Vegas Golden Knights vs Minnesota Wild Picks and Predictions April 22nd 2025

Wild vs Golden Knights Game 2 Preview: Minnesota Confident Despite Narrow Game 1 Loss

The Minnesota Wild may be down 0-1 in their first-round Western Conference playoff series against the Vegas Golden Knights, but spirits are far from crushed.

After a tough 4-2 loss in the series opener — which included a buzzer-beating empty-net goal — the Wild are regrouping, refocusing, and looking ahead to Game 2 on Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Despite Vegas being the defending champs and the Pacific Division winners, the Wild proved in Game 1 that they’re not backing down.

“There’s no doubts on the bench,” said goaltender Filip Gustavsson, whose timely saves kept Minnesota in the fight throughout Game 1. “We were right there with them until the end.”

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Recapping Game 1: Tight Battles and Missed Breaks

The Wild showed flashes of playoff brilliance in the opener, keeping things close despite a few key breakdowns. Gustavsson stopped 23 of 26 shots, including two huge second-period breakaways from Brandon Saad and Jack Eichel.

But it was Brett Howden who broke Minnesota’s back — twice. He scored early in the third off an odd-man rush to make it 3-1, then sealed the game with a power-play empty-netter with 0.1 seconds left.

Even so, the Wild responded. Matt Boldy buried both of Minnesota’s goals, including a slick wraparound that brought the game to 3-2 midway through the final frame.

“We played a good game and had our chances,” Boldy said. “We’ll take the good and work on the bad.”

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Key Stats from Game 1

• Final Score: Vegas 4, Minnesota 2
• Shots on Goal: Vegas 27, Minnesota 24
• Hits: Minnesota 54, Vegas 29
• Blocked Shots: Vegas 25, Minnesota 16
• Faceoffs Won: Minnesota 39-of-65 (60%)
• Power Play: Vegas 2-for-2, Minnesota 0-for-1

Despite the final score, the Wild out-hit Vegas by a wide margin and dominated in the faceoff circle — surprising, considering they ranked 29th in faceoff percentage during the regular season.

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What Went Right for the Wild

The Wild threw 54 hits, setting the tone early and often. That kind of physical edge will be critical in slowing down Vegas’ offensive zone cycle and disrupting their transition game.

And the faceoff dominance? A welcome surprise. Joel Eriksson Ek went 21-of-31, winning nearly 70% of his draws.

Matt Boldy’s Impact

Boldy was a difference-maker in Game 1. He scored twice, attacked with confidence, and made smart reads. His chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov continues to evolve and could be the Wild’s X-factor in this series.

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What Needs to Improve for Game 2

Vegas scored two goals off broken coverage and rushes. That’s a red flag. The Wild will need to clean up their neutral zone decisions and backcheck tighter to avoid giving up odd-man rushes — especially with Jack Eichel lurking.

Special Teams

Minnesota only had one power-play opportunity and didn’t convert. Vegas, meanwhile, went 2-for-2. That disparity can’t continue if the Wild want to steal one on the road.

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Vegas Perspective: Business as Usual

Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy was pleased, but not celebrating.

“We made more plays than them at the end and in the offensive zone to secure the win,” Cassidy said. “I think you’ll see a similar game on Tuesday.”

The Golden Knights have now won 10 of their last 12 against the Wild, including all three regular season games this year (combined score: 12-4). Their physical shot-blocking style — led by Brayden McNabb and Alex Pietrangelo — was on full display in Game 1.

Game 2 Outlook: Keys to the Matchup

For Minnesota:

• Maintain faceoff dominance
• Stay out of the penalty box
• Keep traffic in front of Adin Hill
• Activate defensemen (Brodin, Spurgeon) on the rush

For Vegas:

• Keep exploiting rush chances
• Continue collapsing to block shots
• Control possession in third period
• Ride top line momentum (Eichel, Stone, Marchessault)

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FAQs

What time is Wild vs Golden Knights Game 2?
Tuesday night in Las Vegas. Check your local listings or official NHL schedule.

Who scored for the Wild in Game 1?
Matt Boldy scored both of Minnesota’s goals.

How many power-play chances did Minnesota get in Game 1?
Just one — and they did not score.

Did Gustavsson play well in net?
Yes. He made 23 saves, including two on breakaways, and kept the Wild within one goal for most of the game.

Who was the standout for Vegas?
Brett Howden scored two goals — including an empty-netter with 0.1 seconds left.

Where will Games 3 and 4 be played?
In Saint Paul, Minnesota, after Tuesday’s Game 2 in Vegas.

Final Word: Wild vs Golden Knights Game 2 Preview

Despite falling short in Game 1, the Minnesota Wild showed they can hang with the Vegas Golden Knights — even in hostile territory. With a physical presence, a hot Matt Boldy, and surprisingly strong faceoff numbers, the Wild are far from out of this series.

Vegas, meanwhile, knows that Game 2 offers a chance to put real pressure on Minnesota before heading to Saint Paul.

Expect another tight, grind-it-out hockey game on Tuesday night — and don’t be surprised if this series goes the distance.

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