Wallstedt Stonewalls Montréal in the Bell Centre as Brink Gives Wild the Lead

Jesper Wallstedt has been the reason the Wild lead Montréal 1-0. Through 4:53 played in the 3rd (15:07 left), he has stopped all 18 shots he has faced, including 6 of 6 high-danger chances.

The Canadiens have earned their looks. They hold the shot attempt edge 51-44, and Wallstedt has still not given an inch. Their chances were worth 2.73 expected goals (how many goals a team should have scored from the quality of its shots), and they have zero. The Wild's total is 2.68, so this has been close to even, with Wallstedt the difference.

Montréal also hit iron twice in the first period: Nick Suzuki off the post at 11:16 and Alex Newhook off the crossbar at 12:27. A few inches either way and the score is different.

The only goal came from Bobby Brink, unassisted at 5v5, 2:53 into the third. Jacob Fowler has stopped 16 of 17 at the other end, so the Wild are living on one shot that went in and a goalie who has not blinked.