The Minnesota Wild scored three goals in the first period to beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Monday at Grand Casino Arena. Matt Boldy, Maxim Shabanov, Danila Yurov and Joel Eriksson Ek scored for Minnesota. Quinn Hughes finished with two assists.
Minnesota’s fast start ended Vegas’ four-game winning streak. The Wild scored three goals in the first period, then held on behind goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, who made 21 saves. Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson scored for the Golden Knights, whose comeback attempt fell short despite Carter Hart making 24 saves.
How Minnesota’s First-Period Surge Decided The Game
Boldy opened the scoring at 11:50 of the first period on his own rebound from the slot after a Vegas defender couldn’t clear it. Shabanov made it 2-0 at 14:32 on a power-play wrist shot from the top of the right circle through traffic. Yurov scored at 16:57 after Brink found him alone on the back door for a 3-0 lead after one.
Andersson cut it to 3-1 at 2:37 of the second on a slap shot from the point. Karlsson made it 3-2 at 9:25 of the third, scoring off a 2-on-1 from Howden. Eriksson Ek sealed it with an empty-netter with 1:22 left.
Top Performers On Both Sides
Hughes extended his season-opening point streak to six games, tied for the sixth longest by an American defenseman in NHL history and the longest since John-Michael Liles in 2010-11. Lorenz picked up the secondary assist on Yurov’s goal for his first career NHL point in his second game.
Wallstedt stopped 21 of 23 shots, while Hart stopped 24 of 28. Karlsson and Howden led Vegas’s offense.
What It Means
Minnesota improved to 4-1-1 with 9 points and took first place in the Central Division. The Wild improved to 2-0-0 at home. Vegas dropped to 5-2-0 but remained atop the Pacific with 10 points. Minnesota leads the season series 1-0.
Minnesota forward Nico Sturm, 31, left with 2:14 remaining in the first after a puck from a Jared Spurgeon shot hit him in the head, according to CBS Sports. He did not return. The Wild could recall Tyler Pitlick from AHL Iowa or use 11 forwards and seven defensemen for Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg if Sturm is unavailable.
What’s Next
Minnesota plays Winnipeg on Tuesday. Vegas stays on the road to continue its Pacific Division lead.
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