7 Observations: WINNERS! Golden Knights Outlast Wild, Advance to Round 2

After winning two straight games in overtime, the Vegas Golden Knights entered Thursday’s Game 6 with the opportunity to close out the series. It wasn’t their best showing through the first two periods, but they did just enough. The Golden Knights beat the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in regulation to advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. 

Marco Rossi high-sticked Brayden McNabb early in the first period, drawing blood. On the ensuing four-minute power play, the Golden Knights took the lead. Unmarked in the high slot, Shea Theodore stepped into a wrister and beat Filip Gustavsson over the blocker.

The Wild found the equalizer with four seconds remaining in the first period. Marcus Foligno knocked down Noah Hanifin’s clearing attempt and raced after the puck deeper into the zone. He shielded the puck, looped behind the net, pulled up, and spun away from Hanifin. After creating space, Foligno fed Ryan Hartman, who ripped a one-timer over Adin Hill’s glove.

The Wild were the better team in the second period, but the Golden Knights escaped with a one-goal lead. Brayden McNabb passed to Mark Stone, who chipped the puck ahead for a speeding Jack Eichel. In all alone, Eichel pulled to the forehand and beat Filip Gustavsson glove-side. 

With less than four minutes remaining in the third period, the Golden Knights took a two-goal lead. The Wild survived a flurry at the goal line thanks to Matt Boldy flinging himself to the ice to deny Jack Eichel a sure goal. Seconds later, Brayden McNabb floated a centering pass over a sprawling Jared Spurgeon to Mark Stone, who batted it out of the air past Gustavsson. 

Just over 30 seconds later, the Wild responded. Ryan Hartman fed Marcus Johansson from below the goal line, and Nic Roy rode Johansson off the puck as he crashed the net. Hartman collected the loose change and stuffed it past Adin Hill’s pad. 

The Wild pushed hard for the remaining 3:27 in the third period, but the Golden Knights gave them nothing. They know how to play with a lead and did just that. They sold out, putting their bodies on the line and blocking every shot. 

“I don’t know if [the Wild] got a shot in those last two minutes,” said goaltender Adin Hill postgame. “Our guys bore down and made some big blocks… the guys did a great job in front of me.”

Three stars of the game: Mark Stone, Ryan Hartman, Adin Hill

7 Golden Knights Observations

1. Shea Theodore really struggled in the first three games of this series. To say he rebounded would be an understatement. He was one of the best skaters on the ice for the final three games. The Golden Knights would not have won this series without him.

2. Similarly, Jack Eichel struggled offensively early on. He found his stride in Game 5 and was even better in Game 6. He looks like himself again. 

3. Mark Stone had a rough first few games as well, but his performance in the final three completely wiped that away. On Thursday, he tapped the C on his chest and dragged the Golden Knights to a regulation victory. His goal stood as the game-winner, and his stretch pass to Jack Eichel was a thing of beauty.

4. On Thursday, Adin Hill was a force to be reckoned with. He was sharp early, kept the Golden Knights in the game, and only continued to shine. He recorded a .935 save percentage and saved 29 shots– 1.16 goals above expected.

5. During the regular season, the Golden Knights had one of the best power plays in the league. The postseason has been no different– the power play continues to make a difference game in and game out. However, the top unit certainly felt Pavel Dorofeyev’s absence in Game 6. 

6. Brayden McNabb rarely appears on the scoresheet, but he was the unsung hero of Game 6. He logged 22:41 TOI and led the team with 2:33 shorthanded TOI. McNabb drew a double minor early in the first period and fed Mark Stone for the game-winner.

7. And so, Marc-André Fleury’s storied NHL career comes to an end. He’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. 

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