The Minnesota Wild stormed into Las Vegas and turned the Strip into their personal playground, handing the Golden Knights a 5-2 defeat that left fans wondering if they’d accidentally bet on the wrong team.
Kirill Kaprizov was the star of the show, netting two goals and an assist. He skated circles around the Knights’ defense, making them look like they were auditioning for a new rendition of “Dancing with the Stars: Hockey Edition.”
Matt Boldy, not to be outdone, contributed a goal and an assist, becoming only the second player in Wild history to score three consecutive playoff goals. His performance was so hot, it nearly melted the ice at T-Mobile Arena.
Marcus Foligno brought the physicality, delivering a franchise-record 12 hits. At one point, it seemed like he was on a personal mission to introduce every Golden Knight to the boards. Mats Zuccarello also joined the scoring party, reminding everyone that size doesn’t matter when you have skill and a stick.
Filip Gustavsson stood tall in net, making 30 saves and turning away Vegas’s attempts like a bouncer at an exclusive club. The Golden Knights managed goals from Noah Hanifin and Tomas Hertl, but their efforts were akin to throwing a cup of water on a wildfire.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged his team’s early mistakes and credited the Wild’s aggression and solid defense. “We made some early mistakes, and they capitalized,” he admitted, probably while wondering if he could borrow some of Minnesota’s mojo for the next game.
As the series shifts to Saint Paul for Game 3 on Thursday, the Wild will look to ride this momentum, while the Golden Knights will aim to regroup and remember that the house doesn’t always win.