When you're tied in the Stanley Cup playoffs, how do you respond? Do you allow two goals in the first period and let Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov score a million goals after? Do you rely on Alex Pietrangelo to prove the haters wrong and get a goal? The former happened on Thursday for the Vegas Golden Knights after losing to the Minnesota Wild, 5-2.
Visions of Matt Boldy and Kirill Kaprizov bouncing off the walls and being uncontained ran through everyone's head. Filip Gustavsson smothering shots didn't help, either. The Swedish netminder stopped 30 of 32 shots. It was part of a game where the home team ran... Wild.
But in all seriousness, it isn't just an excited Wild player or two causing problems. It's also the Golden Knights themselves that lost the game. A Hanifin turnover caused that second-period goal by Boldy, giving Minnesota a 3-1 lead. The puck never bounced their way, whether it was botched passes or terrible passes. It was the same old story as Game 2, only it wasn't Shea Theodore who was the problem. Instead, it was the team's lack of effort.
So... Is it time to panic? Has Vegas's hubris and arrogance gotten the best of them? Or can Bruce Cassidy pound some sense into his team? When you're down 2-1, the urgency suddenly gets turned up a notch. First, let's answer some questions about how to stop Minnesota.
How the Vegas Golden Knights can stop the Minnesota Wild
There are a couple of routes the Vegas Golden Knights can take to take back the series and stop Minnesota Wild fans from believing in miracles. They can try to neutralize Kaprizov and Boldy. That could mean checking them more or getting the sticks out. Pick your poison.
But let's say the two Wild stars are too agile and quick to be hit. Why not match their play with the top line and let your lower units handle the rest? That also goes for the defensemen, specifically Alex Pietrangelo. He's had an excellent series (one goal and two assists). The same can be said for Noah Hanifin (one goal and two assists), although that second-period turnover was unforgivable.
That means Eichel and Stone must score. No excuses. Just fire shots like Pietrangelo and see what happens. If it ends up like Game 1, you've tied the series after Saturday.
Your best players must be your best players
Having no points through the first three games is inexcusable. Watching Kaprizov and Boldy run "Wild" like Minnesota-Mania in the first-round series can't happen. Sure, they can try to loosen them up with some hits. However, that's not the top line's style sans Barbashev.
That also means finding a way to take back the blocked shots battle. Minnesota had 23 blocked shots throughout the game, huddling around Gustavsson like they were security for the Pope. Find a way to draw the Wild out of this setup and Vegas can get the series back.
Most importantly, shoot and take care of the puck! Vegas had something going on a bizarre goal from Pietrangelo in the first period. It's part of the shooting mentality the team must employ. Combine that with more offensive zone time and the Golden Knights can get back in this series.
As mentioned, the good news is this isn't a one-and-done ordeal. It's not until the first team reaches four wins that the series concludes. However, the Vegas Golden Knights must ditch the country club mentality and play like they care. They won't have any wiggle room left if they go down 3-1 after Saturday. If this is what the fans wanted, they might want to look at getting a refund.