The Minnesota Wild have recalled goalie Jesper Wallstedt after Marc-André Fleury left Friday night’s game following an upper-body hit.
Details on the extent of Fleury’s injury have not been revealed as of Saturday lunchtime, but the Wild have taken the step to bring Wallstedt in for cover ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Charlotte.
Wallstedt, the 21-year-old who the Wild selected with the 20th pick of the 2021 NHL Draft, made his debut for the Wild in the 7-2 loss against the Dallas Stars earlier this month.
Defenseman Daemon Hunt has been sent back to Iowa to make way for Wallstedt, with winger Jake Lucchini also called up to the Wild.
Filip Gustavsson finished Friday’s win over the Florida Panthers, though shipped three goals after replacing Fleury in the second period. The Wild were still able to hang on for a 6-4 victory.
Fleury got hit up high by Florida’s Will Lockwood, who was immediately mobbed by Minnesota players coming to Fleury’s defense. Once Lockwood was out of the penalty box for interference, Wild tough guy Brandon Duhaime delivered numerous punches to him in a fight.
Lockwood will be the subject of a hearing on Saturday with the NHL Department of Player Safety concerning his hit on Fleury.
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