Kirill Kaprizov scored twice on the power play and Matt Boldy netted a goal for the third consecutive game to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 5-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night. Minnesota took a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series with the victory.
Kaprizov, now healthy after missing much of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, energized the home crowd at Xcel Energy Center. His first goal opened the scoring on a man advantage early in the first period, while his second came with just two seconds left in the second to extend the Wild’s lead to 4-1.
Marco Rossi tallied his first career playoff goal, and Marcus Foligno added an empty-netter to cap the win. Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves, including several clutch stops in the third period as Vegas attempted a comeback.
After winning a battle along the boards and lifting a shot past Adin Hill, Matt Boldy’s tally midway through the second gave Minnesota a 3-1 cushion. Boldy and Kaprizov now share the playoff lead with four goals apiece.
For the Golden Knights, Alex Pietrangelo scored on a slapshot in the first period, and Reilly Smith notched a shorthanded goal late in the third. However, Vegas struggled to generate offense from its top line, as Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone remain pointless in the series.
Vegas out-hit Minnesota 42-26 and held a 58% edge in faceoffs, but couldn’t convert pressure into goals. Coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged the frustration: “You’re sitting in the room thinking, ‘How are we down 4-1?’ But that’s hockey sometimes.”
Game 4 is set for Saturday night in St. Paul, with the Wild looking to extend their series lead.
Key Stats
- Kaprizov and Boldy lead the NHL in playoff goals (4 each).
- Gustavsson stopped 30 of 32 shots for Minnesota.
- Vegas’ top line has yet to record a point in the series.
Looking Ahead
Game 4: Saturday night in St. Paul, the Wild aim to take a commanding 3-1 lead over the Golden Knights.
