Filip Gustavsson Tosses 41-Save Shutout in Wild Opening Night Win vs Panthers
The Minnesota Wild began their 2023-24 season on Thursday night at the Xcel Energy Center vs the 2022 Eastern Conference regular season champion, Florida Panthers. The evening was a rousing 2-0 opening night success, thanks to goaltender, Filip Gustavsson.
Filip Gustavsson stands on his head with opening night shutout
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Gustavsson, who enters his first season as the Wild’s undisputed #1 goalie, ahead of future hall of famer, Marc-Andre Fleury, couldn’t have began his season any better, pitching a 41-save shutout. Talk about being thrown into the fire and coming out unharmed…
FILIP GUSTAVSSON GRAND LARCENY pic.twitter.com/5fzOEpEmZ9
— Spoked Z (@SpokedZ) October 13, 2023
#mnwild goaltender Filip Gustavsson recorded his fourth career shutout in tonight's game. With 41 saves, he sets a new a career-high for saves made in a shutout performance, surpassing his previous mark of 35 on Dec. 10 at VAN. He now sits eighth all-time in franchise history for… pic.twitter.com/vMBHL8V0kH
— Minnesota Wild PR (@mnwildPR) October 13, 2023
While the story of the night was Filip Gustavsson, he wasn’t the Wild’s only hero at the, Thursday. Minnesota’s offense didn’t control play, by any means, and were outshot by the Panthers 41-21. But shots only count when they go in the net and that only happened twice, in 61 total attempts on goal. Both times, it was Minnesota lighting the lamp.
Brock Faber has big night for Minnesota Wild
In the first period, the rookie defenseman out of Dinkytown, Brock Faber, scored the first goal of his young career and the Wild’s first of the season. Faber has been paired with Jonas Brodin — longtime linemate of now Arizona Coyote, Matt Dumba — to start the season.
Head Coach, Dean Evason, and President of Hockey Operations, Bill Guerin, are going to entrust the newly-turned 21-year-old with a lot of minutes over the next 81 games. On Thursday, in game 1 of 82, he logged 21:33 of ice time, the most of any Minnesota Wild player.
𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗖𝗞 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡' 𝗙𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗥𝗥𝗥𝗥𝗥 🚨
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) October 13, 2023
First career #NHL goal for the hometown kid! #mnwild pic.twitter.com/znwAkIOtM4
Joel Eriksson Ek also notched his first goal of the season, a beautiful rebound that he had to pull from his forehand to backhand, before flicking it past Florida’s goalie.
Nobody likes to point out preseason success but the Wild have now parlayed their 5-1-0 preseason record with a 1-0-0 start to the regular season. For a team that doesn’t have a lot of expectations entering 2023-24, Guerin & Co seem to have a very hungry, confident early-season locker room.
JOEL ERIKSSON EK SITTIN' OUT FRONT AND SCORES 🚨#mnwild pic.twitter.com/G1uUNCQ8Vg
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 13, 2023
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All aboard the Gus Bus
Winning on opening night is easier when your goalie stands on his head and pitches a gem. It’s funny, because the Wild’s social media push, leading into the season, has been focused on Gustavsson. That includes a video they released on Wednesday (eve of opener) that is as genius as any 2000’s Minnesota Twins commercial. And that’s saying something.
All aboard the Gus…you know the rest 🚌#mnwild x Not Weird. Wild pic.twitter.com/b7gCThtljW
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 11, 2023
It’s almost like the Minnesota Wild know what kind of season Gus Bus is about to give them. And if Thursday night was any indication, it’ll be a damn good one. And if not, and this blog looks silly two weeks from now, at least the Wild were able to give us a shot of dopamine, after the Twins crushed our playoff dreams on Wednesday.
Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan
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