Wild goalkeeper Filip Gustavsson shoots into the goal again and eliminates the Buffalo Sabres

(The Sabres, rested after not playing since Saturday when they won a road trip through California, did not receive a single penalty.)

A scoreless second period flattered the Wild, who finally began to accumulate more time in Buffalo territory, but the Sabers were pressing again in the third period.

Thompson, who had been inactive the previous five games due to injury, finished the game with six shots and 11 total attempts, but Gustavsson was blocked for every puck Buffalo put his way – including an uncontested attempt by Thompson in the last minute.

Gustavsson earned his eighth career shutout, passing Darcy Kuemper for the Wild’s sixth all-time shutout. He also allowed two or fewer goals in 12 starts played in the top division. He is 10-4-3 with a 2.06 goals-against average and .929 save percentage, tied for first in the NHL; His .917 save percentage since joining the Wild is third-best in the league since 2022-23.

Defense was also crucial to keeping the puck out of the Wild’s net: the 31 shots blocked by the Wild were the second most in team history. Jake Middleton had a game-high seven, while Marco Rossi and Declan Chisholm had four each.

“I have a lot of confidence in Gus back there,” Chisholm said. “We just stay close to him and try to block as many shots as we can for him and he does the rest.”