Vegas moves on with 3-2 win in
series clincher, as Wild go 1-and-done yet again
[May 02, 2025]
By DAVE CAMPBELL
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Jack Eichel and Mark Stone made clear they
belong together, on a Vegas first line that can be one of the most
potent in these NHL playoffs.
Eichel and Stone each had a goal and an assist and Adin Hill made 29
saves for the Golden Knights, who became the first Western
Conference team to reach the second round with a 3-2 victory in Game
6 that ousted the Minnesota Wild on Thursday night.
“They gave us everything we could handle,” Eichel said. “They played
so hard.”
Shea Theodore scored on a power play early in the first period,
Eichel got his first goal of the series late in the second period
and Stone had the critical late score for Vegas, which will face
Edmonton in the second round. The Oilers beat Los Angeles in six
games.
The Wild have lost nine consecutive series, tied for the
third-longest streak in NHL history, according to Sportradar. Their
skid of eight straight one-and-done appearances is tied for the
second-longest in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Wild, who last made it out of the first round 10 years ago, got
two goals from Ryan Hartman, including a wraparound with 3:27 left
that came 31 seconds after Stone had given the Golden Knights a
two-goal lead.
Stone, who set up Eichel with a long pass out of the zone that was
inches out of reach of the stick of Kirill Kaprizov after he dived
to try to prevent the breakaway that beat goalie Filip Gustavsson,
had four points in the last three games.
“Everyone stepped up at different parts of the series and found ways
to contribute,” Eichel said. “That’s how you win this time of year.”
[to top of second column] |
Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates after
scoring against Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson during
the third period of Game 6 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff
series Thursday, May 1, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Bailey
Hillesheim)
Neither Stone nor Eichel recorded a single point in
the first three games, thanks in part to the bruising Wild who
frequently took away the middle of the ice and most of the Golden
Knights' opportunities to use their speed.
Coach Bruce Cassidy shuffled the lines for Game 4, which helped
ignite more of an attack. The absence of Pavel Dorofeyev in Game 6
prompted Cassidy to reunite Eichel and Stone in the top trio
alongside William Karlsson.
“They got better as the series went on,” Cassidy said.
Hartman tied the game for the Wild with 4 seconds left in the first
period, a goal safe from replay review unlike his go-ahead score in
Game 5 with 1:15 remaining in regulation that was revoked for an
offside call after Vegas challenged.
The Golden Knights went on to win their second straight overtime
decision, before finishing off the Wild with a third consecutive
one-goal win.
“We hear the noise of getting by the first round. We understand it,”
Wild left wing Marcus Foligno said. “We really felt like we could’ve
done it this year, and that’s the disappointing part, right?”
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