Filip Gustavsson posts 41-save shutout as Wild win season opener 2-0 over Panthers

Filip Gustavsson figured it would be tough to stop 93% of shots again, an efficiency that was second best in the NHL last season and led to his ascent from stand-in to starter.

But one game in, the goaltender is earning an A-plus.

"It's not going to be like that every night, that's for sure," Gustavsson said. "But sometimes you're lucky, and you create your own luck."

His 41-save shutout looked more skill than serendipitous, Gustavsson's right-place, right-time technique guiding the Wild to a season-opening 2-0 victory over the Panthers on Thursday at Xcel Energy Center that featured another exclamation point at the other end of the ice.

Rookie Brock Faber scored his first NHL goal, with the Maple Grove native and former Gophers defenseman's point shot at 7 minutes, 54 seconds of the first period interrupting a fast start by Florida and standing up as the game-winner thanks to that airtight performance by Gustavsson.

"Obviously, just glad we got the win there," said Faber, who had family and friends in attendance. "But it was a really cool moment for me and my family. Yeah, it's really cool."

Florida poured on the pressure early to the tune of a 10-2 advantage in shots until Faber's windup from just inside the blue line gave the Wild a reprieve.

This was also Faber's first NHL point in just his third regular-season game and ninth appearance overall when factoring in the six-game playoff series vs. the Stars.

That was enough action for the Wild to feel confident Faber was ready for full-time duty so soon out of college, the 21-year-old's poise shining through his skating and stick placement, and they tabbed him to replace Matt Dumba after the longtime defenseman and the Wild split during the offseason.

So far, Faber has only rewarded the Wild for their decision.

"He did awesome and so proud of him and happy for him," Marcus Foligno said. "Not just a great kid but to start the season off as a hometown kid and get the first goal, too, that's a pretty special moment."

Actually, the defense was responsible for some of the Wild's better looks against Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (19 saves) until Joel Eriksson Ek served up an insurance goal on the power play after assisting on Faber's goal.

After deflecting a floater from Mats Zuccarello down to his skates, Eriksson Ek whacked in the puck from his office in front of the net at 12:56 of the second period.

"I think [Zuccarello's] trying to pass to Kirill probably," Eriksson Ek said with a Cheshire cat grin.

Overall, the Wild went 1-for-4 on the power play and the Panthers 0-for-3; the Wild's last chance came after Marcus Johansson was clipped up high along the boards during the third period. Johansson did not return and coach Dean Evason didn't have an update.

With less than five minutes to go in the second period, the Wild celebrated another first NHL goal when Marco Rossi roofed in a puck, but Florida successfully erased the milestone with a coach's challenge; Foligno was offside before the goal.

"I owe him one," Foligno said. "It was a nice goal, too."

But Gustavsson didn't need the extra offense, not when he was this locked-in.

After a breakout debut with the Wild in which he went 22-9-7, Gustavsson landed a three-year, $11.25 million contract in the offseason indicative of his rise.

His first impression during his return was another endorsement, the 25-year-old netminder picking up his fourth career shutout in his first season-opening start as an NHLer.

"I don't think I was screened on that many shots," said Gustavsson, whose 41 stops are the third-most in his career.

He was especially sharp on the penalty kill, turning aside back-to-back shots from Mackie Samoskevich and Gustav Forsling in the second before five more shorthanded stops in the third.

"Our defensive zone was good," Evason said. "Our penalty kill was good. Our goaltender was great."