The Minnesota Wild secured a 5-3 victory against the Vegas Golden Knights with Joel Eriksson Ek scoring twice, extending their winning streak to three games. Mats Zuccarello, Marco Rossi, and Matt Boldy also contributed goals, leading the Wild to their sixth win in eight games. Filip Gustavsson made 27 saves to anchor the victory. Despite efforts from Jonathan Marchessault, Michael Amadio, and Mark Stone, the Golden Knights fell short in just their third home loss of the year. The sellout crowd of 18,207 witnessed a competitive match at T-Mobile Arena following the record-breaking Super Bowl the previous night at Allegiant Stadium.
Minnesota coach John Hynes praised his team’s puck management and offensive zone presence, emphasizing the importance of their recent playing style and commitment for future success. The Wild seized the lead with goals from Rossi and Boldy after the game was tied at 2-all, capitalizing on opportunities created by their strong offensive pressure. Alex Pietrangelo’s 1,000th career game was marked by two assists, making him the sixth defenseman in NHL history to achieve this feat.Marchessault’s early goal set the tone for the game, becoming only the ninth player in NHL history to score in under 30 seconds in consecutive matches. Despite the Wild’s response with goals from Zuccarello and Eriksson Ek, Amadio’s late first-period goal leveled the score. The second period remained scoreless, setting the stage for an intense final period where the Wild secured their victory with back-to-back goals. Stone narrowed the gap for the Golden Knights, but Eriksson Ek’s empty-net goal sealed the win for the Wild.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy acknowledged his team’s struggles with puck management and energy levels, expressing concerns about their performance after the first five minutes of the game. Looking ahead, the Wild will face Arizona next, while the Golden Knights prepare to host Carolina in their upcoming matches.
