Wild prevail against Golden Knights in shootout, goalie duel

By Justin Emerson

Published Thursday, April 1, 2021 | 1:18 p.m.

Updated Thursday, April 1, 2021 | 10:16 p.m.

If the playoffs started Thursday, the first-round series in the West Division would pit the Golden Knights against the Wild. It's not quite the postseason yet though as the result of the game between the two teams tonight at T-Mobile Arena ended in a way that can only happen in the regular season — with a shootout.

The Golden Knights allowed the only goal in the three-round shootout and fell to the Wild 3-2 at T-Mobile Arena. Vegas dropped to 0-2 in shootouts this season and lost its second straight.

It was fitting that it came down to a goaltending battle in the shootout because both goalies were superb on Thursday. Minnesota's Cam Talbot made a highlight-reel glove save on Keegan Kolesar in the second period, and Robin Lehner bailed out a poor Golden Knights line change in the third with an acrobatic save of his own.

Both finished with 35 saves.

After a defensive battle through two periods, action started to pick up in the third, with each team grabbing an early goal from an unlikely source.

The Golden Knights got one from defenseman Brayden McNabb, who snapped a 66-game scoring drought with his first of the season and 19th of his career. He took advantage of an Alex Tuch screen in front of the net, and found a seam from the point that reached the net.

The Wild got their unlikely goal from their power play, which entered the game with the league's worst scoring rate at 9.5%. They had 57 seconds of 4-on-3 power-play time, and captain Jared Spurgeon rocketed in a one-timer from the faceoff circle with four seconds remaining on it to tie the game 2-2.

The teams entered the third period in a 1-1 tie after each potted a goal in the first and both goalies stood tall in the second.

William Karlsson put the Golden Knights on top 3:29 into the first period, taking advantage of a puck off a Minnesota skate and firing it into the net. The Wild answered by jumping on a puck off a Vegas skate and setting up a deflection in front to even the score.

Golden Knights locked in goalie duel with Wild through two periods

The Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild showed in the second period that a game can be a lot of fun, even without a goal.

Neither team scored, but it wasn't for lack of chances. The two goalies, particularly the one in the Minnesota net, put on a show and kept Thursday's game at T-Mobile Arena in a 1-1 tie after two periods.

The most impressive moment of the period was when Cam Talbot denied Keegan Kolesar with one of the better glove saves you'll see midway through the frame. Kolesar collected Reilly Smith's feed on a clean 2-on-1 and Kolesar had the whole net to shoot at, but Talbot dove across the crease and plucked it out of the air. Cameras caught Kolesar smirking in disbelief after the save.

A minute later Talbot got him again. Vegas won the faceoff and Kolesar's backhand from the top of the crease found Talbot's stick and skirted away harmlessly.

It was a goaltending battle most of the period. The Golden Knights and Wild each had their chances, but Talbot and Robin Lehner both stood tall. The Wild had multiple odd-man rushes (though several did not result in a shot) and Alex Tuch got free on a breakaway with about two minutes to go but was turned away.

Minnesota led in shots on goal 26-24.

Golden Knights, Wild tied after a period

The Golden Knights and Minnesota Wild set the table for the rest of the game with back-and-forth first period. Each time netted a goal, and the period ended in a 1-1 tie at T-Mobile Arena on Thursday.

William Karlsson got things going early, cashing in for the second night in a row. Shea Theodore's centering attempt actually kicked off the skate of a Wild defender and over to Karlsson. He had to change direction to get the shot off and scored while skating away from the net at the 3:29 mark to kick off the scoring.

The Wild returned the favor with a goal off a broken play of their own. A Minnesota offering through the neutral zone bounced off Alec Martinez's skate, Jordan Greenway collected it and fed Kirill Kaprizov in front of the net, who redirected it home at 7:57 to even things up at 1 apiece.

Each team had a power play in the first period though neither team connected. There was a good pace to the game, mirroring the previous four meetings this season.

The Wild led in shots on goal 10-9.

