ST. LOUIS – A goalie trying to score a goal can be frowned upon, and Filip Gustavsson knows this.
“Usually, coaches get very mad if you try and shoot it with only [a] one-goal lead,” the Wild goaltender explained, “because usually it becomes icing if you miss it.”
But the Wild were ahead by two goals, not one.
And Gustavsson didn’t miss.
“I was like, ‘Yeah, if I get the chance, I’ll try it,’” he said.
Coming out of a last-minute timeout in which fellow netminder Marc-Andre Fleury encouraged Gustavsson to take a shot at St. Louis’ empty net when play resumed, Gustavsson sunk a near rink-length shot with 9 seconds left Tuesday night in the Wild’s 4-1 victory over the Blues at Enterprise Center (a 164-foot wrister, to be exact) to become the answer to multiple trivia questions.
He is the first Wild goalie to score a goal and the 15th all-time in the NHL. This the 18th goal ever recorded by a goaltender — Martin Brodeur has three and Ron Hextall two — and only the third on the power play.
That’s right, Gustavsson’s historic feat lifted the Wild power play to a 30.8% efficiency.