ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jesper Wallstedt let in a goal on a power play against the Minnesota Wild in the first period, looked up at the scoreboard to quickly analyze the replay, and realized something wasn't right.
The name on the back of his green jersey was misspelled: W-a-l-l-s-t-e-a-d.
“An April Fool's joke,” Wallstedt said after beating the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday night, “but a little late.”
So he's sure this was a classic rookie prank and not an honest manufacturing mistake?
“Yeah, 100 percent. I don’t know exactly who it is, but obviously I have a feeling of who it could be,” said Wallstedt, suggesting fellow goalie Filip Gustavsson was the culprit.
When Marc-Andre Fleury retired last spring, he left behind quite the legacy as a prankster. Though Fleury turned over the net to Gustavsson and Wallstedt on the ice, the 41-year-old with the second-most wins in NHL history has stayed around the team this season as a practice goalie and with an informal front office role as a player development advisor.
Was it possible Fleury found his way in on the joke too?
“Oh, I didn’t think that Flower could be involved,” Wallstedt said. “Then I definitely think it’s a team job. Well done for them. Yeah, I’d rather take it that way than having my car on cinder blocks or something. I’d rather have my name a little misspelled.”
For the record, Wallstedt had his proper spelling restored for the second period. He had 34 saves in the 3-2 win over the Ducks and finished his rookie season 18-9-6 with the NHL's second-best save percentage (.915).
“I hope they threw that nameplate away," Wallstedt said. "I have no idea where it went.”
Since starting his career 8-0-2 with four shutouts, Wallstedt has continued to give the Wild confidence in their tandem of Swedish Olympians — and a decision to make with the playoffs approaching.
Gustavsson has more experience and enjoyed plenty of strong stretches this season, but he's only 2-4 in his last six starts with 25 goals allowed. Wallstedt might have forced his way into some type of rotation in the first-round series against the Dallas Stars.
“I like the way I’ve been playing lately, especially after the Olympics. I thought I was in a good spot going into the Olympics, too,” Wallstedt said. “Obviously I was a little bit bummed that I didn’t get to play anything there, and maybe that gave some extra motivation for the games after. And ever since, I’ve felt like I’ve been in a good spot and given our team a good chance to win.”
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Anaheim Ducks' Leo Carlsson (91) attempts a goal while Minnesota Wild's Daemon Hunt (48) and Jesper Wallstedt (30) block the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Lily Dozier)
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Ty France hit a three-run homer to cap a six-run rally in the fifth inning and the San Diego Padres beat the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Friday night to pull into a tie with Philadelphia and Chicago for the top National League wild card.
The Cubs and Phillies both lost just around first pitch in San Diego. Then the Padres erased a 1-0 deficit to win for the 11th time in 12 games.
Chicago, Philadelphia and San Diego are even at 85-69 for the three NL wild cards — five games ahead of Arizona with eight to play. But the Padres would lose tiebreakers against the Cubs and Phillies for the No. 1 spot and the right to host an opening round. The Cubs beat the Padres 2-1 in the wild-card round in Chicago last season.
Miami (76-78) was eliminated from the postseason race.
France, who signed a minor league deal during spring training, hit the first pitch he saw from reliever Tyler Zuber off the balcony on the third level of the Western Metal Supply Co. brick warehouse in the left-field corner with two outs in the fifth to bring in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dustin Harris to make it 6-1.
France paused for a moment to watch his career-high 21st homer sail away and then tossed his bat and began his trot. France played at San Diego State for Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn and is in his second stint with the Padres.
Tatis hit an RBI single with the bases loaded and one out, and Harris followed with a two-run single.
Agustín Ramírez, Miami's No. 9 batter, lined a homer off Nick Pivetta into the seats in left field with one out in the third, his fifth.
That was the only big mistake by Pivetta (3-2), who allowed one run and four hits in five innings while striking out four and walking one.
San Diego's Jackson Merrill homered in the eighth, his 26th.
Cade Gibson (5-2) took the loss in relief.
Marlins RHP Eury Pérez (7-11, 3.99 ERA) and Padres RHP Casey Mize (6-9, 3.69) are scheduled to start Saturday night.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill, center, celebrates after hitting a home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres' Ty France, right, celebrates with Fernando Tatis Jr. after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres' Ty France, right, celebrates with teammate Manny Machado after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
San Diego Padres' Ty France celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
