Gustavsson regains composure, sets Wild saves record in Game 1

DALLAS -- Filip Gustavsson knew he had to get his composure back during the second intermission.

The Minnesota Wild goalie, making his first start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, could have remained rattled after the Dallas Stars scored two power-play goals, the first three seconds into the man-advantage, the second six seconds in, to take a 2-1 lead after two periods in Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round.
"We're still only down one shot after those two goals," Gustavsson said. "We're still in the game. I can't just give up and throw that game away."
Gustavsson made 51 saves, 12 in the third period and a combined 26 through two overtimes, to spark Minnesota to a 3-2 win at American Airlines Arena on Monday.
"I have to do it for the guys and for myself," he said. "It's more of a mental reset because I know I can save those pucks and save the next shots that come at me."
RELATED: [Complete Stars vs. Wild series coverage]
Gustavsson was masterful, making the most saves by a Wild goalie in NHL playoff history. Niklas Backstrom made 44 saves in a 4-3 overtime win against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals on April 14, 2008.
Ryan Hartman scored 12:20 into the second OT to complete the Wild's longest playoff game (92:20) since joining the NHL for the 2000-01 season. Minnesota lost Game 1 of the Western Conference Final 1-0 to the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim when Petr Sykora scored 8:06 into the second OT on May 10, 2003, ending a game that lasted 88:06.
Game 2 is here Wednesday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2, BSSW, BSNX).
Game 1 was a tremendous goaltending duel between Gustavsson and Jake Oettinger, who made 45 saves for the Stars.
"He's pretty good," Wild coach Dean Evason said of Gustavsson. "Their goalie was fantastic. Our goalie was fantastic. Some of the saves both of them made, it's like nobody's going to score. Yeah, he conducted himself very well."

Gustavsson got the start ahead of veteran Marc-Andre Fleury. He was coming off an excellent first season with the Wild, who acquired him in a trade with the Ottawa Senators for goalie Cam Talbot on July 12. Gustavsson went 22-9-7 with a 2.10 goals-against average, .931 save percentage and three shutouts in 39 games (37 starts). His GAA and save percentage were second in the NHL among goalies who played at least 25 games, behind Linus Ullmark of the Boston Bruins (1.89 GAA, .938 save percentage).
The 24-year-old looked like he got stronger and more confident as the game continued. He was superb in the first overtime, when the Stars outshot the Wild 17-6. And he got a little help from rookie defenseman Brock Faber, who got his stick on Stars forward Mason Marchment's shot attempt 9:00 into the second OT.
"Yeah, he definitely has listened to the [defensemen] coach going stick on puck," Gustavsson said. "I just tried to get as much possible across and he beat me to it with the stick there. So it was sailing right on, so it felt great."
Faber said Gustavsson was "unbelievable tonight."
"The game could have ended many, many times. More than just once there," Faber said. "He kept us in it all night. So poised and calm and such a calming presence to have a guy like him back there. [Heck] of an effort by him."
Gustavsson faced the toughest test thus far of his NHL career. He was frustrated at times, perhaps, but his ability to regain his composure was evident.
"Yeah, I think after the second period I tried to go into locker room and reset there," he said. "And then in the in the third and first overtime, it felt like it started hitting me and kept the rebounds close to me. That's when I started to feel more comfortable in the game."