Monday night at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, the Minnesota Wild delivered a commanding performance against the visiting Vegas Golden Knights, pulling away with a 4‑2 win. The Wild’s offense exploded early, scoring three times in the first period to set the tone for the game.
First‑period fireworks
Danila Yurov capped a first‑period flurry with a goal that gave Minnesota a 3‑0 lead. He joined teammates Matt Boldy and Maxim Shabanov, who each found the back of the net earlier in the period. The rapid scoring burst put the Wild in a comfortable position and forced the Knights to play catch‑up from the outset.
Mid‑game adjustments
Vegas responded in the second period with goals from Rasmus Andersson and William Karlsson, narrowing the gap to 3‑2. However, the Golden Knights never seized the lead, and the Wild’s defense held firm. Wild goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 21 saves on 23 shots, preserving the early advantage.
Late‑period sealing
In the third period, the Wild added an empty‑net goal by Joel Eriksson Ek, extending the margin to 4‑2. Golden Knights netminder Carter Hart faced 27 shots and allowed three goals, unable to generate a comeback.
Other NHL action
Elsewhere on the night, Ottawa’s Linus Ullmark continued his early‑season dominance, recording his fifth straight win with a perfect 5‑0‑0 record after a 4‑1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Ullmark made 29 saves, reinforcing his reputation as a top‑tier goaltender.
In Buffalo, the Sabres rallied in the third period to defeat the Florida Panthers 5‑3. Tage Thompson contributed a goal and an assist, while Rasmus Dahlin scored before exiting with an upper‑body injury. Buffalo’s backup netminder Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen stepped in, making 13 saves after starter Colten Ellis was pulled.
Florida’s Sam Reinhart tallied two goals for the Panthers, and Seth Jones added two assists, but the effort fell short against a resilient Sabres squad.
The night’s action highlighted the Wild’s offensive depth and solid goaltending, giving Saint Paul fans a thrilling start to the NHL season. With the win, Minnesota improves to 2‑0 on the road, while the Golden Knights see their five‑game winning streak snapped.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
