Brett Howden scored the go-ahead goal and added an empty-netter as the Vegas Golden Knights opened their Western Conference first-round playoff series with a 4-2 win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday night.
Tomas Hertl recorded a goal and an assist, and Pavel Dorofeyev scored for Vegas. Adin Hill made 18 saves.
Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy praised Howden for sticking to his game, noting his versatility and key contributions in all areas of the ice. Howden had 23 goals in the regular season and has eight career playoff goals.
Matt Boldy scored both goals for Minnesota, with Kirill Kaprizov assisting on each. Filip Gustavsson stopped 23 shots for the Wild.
The teams traded goals in the first period — Hertl scored off a turnover from Brock Faber before Boldy responded minutes later with a rush finish off a Kaprizov feed.
Dorofeyev netted a power-play goal early in the second period, firing a shot off a setup from Shea Theodore and Hertl. Howden extended the lead to 3-1 in the third before Boldy cut the deficit to one with a wraparound goal midway through the period.
Howden sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the final second.
Zeev Buium, a 19-year-old defenseman, made his NHL debut for the Wild, logging 13:37 of ice time and one shot on goal.
Game 2 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
