Filip Gustavsson, the goalie for the Minnesota Wild, made history in a game against the St. Louis Blues by scoring a rare goalie goal. With just 8.1 seconds left in the game, Gustavsson saw an opportunity when he caught a shot from Pavel Buchnevich at the blue line. He quickly dropped the puck to his stick and shot it high into the air, landing it in the empty net.
This remarkable goal was not only Gustavsson’s first-ever goal at any level but also the first goalie goal in the history of the Wild franchise. The 26-year-old goalie revealed that he had considered attempting the shot after a conversation with teammate Marc-Andre Fleury during a timeout.
In NHL history, Gustavsson became the 15th goalie to score a goal and the first since Tristan Jarry in 2023. Additionally, his goal marked just the third power-play goal by a goalie in NHL history, following Evgeni Nabokov and Martin Brodeur.
Wild coach John Hynes, who had previously witnessed a goalie goal by Pekka Rinne, expressed his excitement over Gustavsson’s achievement. The team celebrated Gustavsson’s goal with enthusiasm, despite the absence of fans in the arena due to the away game.
Gustavsson’s performance in the game extended beyond his historic goal, as he made 27 saves against the Blues and improved his season record to 2-0-1. With a save percentage of .948, Gustavsson has been a key player for the Wild, especially in light of several injuries affecting the team.
Reflecting on his success, Gustavsson attributed his strong performance to his focus on being in the right position and making consistent saves rather than flashy plays. He emphasized the importance of making “boring saves” effectively, which has proven to be a winning strategy for him so far in the season.
Overall, Gustavsson’s goalie goal not only made headlines but also showcased his skill and contribution to the Wild’s success. As the season progresses, fans will undoubtedly be eager to see more standout performances from this talented goalie.