of their last eight games. He posted a 32-save shutout in Winnipeg in late November.

Minnesota has been firing on all cylinders lately, with outstanding goaltending and the recent acquisition of elite defenseman Quinn Hughes, and they have been catapulting up the Western Conference standings. The rookie Wallstedt leads the league with four shutouts and is coming off another terrific performance, saving 34 of 36 shots (.944 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators. He has a 1.95 GAA and .937 SV% in 12 games this season (9-1-2). Minnesota enters the action on Thursday as -115 road favorites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that snapped a five-game losing skid (0-4-1) in Tuesday's 4-3 overtime win over the Anaheim Ducks.

Minnesota has been on a torrid pace lately, with points in 11 straight games (9-0-2), in part due to excellent tandem goaltending led by rookie Jesper Wallstedt. The 23-year-old Wallstedt has been nothing short of sensational lately, near perfect, posting an other-worldly 1.20 GAA, .967 SV%, and three shutouts in his last six games (6-0-0). He has a 1.93 GAA and .938 SV% in nine games this season (7-0-2).

After a poor start to the season, Minnesota has won six straight and skyrocketed up the Western Conference standings, led by superfluous goaltending. Wallstedt will tend the twine of Friday against the red-hot Colorado Avalanche, looking to improve on an outstanding run in November, where he has a near-perfect 0.99 GAA, .970 SV%, and three shutouts in five games (3-0-0). The 23-year-old rookie has a 1.94 GAA and .935 SV% in eight games this season (6-0-2).