Jack Eichel, Nicolas Roy, and Pavel Dorofeyev each contributed a goal and an assist, while Chandler Stephenson racked up four assists, propelling the Vegas Golden Knights to a 7-2 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Friday night. With this win, the Golden Knights secured a playoff spot for the sixth time in seven seasons.
Joining in the scoring spree were Jonathan Marchessault, Tomas Hertl, William Karlsson, and Keegan Kolesar. Noah Hanifin chipped in with two assists, and Logan Thompson made 25 saves to anchor the Golden Knights’ defense.
The victory also came with the help of other results, particularly St. Louis’ 5-2 loss to Carolina, which solidified Vegas’ position as the second wild card in the Western Conference. They are now just one point behind Los Angeles for third place in the Pacific Division.
Chandler Stephenson, with his four assists, reached the 50-point milestone for the third straight season, showcasing his consistency on the ice.
For Hertl, his goal marked a special moment, being his first since joining the team from San Jose earlier in March.
Despite the Wild managing to get goals from Marat Khusnutdinov and Ryan Hartman, former Golden Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury had a challenging night, conceding all seven goals on 30 shots.
The Golden Knights’ performance was particularly impressive on special teams, with three goals coming from power plays, including Roy’s first career short-handed goal. This win not only secured their playoff berth but also lifted the spirits of the team and fans alike after a recent three-game losing streak.
Reflecting on the season, Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy praised the team’s resilience, acknowledging the ups and downs they faced along the way. Meanwhile, the Wild, now struggling after once being in contention for the postseason, aim to regroup and improve in the games ahead, as emphasized by coach John Hynes.
