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

Hertl has objective, help for Vegas; Boldy scores twice for Minnesota
Wild at Golden Knights | Recap | Spherical 1, Recreation 1
LAS VEGAS — Tomas Hertl had a objective and an help for the Vegas Golden Knights in a 4-2 win in opposition to the Minnesota Wild in Recreation 1 of the Western Convention First Spherical at T-Cell Area on Sunday.
Recreation 2 of the best-of-7 sequence can be right here on Tuesday (11 p.m. ET; FDSNNO, SCRIPPS, ESPN, SN360, SN, TVAS).
“I at all times attempt to play my recreation,” Hertl stated. “It is type of a playoff fashion. I am completely happy I might assist the crew in the present day with that, however it’s simply at all times all crew effort.”
Brett Howden scored twice within the third interval, and Pavel Dorofeyev additionally had a objective for the Golden Knights, who’re the No. 1 seed from the Pacific Division. Adin Hill made 18 saves.
“We acquired to our recreation pretty rapidly,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy stated. “We’ve not began nice right here, however we normally get higher as the sport goes on. I feel that occurred. So, a number of positives that method. 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 feel you may see the same recreation on Tuesday. I do not assume both crew goes to attempt to get away from what they do effectively. It is too early within the sequence.”
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 assumed he was a beast on the puck. He was transferring his toes. He performed the fashion recreation, which supplies him a very good likelihood to be a dominant participant within the sequence. He did an excellent 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 cross from Kaprizov.
Dorofeyev put the Golden Knights again in entrance 2-1 with a power-play objective 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 best face-off dot.
Howden prolonged the result in 3-1 at 2:28 of the third interval, scoring brief facet 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 objective there. I simply noticed he is coming with a lot pace, so that you get it to the surface, and he is goal-scorer ‘Howie’ as of late. 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 objective into an empty internet with one second left for the 4-2 last.
“It was an excellent 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 acquired that second objective within the third interval to essentially put the strain on on the finish there.”
NOTES: Defenseman Zeev Buium, who was chosen with the No. 12 choose within the 2024 NHL Draft, grew to become 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 objective, 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

source