The Minnesota Wild kept flickering playoff hopes alive with a 5-3 win at the Vegas Golden Knights Monday night.
Minnesota Wild Use Third Period Outburst to Secure Victory
A game that was knotted at 2-2 through two periods was turned on its head in the third frame.
Minnesota Wild forwards Marco Rossi and Matthew Boldy scored within 61 seconds of each other early in the third to put the Wild up 4-2. Vegas was not about to go quietly into the glittery night, however.
Golden Knights winger Mark Stone replied at the midpoint of the period to pull the hosts within a goal at 3-2.
From there, the Wild held on for dear life against a ferocious Vegas attack. Yet Minnesota goaltender Filip Gustavsson stood tall against the onslaught, keeping the Golden Knights at bay. Gustavsson, who made 27 saves on 30 shots, continued to stymie the hosts over the final 10 minutes of play.
Forward Joel Eriksson Ek clinched it for the visitors on an empty net goal with 22 seconds to play, securing the crucial triumph for the Wild.
Good night for the Minnesota Wild
The Minnesota Wild remain on the outside looking in on the NHL Western Conference playoff race. However, Monday certainly helped the Wild’s still-slim chances of a postseason berth.
While Minnesota remains in 11th place in the Western Conference standings, two of the teams the Wild are fighting with for one of the two Wild Card slots both lost. Calgary, currently two points ahead of Minnesota, lost to the New York Rangers. Seattle, one point behind the Wild, fell to the Devils.
The Blues currently hold the eighth and final playoff spot with 58 points to Minnesota’s 53 points.
First Loss for Vegas Since the All-Star Break
Monday’s loss was the first in three games that Vegas has played since the All-Star Break. The 2023 Stanley Cup champions are currently tied for third with the Avalanche in the Western Conference standings, with both teams posting 68 points through 53 games.
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