*Photo from the Las Vegas Review-Journal*
Series tied 3-3
The Minnesota Wild have been a thorn in the side of the Vegas Golden Knights all season. When they fell down 3-1 in the series, they have continued to be a thorn in the side. Ryan Hartman scored, Kevin Fiala and Nick Bjugstad scored, and the Wild shut out the Golden Knights with a 3-3 win Wednesday night.
Hartman said "It's an elimination game, and those type of games are just a game of mistakes. It's who's going to budge first. You've got two teams, one fighting for their lives more than the other, but they're playing just as hard. They don't want to have to play another game and we're fighting for our lives. Like I said, a game of mistakes, and when you get your opportunities, you have to put it in the net."
All of the Wild scoring came in the 3rd period, which started with Hartman's second of the playoffs 4:21 into the period. Fiala then scored on the power play at the 9:35 mark, increasing the Wild lead to 2-0. With 4:43 remaining in the game, Bjugstad scored on an assist from Nico Sturm to make it 3-0 Minnesota, sealing the victory.
Cam Talbot excelled in net for Minnesota, stopping all 23 shots he faced to get the win, including some crucial saves in the second period. It is largely due to Talbot's play that the Wild have now tied the series at 3-3 after being down 3-1. Now, it comes down to the ever important game 7.
Wild coach Dean Evason said "I think the players deserve a lot of credit for just believing, and believing in each other, and I think that's been the key not just in the playoffs, it's been the key from Day One with this group. They've played hard for each other, they've stuck together, and tonight was no different."
Marc-Andre Fleury started for Vegas, getting hit with the loss, saving 21 shots out of 24, for an .875 save percentage. The offense has gone cold for Vegas, scoring only two goals in game 5, and they couldn't get anything past Talbot in game 6.
Vegas coach Peter Deboer said "You're not going to play for 60 minutes without giving up something. That's just the way it goes. We're pushing to win that game, not to not get scored on. That's our mindset and I think it's worked well for us when you look at our record this year."
Game 7 is on Friday night in Las Vegas, with Fleury and Talbot starting, with a second round matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on the line.
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