Minnesota Wild make surprising roster decision involving Marc-Andre Fleury minutes before Game 2

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Josh tupper
April 19, 2023 (9:20 PM)

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Ahead of Game 1, the Minnesota Wild made the decision to start Filip Gustavsson ahead of Marc-Andre Fleury. The decision paid off after Gustavsson set a franchise record for saves in the 2OT victory. The 51 save performance led most people Gustavsson would be back in the net for game 2.

However, less than 20 minutes before Game 2 the Wild made this surprising announcement.

Marc-Andre Fleury starts tonight for MIN

Game 2 is set to begin at 9:30 Eastern tonight and this decision will be heavily criticised. Reporter Michael Russo provided this possible explanation why.

Despite Filip Gustavsson's franchise-record 51-save win in Game 1, Marc-Andre Fleury leads #mnwild onto ice for Game 2. If he wins, he'll pass Grant Fuhr for 3rd all-time w 93 wins. Agree or not, this is how the Wild's operated all year & something team's hinted at for 2 weeks

This morning, Fleury took shots from the D, which was a tell. He also wore his gold game pads, not the green ones he's been breaking in-also a tell. But when room opened to media, Fleury left ice & entered thru different door,� so wasn't perfectly clear if he or Gus were starting

My guess is after playing double OT the other night, #mnwild want to keep Gustavsson fresh and continue rotation we saw down the stretch (alternated 14 starts). Again, you can agree or not, but just giving what their rationale probably is. We'll ask Evason after game obviously