Published Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 | 3:20 p.m.
Updated Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025 | 7:36 p.m.
End of game: Golden Knights snap losing skid in win over Wild
The Vegas Golden Knights scored their first even-strength goals in four games, helping them to a 4-1 win over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday.
Tied at one entering the third period, Keegan Kolesar found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season to put the Golden Knights up, 2-1. He backhanded the rebound off a Zach Whitecloud shot into the net.
On the Golden Knights’ third goal of the game, Tomas Hertl didn’t get enough on his original shot but got the puck back and scored on the second opportunity for a 3-1 lead. Later on, Zach Bogosian was called for delay of game and Pavel Dorofeyev scored his second goal of the game to extend the lead to 4-1. He finished the night with three points, his first multi-point game since Nov. 29.
Adin Hill picked up the win, making 15 saves on 16 shots. The Golden Knights outshot the Wild, 36-16.
Vegas improves to 29-11-3 on the year. It goes on the road Tuesday to face the Nashville Predators at 5 p.m.
End of second period: Dorofeyev gets Golden Knights on board, ties game against Wild
Pavel Dorofeyev converts on the power play to get the Vegas Golden Knights on the board. They are tied with the Minnesota Wild, 1-1.
Devin Shore was called for tripping on Zach Whitecloud, and just four seconds into the Golden Knights’ power play, Jake Middleton was called for a delay of the game, giving Vegas a 5-on-3 opportunity.
In the dying seconds of the power play, Mark Stone found Pavel Dorofeyev wide open in the middle of the slot for the goal. He is now tied with Ivan Barbashev and Brett Howden for the team lead in goals with 15.
The Wild briefly went on the power play after Barbashev was called for slashing, but nothing came of it. Vegas turned up the intensity in the second period, outshooting Minnesota 17-6. It now has a 26-13 shooting edge in the game.
End of first period: Hartman puts Wild ahead of Golden Knights
Ryan Hartman scores off a Brayden McNabb turnover to put the Minnesota Wild ahead of the Vegas Golden Knights, 1-0, at the end of the first period.
McNabb failed to secure the puck on the boards, high in the Golden Knights zone, and Hartman took the puck off him. He sprung a 2-on-1 and eventually beat Adin Hill for the first goal of the game.
It’s been a bit of a chippy game. Keegan Kolesar delivered a heavy hit on David Jiricek, who was slow to get up and eventually headed back to the locker room for evaluation from a trainer. In response to the hit, Marcus Foligno fought Kolesar.
The Golden Knights did get a chance on the power play, as Yakov Trenin was called for cross-checking Zach Whitecloud, but they were unable to convert. Vegas has a 9-7 shot advantage over Minnesota.
Former Golden Knight and current Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury was honored during a media timeout. While he isn’t playing tonight, this will be his final game at T-Mobile Arena, retiring at the end of this season.
Pregame: Marc-Andre Fleury back in Vegas with Wild; likely won’t play against Golden Knights
This could be the last we see of Marc-Andre Fleury at T-Mobile Arena.
Fleury, the first player picked by Vegas in the 2017 expansion draft and one of the franchise’s most beloved figures, returns tonight with the Minnesota Wild. Game is at 5 p.m.
He likely won’t play because he was in net for Minnesota on Saturday in San Jose. Still, a warm reception is expected.
Fleury announced in April 2024 that this would be the final season of his 22-year career.
Fleury won 117 games as a Golden Knight over four seasons, guiding Vegas to the 2018 Stanley Cup Final in its inaugural campaign in paving the way for the city to fall in love with the new franchise. He also won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie in 2021.
It will be a quick turnaround for the Golden Knights, who on Saturday dropped their second straight game with a 2-1 loss to the Rangers. The results could be the product of poor luck as the Golden Knights have managed just one goal on 60 shot attempts over the past two games.
In pregame, it was announced that Jack Eichel will miss tonight’s game due to illness. It’s the first game he’s missed this season. Nicolas Roy, who has missed the last 11 games, returns to the lineup, giving the Golden Knights 12 forwards for the game.
The Wild, who are without Kirill Kaprizov and five other players, have still won five of their last six. They’re coming off a 3-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, where Mats Zuccarello recorded a goal and two assists.
Players to watch
Golden Knights: Mark Stone (forward) 28 games played, 12 goals, 24 assists, 36 points; Ivan Barbashev (forward) 32 games played, 15 goals, 15 assists, 30 points.
Minnesota: Marco Rossi (center) 43 games played, 16 goals, 22 assists, 38 points; Matt Boldy (forward) 43 games played, 16 goals, 21 assists, 37 points; Mats Zuccarello (forward) 30 games played, 11 goals, 19 assists, 30 points.
Non-active players
Golden Knights: Jack Eichel (illness).
Minnesota: Kirill Kaprizov (lower body), Jonas Brodin (lower body), Brock Faber (upper body), Dylan Ferguson (undisclosed), Jakub Lauko (lower body), Jared Spurgeon (lower body).
How to watch
TV: Scripps Sports (Cox Communications, channel 38), KnightTime+ (streaming)
Betting line
Golden Knights -218 Minnesota +180. Over/under: 6.5 (+114/-135)
Who is goal
Golden Knights: Adin Hill – 26 games played, 17-7-2 record, 2.60 goals against average, .903 save percentage, two shutouts.
Minnesota: Filip Gustavsson – 28 games played, 18-7-3 record, 2.53 goals against average, .918 save percentage, two shutouts.