This is turning into a problem. The Vegas Golden Knights lost 5-2 to the Minnesota Wild for the second straight game. It’s their third straight road playoff loss going back to last season’s first-round loss to Dallas. Kiril Kaprizov and Matt Boldy combined for three of the five Wild goals for the second straight night.
Also, for the second straight night, the Vegas offense was stymied by Wild players and the glove of Filip Gustavsson. It’s not quite in doom level, but we are close. Here are my three takeaways on a leathery tough Game 3 in Minneapolis.
Second straight slow start dooms the Golden Knights
Where the first five minutes of Game 2 was perfect for the Vegas Golden Knights, the first five minutes in Game 3 were uglier than roadkill. There was the bad "Too Many Men" penalty that turned into Kiril Kaprizov’s first goal. Then there was Marco Rossi’s goal, sliding in as the bulk of the third line for Vegas hovered in 1.5-speed around Justin Brazeau.
They’ve yet to go into the first intermission with a lead since clinching the Pacific Division 12 days ago. It’s an issue that you can get away with when you’re taking on a team prepping for the summer. When it’s a team like the Wild with two players in Kiril Kaprizov and Matt Boldy looking a lot like McDavid and Draisaitl…you get nights like Thursday night. You also get yet another quick exit if they can’t fix it.
From asset to liability: The story of the Vegas power play
In Game 1, the power play for Vegas scored twice and looked every bit as deadly and efficient as it’s been for much of the regular season. However, Game 3 was messy and as deadly as a cute kitten. They had four power play opportunities on the night and came up empty, two of those in the last 6:22 of the game. There was every chance to get this to OT and they blew it.
When you add the last nine games of the regular season, the Golden Knights are three for their last 24 (12.5%) on the power play. If they get through this series (which is still plausible now), this must get better. Fortunately, the players are there to do that. They need to get back to what worked so well back in March. Reilly Smith’s short-handed goal in the third period would be a start.
Love the hustle from Reilly 👏 pic.twitter.com/wNlLIveJ0s
— y-Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) April 25, 2025
Akira Schmid solid in relief after rare Adin Hill yanking
In 19 playoff games, Adin Hill has never been pulled out of a game for a backup. On Thursday night, that’s precisely what happened as Hill was pulled before the third period for Akira Schmid. Schmid had nine saves and did what you’d hope from a backup, keeping the slightest flickers of a comeback after Smith’s goal made it 4-2. It leaves a big question going into Game 4: Should Schmid start instead of Hill?
I think there’s a good on-ice case, given his performance at the end of the season, that he should start Game 4. But it wouldn’t surprise anyone if Cassidy decides to stick with his workhorse Saturday afternoon. We shall see…
Next on the Marquee:
We continue on to Game 4 in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon at 1 P.M. It's a time that has usually resulted in some type of weirdness and/or ugliness on the ice for the Golden Knights. On the plus side though, the last couple of games have had plenty of both, so…maybe that’ll skip a game?
As for the game, it is a massive game for Vegas. It's not a death knell, but going back to the Fortress down 3-1 would not look great. The big goal in Game 4? Bottle up Kaprizov and get through the blockade in front of Gustavsson somehow. Unfortunately for Vegas, both those things are looking easier said than done at this point. Until then…