Post by : Maya Rahman

In an electrifying matchup on Sunday night, the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Calgary Flames, finishing the game with a 2-0 scoreline in St. Paul, Minnesota. Demonstrating impeccable defense and effective teamwork, the Wild were spearheaded by goaltender Jesper Wallstedt. Matt Boldy contributed with a goal and an assist while Kirill Kaprizov sealed the win with an empty-netter.

Wallstedt was undoubtedly the shining star for the Wild, making 36 saves throughout the game, recording his first shutout of the 2025–26 NHL season. The 22-year-old goalie showcased his skills by denying all 36 attempts from the Flames — 11 in the first period, 12 in the second, and 13 in the final period. This performance illustrated his burgeoning confidence in just his fifth start of the season.

The first period closed without any scoring, with both goaltenders remaining resolute. The scoreless stalemate was broken midway through the second period when Matt Boldy netted an even-strength goal. Capitalizing on a precise pass from Marcus Johansson, Boldy maneuvered around the Flames' defense and slipped the puck past Devin Cooley to grant the Wild a 1-0 lead. This marked Boldy’s eighth goal of the season, igniting cheers from the home crowd.

The Flames struggled offensively, failing to breach Wallstedt’s formidable defense. MacKenzie Weegar posted the most shots on goal for Calgary with six, but none found the net. This defeat resulted in their second consecutive shutout, having been outscored 6-0 in their recent outings, leading to visible frustration amongst their forwards.

As the clock wound down and desperation ensued, Calgary opted to pull their goalie for an additional skater. However, Kirill Kaprizov took advantage of the situation, scoring into the empty net with 50 seconds remaining, along with assists from Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy. With this, the Wild secured a definitive 2-0 victory, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

For Wallstedt, this shutout marked a key milestone, representing only the second of his NHL career and surpassing his previous record of 31 saves. His prior noteworthy performance was against the Los Angeles Kings on October 13, 2025. Wallstedt's rapid development highlights his potential to emerge as a leading young goaltender within the league.

Defensively, Minnesota proved staunch, effectively guarding their lead and blocking critical shots. A moment of concern occurred when Brock Faber was injured after a collision with Nazem Kadri, but he managed to return later without serious backlash, bolstering the team's defense as the game concluded.

Calgary had some promising opportunities, especially in the second period when Matt Coronato had a significant chance. Despite a sharp wrist shot from the right circle, Wallstedt executed a remarkable glove save, encapsulating the Flames’ evening—strong efforts but no results. The team needs to regroup ahead of their next match to restore their offensive potency.

This victory provided Minnesota with back-to-back wins, boosting morale for upcoming challenges. With promising performances from young talents like Wallstedt and Boldy, coupled with the experienced guidance of players like Kaprizov, the Wild appear poised to ascend the standings this season.

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