Wild had house money and potentially gambled it away with goalie decision

By turning away from hot hand Wild may have cost chance to control the series.

Dean Evason gambled.

He lost big.

After watching Filip Gustavsson post a franchise playoff record with 51 saves in Game 1, a 3-2 Minnesota Wild victory, the Wild turned to Marc-Andre Fleury for Game 2.

Dallas won 7-3, Fleury struggled. The veteran allowed seven goals on 31 shots.

Minnesota effectively took house money and any chance of cashing in further and flushed it down the drain.

Fleury will likely be elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame, he’s won three Stanley Cups, albeit two as backup, and by some is considered a top-100 player in NHL history.

But he never should have started this game. Even if it was the original plan, and it likely was after Fleury and Gustavsson split starts for most of the season. But after a 51-save showing in Game 1, Minnesota had to go back to the younger goalie, you alter the plan for the greater good.