'He's The Future Of This Team': Behind Wallstedt's Phenomenal Performance In Game 4

TL;DR

Jesper Wallstedt delivered an outstanding performance, stopping 43 of 45 shots in Game 4, helping the Minnesota Wild tie the series against the Dallas Stars. His playoff stats now include a 2.06 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.

Key points

Jesper Wallstedt stopped 43 of 45 shots in Game 4
Wallstedt has a 2.06 goals-against average in the playoffs
Wallstedt's save percentage is .929
The Minnesota Wild and Dallas Stars series is tied 2-2
Wallstedt's performance is defining the series' identity

Jesper WallstedtMinnesota WildDallas Stars

ST. PAUL, Minn. — For 79 minutes and 31 seconds, Jesper Wallstedt didn’t blink.

Not when the game stretched past regulation. Not when it pushed into yet another overtime. Not even when the Dallas Stars (2-2) threw everything they had at him.

The 23-year-old stopped 43-of-45 shots, turning in another statement performance in a series that’s quickly becoming his arrival moment.

Through four playoff games, Wallstedt now owns a 2.06 goals-against average and a .929 save percentage.

These numbers aren't just keeping the Minnesota Wild (2-2) alive; they are starting to define the identity of this series.

And inside the Wild locker room, there’s no hesitation about what they’re watching unfold.

“Unreal. Wally’s persona is, I mean, he's just a guy that you, when you see a kid have that swagger, you just like, he’s got it, and there’s nothing better being in that position as a goalie," Marcus Foligno said. "Him and Gus have been great all year. Wally's just, we've known this for a while now that he was gonna be this stud goalie, and when you get to know him, he's got that attitude of a stud goalie. So we're excited on how well he's playing. And he made I think a low blocker save just before we scored. That was a great shot by their guy. Just like Oettinger, these are world-class goalies going at it right now.”

And then he took it a step further.

“Just the way he carries himself. Off ice. Just a great guy. He's got his chin up high, and he just walks around like he owns the room sometimes. And we're gonna settle him down a bit. But he's in the moment, and that's what's fun. You got a goalie who’s excited to be in the net. And as a young guy, I mean, I don’t want to say he's playing with house money, but he's got nothing to lose. He's the future of this team and big part of our goalie tandem. And he wants to win. I think he's a huge competitor, and I think we saw last year him get stifled by it and get rattled. And we saw him come back and be the goalie of this year.”

That confidence and that calmness are what stands out most. Even in chaos, Wallstedt looks untouched by it.

“For me? No. I feel very calm. I just focus on making the next save, no matter what happens," Wallstedt said. "That’s all I can affect, that’s all I can do is make sure I do my best to keep our team in it and give us a solid chance to win.”