Golden Knights Win Game 4 in Overtime to Even Series with Wild

ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Vegas Golden Knights finally caught a break — and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Ivan Barbashev scored with just under three minutes remaining in overtime, lifting the Golden Knights to a 4-3 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 on Saturday. The win ties their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Barbashev’s game-winner — his first goal of the postseason — came after a Wild turnover deep in their own zone. Reilly Smith forced the miscue, Nicolas Roy’s centering pass deflected off defenseman Jake Middleton, and Barbashev buried the puck in front amid a chaotic scramble.

Nicolas Roy and Tomas Hertl each had a goal and an assist for Vegas, while Shea Theodore also found the back of the net. Goalie Adin Hill made 29 saves, helping the Pacific Division champions avoid falling into a 3-1 series hole.

Earlier in the overtime period, Vegas killed off a crucial Minnesota power play.

The Wild got goals from Marco Rossi, Marcus Foligno, and Jared Spurgeon. Filip Gustavsson was strong in net, stopping 42 shots, including two big saves on Reilly Smith late in regulation.

Despite holding a 2-1 series lead heading into Game 4, the Wild remain winless in such situations, now 0-5 all-time when leading a series 2-1.

Game 5 shifts to Las Vegas on Tuesday, with Game 6 returning to Minnesota on Thursday.

Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, Vegas tied it on Roy’s goal during a four-minute power play. Minutes later, a shot from Mark Stone deflected off Hertl — who was on the ice entangled with Ryan Hartman — and into the net to give Vegas a brief 3-2 lead. But Spurgeon responded just 54 seconds later with a wraparound goal to even the score at 3-3.

Minnesota, who went 29-0-0 during the regular season when leading after two periods, saw that perfect record snapped.

Earlier in the game, Theodore and Rossi traded first-period goals before Foligno put the Wild ahead 2-1 in the second. He batted down a fluttering puck and scored in front for his third goal of the series.

The Wild were without left winger Marcus Johansson, who exited Game 3 with a lower-body injury. No return timeline was provided by coach John Hynes. Vinnie Hinostroza stepped in to fill the spot.