Golden Knights edge Wild in Recreation 1 of Western 1st Spherical – NHL.com

Hertl has aim, help for Vegas; Boldy scores twice for Minnesota
Wild at Golden Knights | Recap | Spherical 1, Recreation 1
LAS VEGAS — Tomas Hertl had a aim and an help for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-2 win towards the Minnesota Wild in Recreation 1 of the Western Convention First Spherical at T-Cellular Area on Sunday.
Recreation 2 of the best-of-7 collection shall be right here on Tuesday (11 p.m. ET; FDSNNO, SCRIPPS, ESPN, SN360, SN, TVAS).
“I all the time attempt to play my recreation,” Hertl stated. “It is type of a playoff model. I am glad I might assist the group at present with that, nevertheless it’s simply all the time all group effort.”
Brett Howden scored twice within the third interval, and Pavel Dorofeyev additionally had a aim for the Golden Knights, who’re the No. 1 seed from the Pacific Division. Adin Hill made 18 saves.
“We obtained to our recreation pretty shortly,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy stated. “We have not began nice right here, however we often get higher as the sport goes on. I believe that occurred. So, plenty of positives that means. That a part of it was good. … We made extra performs than them on the finish within the offensive zone to safe the win. I believe you will see an identical recreation on Tuesday. I do not suppose both group goes to attempt to get away from what they do effectively. It is too early within the collection.”
MIN@VGK, Gm1: Hertl steals the puck from Faber and lifts it into the cage
Matt Boldy scored twice, Kirill Kaprizov had two assists, and Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves for the Wild, who’re the primary wild card from the West.
“[Boldy] was superb,” Minnesota coach John Hynes stated. “Clearly, he had the 2 targets, however I believed he was a beast on the puck. He was shifting his ft. He performed the model recreation, which supplies him a extremely good probability to be a dominant participant within the collection. He did job.”
Hertl gave the Golden Knights a 1-0 lead at 15:22 of the primary interval. He roofed a shot over Gustavsson’s proper shoulder from the underside of the left circle after lifting the stick and stealing the puck from Wild defenseman Brock Faber.
Boldy tied the sport 1-1 at 17:42, scoring five-hole from the left circle off a cross-ice move from Kaprizov.
Dorofeyev put the Golden Knights again in entrance 2-1 with a power-play aim at 13:33 of the second interval. Shea Theodore faked a slap shot on the level earlier than passing over to Dorofeyev, who scored into an open internet with a one-timer from the suitable face-off dot.
Howden prolonged the result in 3-1 at 2:28 of the third interval, scoring brief aspect with a wrist shot from left circle on a rush.
“He is been unbelievable all yr,” stated Golden Knights ahead Nicolas Roy, who had the first help on the play. “Take a look at the aim there. I simply noticed he is coming with a lot velocity, so that you get it to the skin, and he is goal-scorer ‘Howie’ today. So, enjoyable to look at.”
MIN@VGK, Gm1: Howden buries one high shelf to stretch the result in 3-1
Boldy scored his second of the sport on a wraparound to chop it to 3-2 at 11:46, however Howden scored a power-play aim into an empty internet with one second left for the 4-2 last.
“It was hockey recreation. It was a decent one,” Gustavsson stated. “We got here proper again and proper with all of them the way in which there. We obtained that second aim within the third interval to essentially put the stress on on the finish there.”
NOTES: Defenseman Zeev Buium, who was chosen with the No. 12 choose within the 2024 NHL Draft, turned the primary participant in Wild historical past to make his NHL debut within the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had one shot in 13:27 of ice time. … Hertl scored his twenty sixth profession postseason aim, tying Martin Straka for ninth amongst Czechia-born gamers in NHL historical past.
🔹Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
🔹Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning
🔹Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals
🔹New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes
🔹St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets
🔹Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars
🔹Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights
🔹Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings

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