During a four-minute power play for Columbus on Saturday, the Wild had four blocks, including two by Middleton just eight seconds apart. Overall, the Wild finished with 20 shot blocks that night after registering 23 in their previous game, the 4-1 victory at St. Louis last Tuesday.
Gustavsson was in net for both wins and was named the NHL’s third star of the week after also scoring the Wild’s first ever goalie goal and the 18th all-time in the league.
“You probably don’t think,” said Middleton, who is “on call” with his wife, Natalie, set to give birth any day now. “You just think to get in front of it and shut your brain off after that. Hopefully, the pain receptors turn off a little bit, too.
“It’s probably the hardest part of starting the year is getting used to those bumps and bruises again from stepping in front of 90 miles-per-hour shots. But once you get through the first couple blocks, you get back into the groove a little bit.”
