Alex Stalock continues to make a case that he should get more opportunities in goal for the Minnesota Wild (5-9-1), and his case was seen by all in a 4-2 road win over the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday night.
The save of the night came with the Wild trailing 2-0 early in the second period as the Ducks had a 3-on-2 rush, making Stalock go from the left side of the net across the crease for an incredible blocker save on the right side of the net to avoid going down by three goals.
Huge blocker save. pic.twitter.com/JFzA0y3jA2
— Hockey Wilderness (@hockeywildernes) November 6, 2019
“He made the big save [on Rakell] when it was 3-2 in the slot … and when you see that, you know things are turning your way a little bit and they’re going your way,” head coach Bruce Boudreau said of Stalock, via the Wild’s website.
Stalock made 29 saves on the night to improve to 3-3-0 in starts this season with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .917 saves percentage. Stalock remains Minnesota’s backup goaltender while Devan Dubnyk – 2-6-1 with a 3.68 GAA and .883 SV% – remains the primary goalie.
“You can’t say enough how important that is for a team to have that from your goaltender,” Eric Staal said. “I thought he was engaged right away and he made a lot of key saves at the right time. You need that. In order to get wins in this League, you have to have great goaltending and Al was that tonight.”
Kevin Fiala scored midway through the second period to cut the deficit in half, and Zach Parise, Mats Zuccarello and Eric Staal scored in the third period to cap the come-from-behind win that stopped a three-game losing streak and five-game road losing streak.
Up next: Minnesota at San Jose, Thursday at 9:30 p.m.
