Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury, tied for second in career goalie wins, will sit in game against Dallas
Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Dallas Stars, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. Credit: AP/Matt Krohn
DALLAS — Marc-Andre Fleury’s quest to claim sole possession of second place in career NHL goaltending wins will wait until Friday.
Jesper Wallstedt is scheduled to make his NHL debut in goal for the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday night in Dallas against the Stars, coach John Hynes said following the team’s morning skate.
Hynes said while the organization would like the 39-year-old Fleury to get career win No. 552 and break the tie with Patrick Roy at home, the primary reason for sitting him is for rest.
“To make sure that we give him a little bit of a mental and physical breather before he gets back in,” Hynes said.
Fleury started Minnesota’s previous five games, going 1-4-0, after primary backup Filip Gustavsson was injured in a game on Dec. 30. In his first attempt to break the tie, Fleury allowed two shorthanded goals in a 4-0 loss to Dallas at home on Monday.
The Wild will host Philadelphia on Friday and Arizona on Saturday.
Fleury and Roy trail Martin Brodeur, who claimed 691 wins in 22 seasons ending in 2015.
Minnesota Wild's Marc-Andre Fleury, left, protects the net as Jake Middleton, center, and Columbus Blue Jackets' Justin Danforth vie for the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
Fleury was the NHL’s No. 1 overall draft pick in 2003 by Pittsburgh from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. He won three Stanley Cups with the Penguins and was voted the league’s top goalie in 2021, when he played for the Vegas Golden Knights under current Dallas coach Pete DeBoer.
“The words that come to mind are great teammate, class act, very professional,” DeBoer said. “But the other parts that you don’t see are the stuff away from the rink. He’s a great father, great husband. He’s very undercover charitable.”
Wallstedt, 21, was Minnesota’s first-round draftee in 2021, 20th overall, from Sweden. He has a record of 11-9-0 with Iowa of the American Hockey League.
