Andy Clayton-King/AP
Minnesota Wild goaltender Cam Talbot (33) stops a shot by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Alex Tuch (89) during the second period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | 10:32 p.m.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. — As the seconds died down in Game 6, the Golden Knights’ two most public leaders summed up the emotions of their fan base.
Captain Mark Stone sat with his helmet askew on his head, gloves off and helplessly watching as the Minnesota Wild killed off the remaining time with the outcome no longer in doubt. He went to the room first after the game ended.
Goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made a beeline for the tunnel at the horn, he smashing his stick against the wall — the twig the poor victim of the Golden Knights’ frustration that this is happening again.
For the third year in a row, the Golden Knights had a 3-1 lead in a series only to see the opponent win two in a row and force a Game 7. There was a stunned feeling, there was anger, and there will be another game after Vegas fell 3-0 to the Wild at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday.
Game 7 will be at 6 p.m. Friday at T-Mobile Arena.
“We believe in ourselves, believe in our team,” Stone said. “We have one game in our home rink to move on. It’s that simple.”
The most pivotal point of the game happened in the moments after the Wild scored the game’s first goal at the 4:21 mark of the third period.
The Golden Knights responded with their best push of the game and appeared to tie the score. Chandler Stephenson’s shot went through traffic, winding its way through the tug-of-war in front of the crease between Minnesota’s defenseman Matt Dumba and Vegas forward Alex Tuch, and by goalie Cam Talbot.
Turns out, their net-front battle was a little too close. The officials huddled and changed the call on the ice to no goal, determining Tuch had interfered with Talbot.
Vegas coach Pete DeBoer challenged the call, but after a quick review, and the call on the ice stood. Minnesota led 1-0 with 11:05 to go.
“You’re splitting hairs. Less than those have gone our way before,” DeBoer said. “We felt it was worth the challenge.”
The unsuccessful challenge brought a delay of game penalty and a Wild power play, and when Kevin Fiala netted Minnesota’s first of the series with the man advantage 30 seconds later, it felt like the dagger. Nick Bjugstad’s backhander with 4:43 to go sealed the Vegas defeat.
“You’re in a little bit of a hole,” Smith said of the mindset after going down 2-0. “It was a challenge everyone felt like we should take. Teams are going to score on the power play if you give them a ton of opportunities. We’ve done a good job all series, but every now then they’re going to find some holes and get some bounces and they did tonight.”
The challenge was the third by the Golden Knights in the series, and the first they have lost.
The Stephenson no-goal bore a striking resemblance to Minnesota’s no-goal in Game 4. Joel Eriksson Ek’s apparent goal also would have tied the game, but the review determined there was goaltender interference.
“Now it’s gone both ways. You can’t argue anymore,” Stone said.
“I think it’s always worth a challenge hoping it gets reversed, but we’ve got to get that kill.”
The first 40 minutes of the game were conservative by both sides, with 27 combined shots through two periods. Neither team created great looks, and as the game reached the third period in a scoreless tie, it felt like the first flinch would prove costly.
That was Vegas, just past the four-minute mark of the third.
The Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore fired a wrister on net into the waiting block from Minnesota captain Jared Spurgeon, who touched the puck up to Zach Parise. Cody Glass, making his first appearance of the playoffs, was back alone to defend the breakout.
Fiala and Ryan Hartman flanked Glass on the rush, Fiala zoomed the pass over to Hartman and Hartman buried it past Fleury and diving stick of the back-checking of Alex Pietrangelo.
“I think it was a really hard-fought effort at ice level both ways, and there wasn’t a lot of looks,” DeBoer said. “As the game went on, it felt like whoever got that first goal was probably going to win and that’s what happened.”
The Golden Knights really didn’t make too many mistakes after that, but the damage was done. Fiala’s second point of the night was the power-play goal, and even Bjugstad’s goal was a product of a team trailing and selling out for offense.
It was a good defensive game for the Golden Knights, but the offense was silent and shut out for the second time this series. They’ve only allowed 11 goals in six games, but find themselves one more offensive slump from an early end to the season.
The Golden Knights tied for the best record in the league in the regular season, had the most wins, and were a tiebreaker away from the President’s Trophy. Now they get one game with the Wild or all that will be forgotten.
Vegas has a blown a 3-1 lead the last two years. The 2019 loss against the Sharks will never be forgotten. The 2020 victory over the Canucks is remembered as a blip in the Western Conference Final run. This one will be the first Game 7 in T-Mobile Arena history. And one way or another, it will be remembered.
“This is what it’s all about,” DeBoer said. “This is why you work your ass off all season and have the record you have to host this game in your building and give yourself the best opportunity.”
