Golden Knights Edge Wild in Overtime, Lead Series 3-2

LAS VEGAS — The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in overtime on Tuesday night, putting them one win away from advancing in the Western Conference playoffs.

Brett Howden scored the game-winning goal just 4:05 into overtime at T-Mobile Arena, keeping the Golden Knights ahead in the best-of-seven series 3-2. “It saved our butt,” said Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy regarding a critical offside challenge that overturned a potential Wild winning goal in the final minutes of regulation.

The game featured several momentum shifts, with both teams exchanging goals early. William Karlsson opened the scoring for Vegas with a shorthanded goal in the first period, but Minnesota quickly equalized when Kirill Kaprizov responded 13 seconds later with a power-play goal.

Mark Stone regained the lead for Vegas at 2-1 before the Wild’s Matt Boldy tied it again in the third period. Boldy, who has been a standout this postseason, has at least one point in every game of the series.

The turning point came when a late Wild goal was overturned after a successful challenge from the Golden Knights for offside, keeping the game tied and setting the stage for Howden’s overtime heroics.

“(Tomas) Pearson drawing two guys to him left me open,” Howden said. “I just tried to get it off quick.” Howden’s goal capped a thrilling match that drew an attendance of 18,441 at the T-Mobile Arena.

With the Golden Knights set to travel to St. Paul for Game 6 on Thursday, they will aim to close out the series. Meanwhile, the Wild are looking to mount a comeback and avoid elimination, having last advanced past the first round in 2015.