3.) Beating the Minnesota Wild was getting the monkey off your back
If the Golden Knights lost to the Wild on Sunday, the conversation would've steered toward if the team was in trouble. Concerns over the offensive output (despite not having Eichel) would've risen to the forefront. Talks of an exhausted hockey team taking hold would've escalated. Cats and dogs would've lived together.
Coming off two losses to two New York-based teams currently out of playoff contention wouldn't have helped matters. How can the Golden Knights beat a team like the Wild if they can't beat the bottom feeders? The idea of a win seemed far-fetched considering the circumstances in play. A flat offense can't win you games, after all.
However, Vegas put out those notions, taking care of business against a solid Wild team. They picked up business in the third period, scoring three goals to defeat the Wild. On a night where Marc-Andre Fleury was the center of attention, the Golden Knights put themselves in a position to win with aggressive scoring opportunities. In turn, it turned their fortunes around quickly, preparing them for a tough three-game road trip.