Jesper Wallstedt Shuts Out the Oilers - and the Noise - in Statement Win for the Wild
You could feel this one brewing long before the puck dropped. Jesper Wallstedt, the highly touted Swedish netminder the Edmonton Oilers passed on in the 2021 NHL Draft, made his first start against the team that let him slip away - and he made it count.
Wallstedt stopped all 33 shots he faced Tuesday night in a 1-0 win for the Minnesota Wild, delivering a performance that felt like part statement game, part masterclass in goaltending composure. The Oilers threw everything at him - zone time, point shots, backdoor looks - and Wallstedt turned them all away with the calm of a ten-year vet.
It wasn’t just a shutout. It was a message.
A Goalie Making History
This wasn’t just another strong outing for Wallstedt. It was another chapter in what’s quickly becoming a remarkable rookie season.
Tuesday’s shutout was his fourth in just 10 starts this year - and his fifth in only 15 NHL games played overall. That kind of pace isn’t just rare; it’s historic.
According to NHL stats, Wallstedt is now just the seventh goaltender since the league introduced forward passing in 1929-30 to record five shutouts by the time of his 10th career win. The last to do it?
Roger Crozier in 1964. That’s the kind of company Wallstedt is keeping right now - names like Jacques Plante, Frank Brimsek, and Wilf Cude.
We’re talking about goaltending royalty.
Oilers Brought the Pressure - Just Not the Finish
To be clear: this wasn’t a game where the Oilers didn’t show up. They played well.
In fact, they carried much of the play and outshot the Wild 33-24. But as has been the case too often this season, the finish just wasn’t there.
Edmonton generated just seven high-danger chances at five-on-five - not nearly enough considering the volume of shots - and too many of their best looks were passed up in favor of the extra pass.
Connor McDavid summed it up best postgame: “We passed away too many good looks - myself more than anybody.” That’s a captain holding himself accountable, but it also speaks to a broader issue. The Oilers are still searching for that balance between creativity and decisiveness in the offensive zone.
Another telling stat? Of those 33 shots on goal, 11 came from defensemen. That’s a third of the total, and while blue-line involvement is great, it also speaks to a lack of sustained danger from the forwards in the slot and net-front areas.
A Lone Goal That Held Up
The only goal of the night came early - and it came off a textbook play. Nico Sturm won a clean faceoff back to the point, and Jonas Brodin stepped into a heavy shot that beat Stuart Skinner high. It was the kind of goal you see in practice all the time, but it stood as the game-winner here.
To his credit, Skinner was solid himself, stopping 23 of 24 shots for a .958 save percentage. You could argue he might’ve wanted that Brodin shot back, but this loss isn’t on him. When your team gets shut out, one goal allowed is still one too many - but it doesn’t tell the whole story.
A Draft Decision That Still Stings
It’s hard not to look back at the 2021 draft and wonder what could’ve been. The Oilers held the 20th overall pick that year but traded down with the Wild, who used the 20th selection to snag Wallstedt. Edmonton slid to 22 and took center Xavier Bourgault instead, also picking up a third-rounder that turned into German defenseman Luca Münzenberger.
Fast forward to now: Bourgault was traded to Ottawa in July for a fourth-round pick and prospect Roby Jarventie, who’s been solid in the AHL this season. Münzenberger has returned to Germany to continue his career overseas. Meanwhile, Wallstedt is making history in Minnesota.
These are the kinds of decisions that front offices live with for years. Hindsight is always 20/20, but this one’s tough to ignore when the goalie you passed on just shut you out in your own building.
A Glimpse of the Future - and the Present
There was a brief moment of tension early in the game when Oilers forward Connor Clattenburg clipped Wallstedt’s skate after a whistle, sending the rookie goalie to the ice and drawing a crowd. It didn’t appear intentional, but it certainly got everyone’s attention. Clattenburg played just 4:40 on the night, registering one hit, but his physical tools and skating ability still make him an intriguing fourth-line option as he continues to develop.
What’s Next
For the Oilers, this one’s going to sting. They played well enough to win, but came away empty.
And now they’ve got to regroup quickly, with the Seattle Kraken coming into town Thursday night. The effort is there - but the execution, especially in the high-danger areas, still needs work.
As for Wallstedt and the Wild? If this is what the future looks like in Minnesota’s crease, the rest of the Central Division better take notice. Because Jesper Wallstedt isn’t just making saves - he’s making history.