ST. PAUL, Minn. — Victor Olofsson delivered another standout performance by netting two goals, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild on Sunday evening.
In addition to Olofsson’s contributions, Shea Theodore also found the back of the net, while Jack Eichel played a crucial role by providing two assists, raising his season total to a team-leading 33 assists for the Golden Knights. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov recorded 20 saves throughout the match.
This marks Olofsson’s second two-goal game of the season, with his previous one occurring during the season opener where the team triumphed over Colorado 8-4. After a lengthy recovery period during which he was sidelined for 20 games due to a lower-body injury, Olofsson has now been scoring consistently, including goals in his last three games. His pivotal second goal on Sunday came just 3:49 into the final period, which gave Vegas a 3-2 lead.
For Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov also made headlines by scoring twice, building on his momentum from the previous day when he recorded two goals in a victory over Philadelphia. His impressive performance now has him tied with Leon Draisaitl from Edmonton for the most goals in the league this season, each boasting 22 goals. Jesper Wallstedt made his season debut in the crease for Minnesota, making 24 saves during the match.
### Key Insights
The Golden Knights wrapped up their three-game road trip successfully with two wins, and they have emerged victorious in five of their last six games, showcasing their offensive prowess by scoring three or more goals in five consecutive encounters.
On the Wild’s side, Marc-Andre Fleury took the starting position the day before, and with Filip Gustavsson unavailable due to a minor injury, Wallstedt was called up from the AHL for his fourth career start. Fortunately, the Wild does not anticipate Gustavsson’s injury to be serious.
### Defining Moment
In a tense closing minute, the Golden Knights managed to fend off the Wild, who had the advantage during a penalty kill. Nicolas Roy was penalized for tripping with just 50 seconds left, allowing Minnesota to pull Wallstedt for a 6-4 player advantage. However, they were unable to make the most of the opportunity.
### Notable Stat
Kaprizov’s scoring spree this season is historic, as his 22 goals represent the highest tally by a Minnesota player within the first 30 games of a season, surpassing Marian Gaborik’s record of 20 goals set during the 2006-07 season.
### Upcoming Matches
The Golden Knights are set to face off against the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday, while the Minnesota Wild will host the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
