EDMONTON — For Filip Gustavsson, Monday’s start was one he wanted to just toss in the trash.
Gustavsson allowed five goals on 16 shots, getting pulled before the Minnesota Wild’s historic comeback and win over the Vancouver Canucks.
“It was one of those nights where nothing works,” Gustavsson said. “It doesn’t matter what you do. You could stand outside the net and they’d probably miss it.”
Gustavsson didn’t stew or sulk. He got back to work. Reset his mind.
“Go to the next one,” he thought.
And Gustavsson delivered a brilliant, bounce-back performance in Friday’s gutsy 4-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers at Rogers Place. On a night when the Wild really needed it, especially as Connor McDavid and the Oilers put on a furious third-period rally, Gustavsson closed the door much like he did down the stretch in last year’s breakout season. Gustavsson had 41 saves, helping pull Minnesota back to within 2 points of a playoff spot in the Western Conference.
“Very impressive, very poised,” defenseman Jake Middleton said. “Looked like the ‘old Gus.’”
Gus with the helmet and his best friend 🥹 #mnwild pic.twitter.com/65GgQ8rQ1x
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) February 24, 2024
“He kind of saved us 2 points today,” Jonas Brodin said.
There were more than a few standout performances Friday. Matt Boldy continued his dynamic play since the All-Star break with a two-goal, seven-shot performance, his top line holding its own against McDavid’s. Brodin, who got injured on a hit by Evander Kane his last trip here, scored a key goal in the third. New defenseman Declan Chisholm, claimed off waivers a few weeks ago, looks like a steal, sliding into the top-four.
But the Wild don’t make the playoffs this year, much less do any damage, if Gustavsson and Marc-Andre Fleury aren’t at their best down the stretch. The two goalies each entered the weekend with a save percentage under .900 (Fleury at .897, Gustavsson .894). They’re both just over minus-5 goals saved above expectation for the season, according to Moneypuck.com.
Gustavsson was second in the NHL in that category last season, a huge reason why the Wild made the playoffs (and then gave him a three-year deal). It’s games like these where Gustavsson needs to earn those big bucks. And when the Oilers had an 8-1 edge in high-danger chances in the third period, 21-5 in chances overall, nearly 80 percent Corsi-For percentage, according to Natural Stat Trick, Gustavsson was the equalizer.
“Those are the games that are the most important, where the really good players step up and play the best,” Gustavsson said. “Most of the guys in here love playing those games when it’s really on the line and everyone wants to push and expect you to show up and win the game.”
The Oilers were content on putting their top line with McDavid up against the Wild’s hot top line of Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov for most of the night at five-on-five. And the Minnesota trio did pretty well overall with a 57.89 Corsi For Percentage at five-on-five. Eriksson Ek had a first-period goal erased due to an offsides challenge, but Boldy put them ahead with his goal off the rush later on. “They’ve been our horse of a line the last couple weeks,” Middleton said. “They deserve all the credit they’re getting. They’ve been amazing.”
Boldy gave Eriksson Ek’s presence a hunk of the credit for the McDavid assignment.
“It’s not me and Kirill, I’ll tell you that,” Boldy said. “It’s (Eriksson Ek). It’s why we’re out there. He does awesome, our ‘D’ does awesome. You just have to try to play offense, that’s the best way to play against those guys. It’s not easy. If you’ve got the puck, the better off you’ll be.”
For as well as the Wild played in the first half of the game, they entered the third tied 1-1 due to special teams. Minnesota faltered on four power plays, and Leon Draisaitl’s power-play tally in the second made it 1-1. The Wild had a chance to regain the lead on a man advantage of their own not too long after, but they failed to set up. “Our power play has to be better,” coach John Hynes said.
This one could have easily slipped away in the third period, where the Oilers entered with the second-best goal differential in the league (plus-23, one behind Florida). Edmonton racked up the first eight shots of the period, with Gustavsson keeping them at bay. It started with a Zach Hyman chance on the first shift. An Evan Bouchard point shot. Gustavsson said he saw the releases well and didn’t give up juicy rebounds.
Hynes said Gustavsson was “fighting it” in Monday’s start when he was pulled after two periods. On Friday, Gustavsson was fighting for a win.
“I just saw his competitive battle level was higher than it was before,” Hynes said. “When ‘Gus’ is playing his best, he’s fighting through screens, fighting for rebounds, he’s strong in the net front and in those battles in situations, he was much improved in those areas. Therefore his game was better.”
Boldy’s game has been better in recent weeks, too. Perhaps it’s just a coincidence that since president and GM Bill Guerin was tabbed as GM for Team USA, Boldy has put on an absolute showcase (six goals, seven assists in seven games). Either way, it’s working. Boldy said it’s been a lot of different things, but mostly the fact he’s playing with really good linemates in Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov. “They make it easy for me,” Boldy said.
But Boldy deserves his share of the credit too, playing like the budding star Guerin called a “cornerstone” and gave $49 million (over seven years) to. Boldy has 21 goals and 38 points in 38 games under Hynes.
“I think his game is maturing,” Hynes said. “His puck decisions are good. He’s playing a fast game, a hard game. He’s getting in those scoring areas. That’s how he needs to play to be the kind of guy he can be and the kind of guy we need him to be.”
Things won’t get any easier for the Wild, who watched teams they’re battling for a playoff spot — the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues and Nashville Predators — all win Thursday night. Players admit they’re scoreboard watching. It’s hard not to. “For sure you keep track,” Brodin said. “Just have to keep playing every game like a playoff game the rest of the season.”
The Wild are 22-14-2 under Hynes, with that one bad 1-7-1 stretch at midseason coming when they were largely without their No. 1 goalie (Gustavsson), No. 1 left wing (Kaprizov) and their top two defensemen. Brodin said the group is playing with more confidence now, not gripping its sticks too hard and just having that even keel-type mentality it needs when things don’t go well.
It certainly helps when your goalie is on top of his game like Gustavsson was Friday. Gustavsson is 5-0 in his last five road games with a 2.45 goals against average and .932 save percentage. Four of those wins have come against contenders like Vegas, Florida, Carolina and now Edmonton.
On Monday, the Wild had his back. On Friday, Gustavsson had theirs.
“You know you’re never going to have perfect nights all the time,” Gustavsson said. “And when those (s—) days happen, you have your team stepping up like that, scoring eight goals, two empty-net goals. It’s the best group. It’s why you play a team sport, to help each other and carry each other over the finish line and take 2 points.”
(Photo of Filip Gustavsson and Evander Kane: Perry Nelson / USA Today)
