Filip Gustavsson made history for the Minnesota Wild in a 4-1 win against the St Louis Blues.
The Swedish star scored the first goalie goal of the 2024-25 NHL season on Tuesday night – a feat no one else has achieved in the 24-year history of the franchise.
Filip Gustavsson scored the Wild’s first-ever goalie goal this weekGetty Images
In the dying moments of the third period, Gustavsson gloved down a slap shot from from Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich, put the puck down at his stick and dropped to a knee.
He then sent a shot through the air and into the offensive zone, where it rolled into the empty net with nine seconds remaining, securing a 4-1 win.
Gustavsson, who scored during the power play, is just the 15th NHL goaltender to have been credited with a goal.
The last was Tristan Jarry for the Pittsburgh Penguins on 30 November, 2023, against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Speaking after the game, Gustavsson revealed he shared a key moment with fellow Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury just before netting his historic goal.
“They took a time out there with 30 seconds left or something and ‘Flower’ [Wild goalie Fleury] looked up at the board and said, ‘You should probably try it if you get the chance,’” Gustavsson explained.
“He said, ‘You’re shooting, right?’ I was like, ‘Yeah, maybe I should.’ Coaches usually get mad if you try it with a one-goal lead and it becomes icing if you miss it, so up 3-1, if I get the chance, I’ll try it.”
The Swede also made a cheeky demand when asked if this will be the first of many goals.
“I should be in the power play meetings now, so we’ll see,” he said.
Gustavsson also made an impressive 27 saves for the Wild on Tuesday night, capping an all-round impressive performance that pleased coach Jon Hynes.
Gustavsson celebrates after a rare goalie goalGetty Images
Interestingly, Hynes was coach of the Nashville Predators when Pekka Rinne scored a goalie goal against the Chicago Blackhawks four years ago and compared the efforts of the two players after the game.
“It was one of my first couple games in Nashville,” he said of Rinne’s goal.
“It was almost very similar to Gus’s. It was a 6-on-5 situation and they kind of dumped it in on the goalie and he had time to do it.
“Both guys, you could tell they were going for it. Great to see.”
A 4-1 victory against the Blues sees the Wild improve to a 2-2 record in the early stages of the season.
Gustavsson and his teammates will face the Columbus Blue Jackets in their next road game on Saturday.