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Jesper Wallstedt is giving the playoff-bound Wild a boost in goal, no matter how his name is spelled
TL;DR
Jesper Wallstedt of the Minnesota Wild had a humorous incident where his name was misspelled on his jersey during a game against the Anaheim Ducks. Despite this, he performed well, achieving 34 saves in a 3-2 victory and solidifying his role as a key player as the playoffs approach.
Ducks Wild Hockey
Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson (91) attempts a goal while Minnesota Wild's Daemon Hunt (48) and Jesper Wallstedt (30) block the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ducks Wild Hockey
Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson (91) attempts a goal while Minnesota Wild's Daemon Hunt (48) and Jesper Wallstedt (30) block the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)
(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ducks Wild Hockey
Minnesota Wild's Jesper Wallstedt (30) defends the net against the Anaheim Ducks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) ā Jesper Wallstedt let in a goal on a power play against the Minnesota Wild in the first period, looked up at the scoreboard to quickly analyze the replay, and realized something wasn't right. The name on the back of his green jersey was misspelled: W-a-l-l-s-t-e-a-d. āAn April Fool's joke,ā Wallstedt said after beating the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, ābut a little late.ā So he's sure this was a classic rookie prank and not an honest manufacturing mistake? āYeah, 100 percent. I donāt know exactly who it is, but obviously I have a feeling of who it could be,ā said Wallstedt, suggesting fellow goalie Filip Gustavsson was the culprit. When Marc-Andre Fleury retired last spring, he left behind quite the legacy as a prankster. Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor. Was it possible Fleury found his way in on the joke too? āOh, I didnāt think that Flower could be involved,ā Wallstedt said. āThen I definitely think itās a team job. Well done for them. Yeah, Iād rather take it that way than having my car on cinder blocks or something. Iād rather have my name a little misspelled.ā For the record, Wallstedt had his proper spelling restored for the second period. He had 34 saves in the 3-2 win over the Ducks and finished his rookie season 18-9-6 with the NHL's second-best save percentage (.915). āI hope they threw that nameplate away," Wallstedt said. "I have no idea where it went.ā Since starting his career 8-0-2 with four shutouts, Wallstedt has continued to give the Wild confidence in their tandem of Swedish Olympians ā and a decision to make with the playoffs approaching. Gustavsson has more experience and enjoyed plenty of strong stretches this season, but he's only 2-4 in his last six starts with 25 goals allowed. Wallstedt might have forced his way into some type of rotation in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars. āI like the way Iāve been playing lately, especially after the Olympics. I thought I was in a good spot going into the Olympics, too,ā Wallstedt said. āObviously I was a little bit bummed that I didnāt get to play anything there, and maybe that gave some extra motivation for the games after. And ever since, Iāve felt like Iāve been in a good spot and given our team a good chance to win.ā \\_ AP NHL:
Q&A
What happened to Jesper Wallstedt's jersey during the game against the Anaheim Ducks?
Jesper Wallstedt's name was misspelled as 'Wallstead' on his jersey, which he attributed to a rookie prank.
How did Jesper Wallstedt perform in the game against the Anaheim Ducks?
Wallstedt made 34 saves and helped the Wild secure a 3-2 victory over the Ducks.
What is Jesper Wallstedt's record for his rookie season in the NHL?
Wallstedt finished his rookie season with a record of 18 wins, 9 losses, and 6 overtime losses, along with the NHL's second-best save percentage of .915.
How might Jesper Wallstedt's performance impact the Minnesota Wild's playoff strategy?
Wallstedt's strong performance could lead to a rotation in goal with Filip Gustavsson as the playoffs approach, especially given Gustavsson's recent struggles.
