For the second game in a row, the Vegas Golden Knights fell into a multi-goal hole and were unable to climb out of it, losing 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center. Minnesota now leads the best-of-seven series 2-1.
Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy combined for three goals and four points as Minnesota’s stars continued to dominate the series. Vegas got goals from Alex Pietrangelo and Reilly Smith, but Vegas’ power play went 0-for-4 on the night. Akira Schmid replaced Adin Hill to start the third period after another subpar effort by Vegas’ netminder (17 saves on 21 shots for an .810 save percentage).
By contrast, Wild netminder Filip Gustavsson turned aside 30 of 32 shots for a .938 save percentage.
The Wild opened the scoring on an early power play, with Kaprizov skating around the zone and finding twine on a screened seeing-eye shot at 3:13 of the opening frame.
Minnesota doubled its lead on a goal by the fourth line, as Marco Rossi beat Hill 3:38 later after eluding Vegas’ coverage in the slot.
The Golden Knights cut the deficit in half on a fortunate goal by Pietrangelo, who beat Gustavsson from distance at 10:48.
The goal gave Vegas life, and the Golden Knights took over for the rest of the period. Unlike Game 2, the Golden Knights were able to bounce back before things unraveled. Vegas started getting pucks deep and was able to generate sustained pressure in the offensive zone.
It was also a physical period for the Golden Knights, who recorded 24 hits (eight of which were credited to Ivan Barbashev alone) after totaling 59 through the first two games. However, the Golden Knights couldn’t net the equalizer, making it a 2-1 game after one.
The Golden Knights had a power play in the second period but were unable to convert.
Instead, the Wild scored the next goal to make it 3-1. Once again, a Vegas turnover led directly to a goal, as Noah Hanifin coughed up the puck behind the net. Boldy made him pay, beating Hill short-side at 11:05.
But the true dagger came with just 1.3 seconds left in the second, as Kaprizov scored on the power play to make it a 4-1 game.
It was a brutal turn of events for the Golden Knights, as the puck hit Kaprizov in front and bounced into the empty net. It was Minnesota’s second power-play goal of the night.
Like in Game 2, the Golden Knights headed into the third period down by three goals. Entering the game, the Wild were undefeated all season when leading after two periods. That statistic still holds true following Game 3.
The Golden Knights had three opportunities on the man-advantage in the third, and Bruce Cassidy even called timeout with 47 seconds left on the first man-advantage to try to capitalize. However, Gustavsson made a save on a one-timer by Pavel Dorofeyev, and the power play found itself 0-for-2 on the evening.
The Wild then got their fourth power play of the game and had multiple grade-A chances, but Schmid stood tall long enough for the vintage William Karlsson to Reilly Smith shorthanded connection to strike gold for a monster power-kill goal.
It was the first point of the series for both players, and the give-and-go tally made it a 4-2 game with 8:26 left in the third.
Brandon Saad had a great chance a few minutes later and then drew a penalty after getting decked behind the net. This set up Vegas’ third power play of the game with 6:22 remaining.
Jack Eichel then had a great look on a one-timer, but Gustavsson’s glove had the answer. Gustavsson came up with an even bigger save on Tomas Hertl at the end of the man-advantage to prevent Vegas from pulling within one.
But the 0-for-3 Vegas power play would have one more chance after Karlsson got hauled down by Rossi on his way to the net. The Golden Knights were stonewalled at the blue line on at least three occasions, but Schmid eventually made his way to the bench to set up a do-or-die 6-on-4. Mark Stone had a glorious opportunity off a feed from Karlsson, but Gustavsson made a brilliant save to deny the Vegas captain.
Marcus Foligno then won a race down the ice and hit the empty net to make it 5-2 with 1:33 to go.
The Golden Knights continued to push until the end, but the home team prevailed to take a 2-1 series lead.
The Golden Knights had long stretches in Game 3 where they were in control, but they had nothing to show for it. Though the Pietrangelo goal was lucky, the Golden Knights took advantage of the momentum swing and began to find their game. The results didn’t materialize, however.
At the end of the day, teams need their best players to be their best players to win in the playoffs. Only one team in this series is getting that.
Kaprizov and Boldy have been brilliant. In three games, they have a combined eight goals and five assists.
When it comes to Vegas’ stars? Crickets.
Through three games, Eichel and Stone have a combined zero points.
That’s a significant discrepancy, and the Golden Knights are not going to win if that doesn’t change immediately. Eichel and Stone both had chances in the third, but at this time of year, it’s about finishing.
The Golden Knights have been unable to do that, be it on the power play, during extended shifts in Minnesota’s end or on breakaways.
Now, part of that has to do with the guy standing in front of the net. To his credit, Gustavsson had another solid performance. He gave up a bad goal tonight but otherwise made timely saves when Vegas poured on the pressure, and he made some fantastic saves late in the game. Once again, he outplayed Hill, who has been unable to come up with clutch saves when Vegas needs them and who has given up a number of soft goals.
He is not the only one at fault, though. Vegas, as a team, is committing way too many self-inflicted wounds, with countless turnovers ending up in the back of the net. Hill was responsible for one of them tonight, but it’s a team-wide concern. It goes back to puck management and discipline, both of which have been lacking after being critical facets of Vegas’ success throughout the regular season.
Perhaps the club’s biggest asset during the regular season was the power play, which consistently scored big goals to tip the scales in Vegas’ favor. The power play was often the difference between winning and losing. The same was true tonight, albeit in the opposite way. The Golden Knights had three power plays in the third period alone. To come away with nothing is simply not good enough.
The Golden Knights are one win away from resetting the series, but they’re also one more soft performance away from facing elimination. It’s a thin line, but it’s one Vegas must navigate. More than anything else, the Golden Knights cannot keep chasing if they want to get their season back on track.