Pre-game

In addition to Chandler Stephenson, who is suspended for three games, the Golden Knights are also without Ryan Reaves (lower-body injury) and defenseman Zach Whitecloud (upper-body injury).

Whitecloud they were able to replace in the lineup with Dylan Coghlan. But because of cap reasons, Vegas was unable to call up forwards to replace Stephenson and Reaves. They will play the Wild with 10 forwards.

Chandler Stephenson suspended ahead of Golden Knights matchup with Wild

The Golden Knights lost center Chandler Stephenson in Wednesday night's game to a penalty and subsequent ejection. They'll be losing him tonight too as a result of that.

Stephenson was suspended three games for an elbowing major and game misconduct in the second period of Wednesday's game against the Kings, the NHL announced today. It leaves the Golden Knights without their top-line center when they take on the Minnesota Wild at 7:30 p.m. today at T-Mobile Arena.

It is the first suspension of Stephenson's career, and he will be eligible to return Wednesday against the Blues. The suspension is without pay, and Stephenson will forfeit $71,120.70, the league announced. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Fund.

"He's a big piece for us. He's got great speed and a lot of skill," center Tomas Nosek said. "He's playing penalty kill and power play, so if he cannot play, it will be a big miss for sure."

Coach Pete DeBoer also offered no update on the status of forward Ryan Reaves, who was a late scratch Wednesday night with a lower-body injury.

It leaves the lineup in flux. Morning skate was optional, so there were no line rushes to predict the lineup. If Stephenson and Reaves are both out, the Golden Knights would need to recall players from their taxi squad, and Silver Knights captain Patrick Brown could be an option.

It would also mean an expanded role for someone to take Stephenson's place on the top line. Vegas could turn to Nosek, who has been on a hot streak and played much of the third period following Stephenson's game misconduct.

"I like playing a lot, so I'm happy for every chance to play more and more," Nosek said.

In the Wild, the Golden Knights face a team that handled them pretty well in their last meeting. Vegas lost both games of a two-game series in Minnesota on March 8 and 10, including a 2-0 shutout in the first game. Vegas is 2-2 this season against the Wild.

Minnesota has always had success against Vegas, but this is a different Wild team than in years past. They've always been good defensively and still are, but rookie sensation Kirill Kaprisov has helped turn them into an offensive threat, and the goaltending duo of Cam Talbot and Kaapo Kahkonen often makes sure their leads hold up.

If the postseason started today, the Golden Knights, the second-place team in the West Division, would take on the No. 3 Wild.

"We just need to make sure we focus on our own game and make sure that we're coming out with the effort that we need to right from the start," defenseman Nicolas Hague said.

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Betting line: Golden Knights minus-160, Wild plus-140; over/under: 5.5 (plus-105, minus-125)

Golden Knights (24-9-1, 49 points; 2nd place, West Division)

Coach: Pete DeBoer (second season)

Points leader: Mark Stone (28)

Goals leader: Max Pacioretty (18)

Assists leader: Mark Stone (40)

Expected goalie: Robin Lehner (2.35 GAA, .906 save percentage)

Wild (21-11-2, 44 points; 3rd place, West Division)

Coach: Dean Evason (second season)

Points leader: Kirill Kaprisov (28)

Goals leader: Kirill Kaprisov (12)

Assists leaders: Jordan Greenway, Kirill Kaprisov, Mats Zuccarello (16)

Expected goalie: Cam Talbot (2.37 GAA, .925 save percentage)

Golden Knights projected lineup

Forwards

Max Pacioretty—Tomas Nosek—Mark Stone

Jonathan Marchessault—William Karlsson—Reilly Smith

Keegan Kolesar—Nicolas Roy—Alex Tuch

William Carrier—Patrick Brown—Ryan Reaves

Defensemen

Alec Martinez—Shea Theodore

Brayden McNabb—Alex Pietrangelo

Nicolas Hague—Zach Whitecloud

Goalies

Robin Lehner, Marc-Andre Fleury