Apr 20, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) blocks a shot attempt by Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the second period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images. [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/6b4f8d4f-45f0-4b29-977b-98e69a38f190.jpeg] Apr 20, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Jared Spurgeon (46) blocks a shot attempt by Vegas Golden Knights left wing Pavel Dorofeyev (16) during the second period of game one of the first round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images. MIN Vs VGK Preview. The last three playoff series for the Minnesota Wild that started with two road games, resulted in the Wild winning game one. Minnesota opened the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs on the road again, this time in Vegas to face the Golden Knights. The Wild opened the 2021 playoffs in Vegas and won 1-0 in overtime on a Joel Eriksson Ek goal. This game was a little different. Thomas Hertl opened the scoring in the first period after he outworked Brock Faber in the slot and fired a shot over Filip Gustavsson's right shoulder, short side, Matt Boldy was able to answer back not long after and tie the game up at 1-1. Vegas got the next two goals to make it 3-1 before Boldy scored to make it a one-goal game. Vegas was able to score with the empty net, on the power play, with 0.1 seconds left. They walked away with a 4-2 win. In the second period, Eriksson Ek was called for a high-stick. This sent Vegas on the power play. Five seconds later, Pavel Dorofeyev, who was making his NHL Playoffs debut, scored to give Vegas a 2-1 lead. It came after Hertl beat Freddy Gaudreau on the face-off. Gaudreau then went to go to the point but was interfered with by Hertl. This left Marcus Foligno and Jake Middleton out of position trying to make up for Gaudreau on the ice after Hertl took him out. Vegas controlled the puck on the point, with no attacker because he was on the ice, and found Dorofeyev wide open at the top of the circle for the one-timer. Wild head coach John Hynes was asked if he thought that was interference on Gaudreau. "Yes," Hynes said bluntly. In the first period, Ryan Hartman was skating through the Wild's defensive zone, without the puck-I might add, he was blindsided by Ivan Barbashev. No penalty call. Hartman skated to the bench very slowly and didn't take his next shift for a little bit. Wild bench wanted a penalty but never got one. Later in that period, Eriksson Ek was interfered with in the offensive zone after he got picked by one of the Vegas players. A pick is when an opposing player just happens to skate right in front of the other team and causes that player not to make a play. Harmless play to say the least, but it is an interference penalty if we are looking at the rule book. Later in the third, Hartman is battling along the boards with Vegas defenseman Nicolas Hague. The puck is to the right of Hartman. Hague then turns around and sticks the shaft of his stick into Hartman's face and follows through with a body slam. WWE Wrestlemania was on Saturday and Sunday night in Vegas. Maybe Hague was inspired and wanted to try a move of his own. No penalty call by referee Furman South, who could not have been closer to the play. The Wild showed up to play. They were more physical and had their chances. According to MoneyPuck [https://moneypuck.com/g.htm?id=2024030171], the Wild had 2.43 expected goals to Vegas's 2.67. They had their chances, but weren't able to put it together. Credit to Adin Hill, he played a great game in net for the Golden Knights. Vegas led the league in the fewest penalty minutes during the regular season. Whether that be a testament to their discipline or penalties that just weren't called, the Wild need to put that behind them for game two on Tuesday or they are in danger of being down 2-0 coming back home were they went 22-17-2 in the regular season.
