Wild Coach Hynes Won't Tip His Hand on Game 1 Starter, and Dallas Has to Deal With It

The Minnesota Wild are heading into the Stanley Cup playoffs with two goalies they trust completely. The problem for the Stars? Coach John Hynes isn't telling anyone which one is getting the net for Game 1 on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

After practice Thursday, Hynes kept his cards close to his chest. When asked straight up about his starter, he gave the kind of non-answer that drives beat writers crazy: "You can argue both sides, right? This is what I would say: We have two excellent goaltenders. We've had two excellent goaltenders all year long."

Gustavsson's Experience vs. Wallstedt's Hot Hand

Filip Gustavsson has the resume on his side. The 27-year-old has made 49 starts in his third season as the Wild's primary guy, and he's got playoff experience, including a stellar debut three years ago when he made 51 saves to beat the Stars in double overtime of Game 1. He holds a 4-6 playoff record.

But here's the catch: Gustavsson wasn't sharp down the stretch. He gave up four or more goals in five of his last six starts, which clearly gave the coaching staff pause even if nobody's saying it out loud.

On the flip side, rookie Jesper Wallstedt just had a season that turned heads. At 23 years old, the 2021 first-round pick finished second in the NHL with a .916 save percentage across 33 starts. He set franchise rookie records with 18 wins and four shutouts. Not bad for a debut.

"I like where I'm at," Wallstedt said. "The game I've played lately has been good. I think I can play anyone. I'm excited if I get to play to show that in the playoffs."

The Dual Threat Nobody Saw Coming

Hynes also wouldn't confirm or deny whether the Wild plan to use both goalies throughout the best-of-seven series. "We'll take it day by day," he said. "We'll make the decision, we'll go to Game 1 together as a team, and then we'll see how that goes."

Both guys bring international pedigree to the crease too. Gustavsson and Wallstedt both suited up for Sweden's national team at the Winter Olympics earlier this year, so they know how to handle high-pressure moments on the biggest stage.

Gustavsson isn't sweating the decision either way. "I don't know if that's any stress for me," he said. "I don't make that decision, so I just play when they tell me to play."

That's the kind of confidence the Wild want to hear from both guys. Hynes summed it up perfectly: "You can't go wrong with the decision. No matter who we play, he's going to give us a great game." Dallas is about to find out which one shows up first.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.