Brett Howden delivers for Golden Knights in an emotional win

It was another night in the playoffs, low in style points and high in happiness. Brett Howden potted the second OT game-winner in as many games this series from a lovely pass by Tanner Pearson, leading the Vegas Golden Knights to a 3-2 win over the Minnesota Wild.

William Karlsson and Mark Stone both had their first goals of the series, courtesy of a banner offensive night by Jack Eichel (more on him later). It’s not quite over series-wise, given how Filip Gustavsson played for the Wild most of this game. But the finish line is definitely in sight. Here are my three takeaways on a four-leaf clover and golden cat Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena.

Brett Howden latest OT hero for Vegas after nervy third period

“Nervy” is probably putting it kindly. Vegas’ offense had three shots in the last three minutes of the third, all but drained of all life by the kind of choking Wild defense that, when it gets going, has been a bane in this team’s existence all series long. It only went to overtime thanks to the watchful eye of the Golden Knights’ video goal coach, spotting the offsides that killed off what would’ve been a painful game winner by Ryan Hartman. Five minutes later…this happened.

That goal makes Howden the first Golden Knight player in franchise history with two OT game-winners. The first was in Game 1 of the Western Conference final against Dallas two years ago. Is it as big as Ivan Barbashev’s goal was Saturday night? Not quite. But it does denote a level of magic this time of the year that usually ends in big snazzy parades and über-knackered, happy players.

[Captain America theme plays] …Jack Eichel!

There were moments in Game 4 that the top line for the Golden Knights looked like their old dominant selves, particularly in that third period and OT. Game 5 on Tuesday was the first time we saw them take charge from start to finish. It all revolved around Jack Eichel, who set up both first-period goals, including a big boomer by Mark Stone.

The rest of his night looked like other nights in this series for Eichel: smart defense and getting any type of shot he can scrape through the Wild’s tough defense. But posting his first multi-point night in the postseason since Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final…that’s a good sign for him and this team heading into Game 6.

Adin Hill looks like Cup-winning Hill for career playoff win #15

Not the dynamite stuff that we saw the three shutouts he had during the Cup year, or the dynamite stuff he showed in the first round last postseason against the Dallas Stars. I’m talking about the stuff between that, allowing between two and four goals a game. We're talking about the save percentage falling between the high-800 and mid-900 range. Basically, it was Darcy Kuemper circa-2022 when he was with the Avalanche: Not world beating, but good enough.

It may end up being just the right kind of formula to beat this perennially scrappy, tough Minnesota Wild team. The big question would be how this will react if they end up winning Thursday night in Game 6 and Edmonton finishes off the Kings either in Games 6 or 7. A goalie that looked as shaky as Hill did at times in Game 5, to McDavid and Draisaitl, is going to be like a shark and chum. We can save that anxiety for another day…

Next on the Marquee:

It’s a big Game 6 in Minnesota on Thursday night at 4:30 P.M. A win here and it’ll mean a good pool of rest along with the trip to the second round. Given the likelihood that every other series in the West can go to a full seven games, any scrap of rest will be as valuable as gold (or Cowboy Carter tickets). To get there, it will be a proper brawl. Ideally, it'll be with a superb performance in the net by Adin Hill. I mean, he is overdue for one at this point! Until then…