Wild Lead Series 2-1 After Dominating Knights in Last Two Games

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild hold a 2-1 series lead over the Vegas Golden Knights in the Western Conference First Round after a 5-2 victory on Friday night. The Wild’s strong performance came after outscoring the Knights 10-4 in the past two games.

Game 4 is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. ET at the Xcel Energy Center. Historically, teams that have a 2-1 lead in a playoff series advance 68.8 percent of the time. However, the Wild have only completed the task once in four previous instances.

In their last playoff appearance in 2022, the Wild lost two of the first three games to the St. Louis Blues and were ultimately eliminated. “Every goal, every play, every puck matters,” said Wild forward Matt Boldy. “They’re one of the best teams in the NHL, and they have some special players.”

Wild head coach John Hynes urged his team to stay focused on the present rather than looking ahead. “We just have to go through the process,” Hynes noted, reflecting on the team’s season-ending struggles.

The Knights are working to regain momentum after failing to score from their top line in the series thus far. Coach Bruce Cassidy emphasized the importance of creating high-danger scoring opportunities. “We have to be ready for rebound chances,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minnesota’s lineup will see a change as defenseman Zeev Buium makes his NHL debut replacing Marcus Johansson after he sustained an injury in Game 3. Buium’s presence is expected to boost the Wild’s attack as he was a key contributor during his collegiate career.

“I’m just really thankful for the opportunity,” Buium said about his upcoming debut, expressing excitement about playing in front of family and fans. The Wild hope to build on their recent success and secure a 3-1 series lead, a first in their franchise history.

As the series continues, both teams understand the importance of maintaining composure and executing their game plans. The urgency of playoff hockey hangs heavy in the air as the next game could pivot the series toward either side.