LAS VEGAS — Brett Howden had a breakout season by scoring more than ten goals for the first time, reaching a personal best of 23 goals. He continued his impressive performance in the postseason by scoring twice, including the decisive game-winner, as the Vegas Golden Knights clinched a 4-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild in the first game of their Western Conference playoffs series.
Coach Bruce Cassidy of the Golden Knights advised Howden to continue the successful strategies from the regular season rather than overextending himself as the playoffs commenced. Before this matchup, Howden had scored just six goals in postseason play. “He stayed true to his game,” Cassidy noted. “He plays with intensity and is a key part of our penalty kill. He’s a versatile player who is typically included among the six players trusted when the goal is unguarded, thanks to his ability to play both wing and center. He has been valuable for us all season and excelled again in this game.”
Tomas Hertl contributed with a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights. “I’ve eagerly anticipated this moment,” Hertl expressed. “I always strive to play my game, which aligns with the playoff atmosphere. I’m pleased to have supported the team today. It was a collective effort.”
Pavel Dorofeyev also added a goal for Vegas, while goaltender Adin Hill recorded 18 saves. On the opposing side, Matt Boldy netted both goals for the Wild, Kirill Kaprizov contributed with assists on both, and Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves. Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night in Las Vegas.
Wild coach John Hynes remarked, “Both teams showed strong efforts. It was a highly defensive game with minimal special teams play. We did a lot of positive things to build on.”
Each team scored once in the opening period. Hertl intercepted the puck from Minnesota’s Brock Faber before scoring from just inside the left circle. The Wild responded 2:20 later when Kaprizov set up Boldy, who capitalized on the rush. In the second period, Dorofeyev scored during a power play after Hertl won the faceoff, setting up Shea Theodore’s pass that positioned Dorofeyev for a shot from the right circle. Dorofeyev has now scored in three consecutive games, extending back to the regular season.
Howden widened Vegas’s lead to 3-1 early in the third period, but Boldy kept Minnesota within reach with a wrap-around goal with just over eight minutes left. Howden then sealed the game with an empty-net goal as less than a second was left on the clock, marking the Golden Knights’ second power-play goal.
Nineteen-year-old Wild defenseman Zeev Buium made his NHL debut, playing alongside Zach Bogosian on the third pair, logging 13:37 on the ice and registering a shot on goal. He had previously been playing for Denver in the NCAA’s Frozen Four merely 10 days prior.
The game saw an unexpected shift when linesman Bryan Pancich left due to a collision with Howden just over three minutes into the second period. Frederick L’Ecuyer, the backup official, stepped in to take over Pancich’s duties.