The Minnesota Wild entered the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs full of optimism, but following a six-game domination of the division rival Dallas Stars, they’ve fallen behind quickly against the Colorado Avalanche in the second round.
In just two games played in Colorado, the Wild have been outscored by the President’s Trophy winners 14-8, and after surrendering just 15 goals across six games in their first-round series, clearly the goaltending has taken a step back.
In Game 1, the team saw the first truly bad outing of the playoffs from Jesper Wallstedt. The Wild turned to Filip Gustavsson for Game 2, but in his first Stanley Cup playoffs opportunity this year, he too struggled, giving up four goals on just 22 shots.
Minnesota Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt (30) celebrates a series win against the Dallas Stars after Game 6 of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs at Grand Casino Arena.Nick Wosika-Imagn Images
Now, ahead of Game 3 on home ice, John Hynes has a massive decision to make in net, with their superstar duo allowing 14 goals on 64 shots in two games. That decision has now reportedly been made, as Hynes will turn back to Wallstedt, who was stellar in the first round series against Dallas, with the team clearly placing their trust in the 23-year-old.
Following a regular season where he posted a 2.61 GAA and a .916 save percentage across 35 games, Wallstedt gets a chance to show Game 1 was one really bad night.
Through six playoff games, the Avalanche have been absolutely dominant, scoring a total of 23 goals in their last four games, and now, it’s on Wallstedt’s shoulders to slow down that momentum. That can only be done with a full team effort from everyone on the ice for Minnesota, but if the team struggle and allow some early goals again, the Wild could have another big goaltending decision to make.
Related: Wild Announce Goalie News Before Game 2 Against Avalanche
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the NHL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
