Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas (Game 3 Recap)

🏆 Final Score🏆
Minnesota Wild 5 – Vegas 2

💬 Water Cooler One-Liner:

Kaprizov and Boldy are taking over the series—two more goals for 97 as the Wild frustrate the champs and take the lead.


📊 Quick Hits – Game at a Glance:

• Winner: Kirill Kaprizov (2 PPG, Game 1st Star)

• Turning Point: Hartman’s last-second dish to Kaprizov at the end of the 2nd period to make it 4-1

• Standout Stat: Kaprizov and Boldy each have multi-point games in all 3 contests

• Goaltending Anchor: Filip Gustavsson stopped 30 of 32 shots with a .938 SV% and nine short-handed saves

🔑 3 Key Takeaways:

1️⃣ Kaprizov the Closer: Two more goals, both on the power play—he’s heating up at the perfect time.

2️⃣ Boldy’s Breakout: Another playoff goal, and a takeaway-to-goal moment showing his emerging edge.

3️⃣ Defensive Lockdown: The Eichel-Stone-Barbashev line remains pointless through three games thanks to stellar work by Eriksson Ek, Faber, and Brodin.

⭐ Three Stars of the Game:

1. ⭐ K. Kaprizov (MIN • LW): 2 goals, game-changing energy

2. ⭐ M. Boldy (MIN • LW): 1 goal, 1 assist, relentless forechecking

3. ⭐ F. Gustavsson (MIN • G): 30 saves, .938 SV%, 9 short-handed stops

📊 By The Numbers:
• Shots on Goal: Golden Knights 32 – Wild 31
• Power Play: Golden Knights 0% (0/4) – Wild 50% (2/4)
• Penalty Minutes: 10 each
• Faceoffs: Golden Knights 57.6% – Wild 42.4%
• Hits: Golden Knights 42 – Wild 26
• Blocked Shots: Golden Knights 7 – Wild 23
• Giveaways: Golden Knights 8 – Wild 12
• Takeaways: 1 each

📰 Around the Team:

• Rossi Rises: Fourth-line role? No problem. Marco Rossi nets his first career playoff goal and adds an assist.

• Zeev’s First Point: Rookie defenseman Zeev Buium picks up a power-play assist in his home playoff debut.

• Johansson Injury Watch: Marcus Johansson left in the third with no update postgame.

🎯 Stat Spotlight:

• Kaprizov and Boldy are the first duo since 2000 to open a postseason with 3 straight multi-point games

• Eriksson Ek dominated faceoffs and helped hold Vegas’ top line to zero points again

• Wild’s penalty kill was a perfect 4-for-4

🔍 What This Win Means:

✅ Series Momentum – The Wild now lead 2-1 with home ice and two straight 5-2 wins

✅ Special Teams Surge – 2 PPGs and perfect PK shows playoff form

✅ Star Power Ascending – Boldy and Kaprizov are now tied for the NHL playoff goal lead (4 each)

🔥 Next Up:
• Opponent: Vegas Golden Knights (Game 4)
• Time: Saturday, April 26
• Time: 3:00PM
• Location: Home Ice

📬 Final Whistle:
Two games, two statements. The Wild are rolling, Kaprizov is cooking, and Vegas looks rattled. Game 4 could tilt the series for good—don’t miss it.

Stay tuned to Wild Hockey Insider for your playoff pulse. Let’s get back in this.