In a commanding display, the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Vegas Golden Knights with a final score of 5-2, marking their second consecutive victory and extending their impressive run to 9-1-1 in the past 11 games. Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Jared Spurgeon each contributed a goal and an assist, while goaltender Filip Gustavsson made 14 saves throughout the matchup.
The Golden Knights, struggling with form, have now lost five of their last six games. Their challenges were compounded as Tomas Hertl faced a major penalty and subsequent game misconduct early in the first period for boarding Ryan Hartman, forcing the team to play most of the game without one of their key forwards. Carter Hart, the starting goalie for Vegas, had a challenging outing, allowing five goals on just 12 shots before being replaced by Akira Schmid, who managed to stop all 15 shots he faced following his introduction to the game.
The Wild quickly established dominance, with Marcus Johansson scoring just 26 seconds into the game. He delivered a powerful one-timer from the right circle past Hart, setting the tone for Minnesota’s offensive onslaught. Boldy extended the lead to 2-0 later in the first period, finishing a 2-on-1 opportunity set up by Eriksson Ek.
In the second period, Spurgeon increased the Wild’s advantage to 3-0 with a wrist shot from the left circle, a goal that survived a challenging review by Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy for a potential missed game stoppage. Brock Faber then made it 4-0 with a shot through traffic, and Eriksson Ek added to the score sheet by redirecting a pass from Boldy.
The Golden Knights found a fleeting moment of success when Brayden McNabb scored at 16:50 of the second period, putting his team on the board at 5-1. Mark Stone further chipped away at the deficit early in the third, scoring a rebound goal to cut it to 5-2, but it was not enough to spark a comeback.
This match exemplifies the Wild’s offensive strength and resilience, particularly in facing a rival team like the Golden Knights. As Minnesota continues to build on its successful streak, hopes are high for further victories in their upcoming games.