Wild’s Wallstedt becomes first rookie goalie in 87 years to post four shutouts in six games

A star in St. Paul continues to rise while making a little bit of history in the process.

Thanks to a 33-save performance in a 1-0 win against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday night, Minnesota Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt became the first rookie goaltender in NHL history to post four shutouts in a six-game span since 1938.

The last goaltender to accomplish the feat was Boston Bruins legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Frank Brimsek, who was aptly named “Mr. Zero.”

Along with Wednesday night’s donut, Wallstedt has also notched shutouts against the Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames. His 36-save outing against the Flames on Nov. 9 was the Swedish backstop’s first goose-egg since April 7, 2024, when he earned his first NHL win over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The recent rise of Jesper Wallstedt was hardly on anyone’s radar. With Marc-Andre Fleury retiring, many expected Wallstedt to fill in as a backup for Filip Gustavsson. However, the 23-year-old has taken the reins as the Wild’s No. 1 goaltender, taking the team from the depths of the Central Division to a playoff contender in a matter of weeks.

While the team has gone unbeaten in regulation in 12 straight games, going 10-0-2 over that span, Wallstedt is riding a seven-game win streak of his own. In fact, he has yet to lose in regulation this season. In 10 starts, he has a record of 8-0-2 with a 1.74 goals-against average and .944 save percentage.

Wallstedt’s success has seemingly replaced the notion that he was on his way to becoming a bust. A first-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Vasteras native really never found his groove with Minnesota’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Iowa Wild. Granted, the team in front of him wasn’t all that great, either. Yet, there was concern if he would ever be good enough to play at the next level, especially when he gave up seven goals in his first NHL start in January 2024.

However, things are trending upward for the young backstop, giving hope to a fanbase that they can hang with the best in the league, as well as the realization that Wallstedt is the franchise’s future between the pipes.

The Wild (15-7-5) currently sits third in the Central Division and is set to visit the Flames on Thursday night.