Boudreau says Wild's backup goalie battle still open ahead of first preseason game

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said Steve Michalek and Alex Stalock will both get their chance. Michalek will start Monday at Winnipeg.

September 17, 2017 at 6:40PM
Wild Goalie Alex Stalock(32) who only allowed one goal in his first game defends against Jean-Gabriel Pageau(44).]At the Xcel Energy Center in a game between the Wild and Ottawa.Richard Tsong-Taatarii/richard.tsong-taatarii@startribune.com
Wild Goalie Alex Stalock(32) who only allowed one goal in his first game defends against Jean-Gabriel Pageau(44).]At the Xcel Energy Center in a game between the Wild and Ottawa.Richard Tsong-Taatarii/richard.tsong-taatarii@startribune.com (Ken Chia — Richard Tsong-Taatarii/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Wild coach Bruce Boudreau said Sunday that Niklas Svedberg will likely get the start at goaltender Monday, when the team opens its seven-game preseason schedule at Winnipeg, with Steve Michalek given one period between the pipes.

Alex Stalock is expected to be the Wild's backup goalie this season, behind Devan Dubnyk, but the backup competition remains open with Svedberg in the mix.

"I think it's a battle," Boudreau said. "I mean nobody has been given the job. Svedberg is going to get a chance. Stalock is going to get a chance."

It sounds like Stalock will get an upcoming start, perhaps Thursday at home against Winnipeg. Boudreau said Svedberg or Stalock will then play a full game.

Still no Parise

Zach Parise skated at Xcel Energy Center but did not practice with the team for the third consecutive day. Parise reportedly tweaked his back before training camp started, and Boudreau has said the veteran is day-to-day.

Four players cut

The Wild assigned four players to the minors -- D Braydyn Chizen (to Kelowna, WHL), D Jacob Golden (London, OHL), RW Ivan Lodnia (Erie, OHL) and RW Dmitry Sokolov (Sudbury, OHL) -- trimming the training camp roster to 54 players.

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about the writer

Joe Christensen

Sports team leader

Joe Christensen, a Minnesota Star Tribune sports team leader, graduated from the University of Minnesota and spent 15 years covering Major League Baseball, including stops at the Riverside Press-Enterprise and Baltimore Sun. He joined the Minnesota Star Tribune in 2005 and spent four years covering Gophers football.

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