Minnesota Wild Secures OT Victory Over Vegas with Boldy and Kaprizov

Post by : Mara Rahim

In an electrifying match, the Minnesota Wild clinched a 3-2 overtime win against the Vegas Golden Knights. Kirill Kaprizov secured the victory with a last-second goal in overtime, but it was Matt Boldy's earlier defensive play that shifted the game's momentum.

During a critical moment late in overtime, Marcus Johansson mishandled the puck, enabling Vegas to mount an offensive attack. Mitch Marner broke toward the Wild's goal but opted to pass to Shea Theodore, who appeared poised to score. Just as Theodore was about to take the shot, Boldy raced back and executed a perfect stick lift, thwarting what seemed like a guaranteed goal for the Golden Knights.

Immediately after, Boldy made his presence felt again by drawing a penalty from Theodore with 29 seconds remaining. This set the stage for the game-winning goal on the ensuing power play, as Mats Zuccarello set up Kaprizov for a powerful one-timer. This marked Kaprizov’s 11th overtime goal and a thrilling victory for the Wild.

Wild head coach John Hynes commended Boldy’s tenacity, emphasizing that every player understands the importance of contribution. He highlighted Boldy’s crucial stick lift as emblematic of the team’s ethos.

Frustration echoed from Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy, who felt Boldy's lift should have been penalized and criticized the call against Theodore. His evident displeasure was palpable as he held his ground on the bench.

The triumph signals a revival for Minnesota, which initially struggled this season, winning just three of its first twelve games. A players-only assembly on October 31, led by captain Jared Spurgeon, sparked a turnaround. Since then, the Wild have gone 6-1-1, permitting only 14 goals during this span and maintaining a formidable defense that hasn’t allowed any five-on-five goals in over 268 minutes.

Kaprizov noted their prior softness, remarking that the team now plays more cohesively. Marcus Foligno echoed this sentiment, explaining that they had a tendency to be too expansive defensively.

The Wild received additional scorers from Joel Eriksson Ek and Yakov Trenin in the game. Zuccarello notched two assists and Gustavsson recorded 23 saves. However, the team faced a setback with Ryan Hartman suffering a lower-body injury, posing potential issues for their upcoming game against Carolina, especially with Marco Rossi also sidelined.

This victory concluded a challenging phase for Minnesota, having been on the losing end of five consecutive games against Vegas and winning just once in their last nine encounters.

Yakov Trenin's goal, a product of a fierce hit from Foligno, initially gave Minnesota the edge before Vegas equalized, forcing overtime. Trenin celebrated wildly, playfully claiming Foligno’s customary jump into the glass as his own.

Foligno's impact continued to be felt, as he delivered several notable hits throughout the match, particularly against Tomas Hertl and Noah Hanifin. He noted that the team's determination stemmed from their previous postseason exit against Vegas.

Hynes applauded the Foligno-Yurov-Trenin line for their aggressive forechecking and physical play, stating that their teamwork and strategic positioning were pivotal in keeping the Knights under pressure.

With Gustavsson now facing competitive pressure from Jesper Wallstedt, who has been excelling with recent shutouts, he acknowledged that such rivalry only elevates both players' performances.

This decisive victory underlines the development Minnesota has made, showcasing strong defense, disciplined gameplay, and vital contributions from both stars and role players, reinforcing their commitment to continuous improvement.