Howden’s OT goal gives Golden Knights a 3-2 win over the Wild and 3-2 series lead
LAS VEGAS, NV — With less than two minutes remaining, it looked like the Vegas Golden Knights were headed to Minnesota on the brink of elimination. But a wild turn of events—including a potential game-winning goal by the Wild being overturned after a successful offside challenge—breathed new life into Vegas, who went on to win in overtime.
Brett Howden netted the game-winner 4:05 into the extra period Tuesday night, lifting the Golden Knights to a 3-2 victory and giving them a 3-2 lead in their first-round Western Conference series. The series now shifts back to St. Paul for Game 6 on Thursday, where Vegas has a chance to close it out.
The Golden Knights, who finished second in the Pacific Division and are defending Stanley Cup champions, are aiming to reach at least the second round for the fifth time in their eight-year history.
Meanwhile, the Wild are trying to avoid another early playoff exit; they haven’t advanced past the first round since 2015. Despite holding a 2-1 series lead earlier, Minnesota has now lost two straight in overtime.
William Karlsson and Mark Stone also scored for Vegas, while Jack Eichel, who had just one assist through the first four games, tallied two assists. Goaltender Adin Hill stopped 20 shots for the win.
Minnesota’s Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy each scored, with Joel Eriksson Ek assisting on both goals. Kaprizov has registered at least one point in every game this series and now has nine overall. Boldy leads all players with five goals this postseason. Filip Gustavsson made 23 saves before being replaced by Marc-Andre Fleury at the start of the third period due to illness. Fleury, a fan favorite and former Golden Knight, made six saves and set an NHL record with playoff appearances in 18 different seasons—breaking a tie with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.
The drama peaked late in regulation when Ryan Hartman appeared to score the go-ahead goal with 1:15 left. While the initial review upheld the goal—ruling it was not kicked in—Vegas challenged for offside, and the replay confirmed that Gustav Nyquist had entered the zone early, nullifying the score.
That paved the way for Howden’s game-winner—his third goal of the series—off a feed from Tanner Pearson below the goal line, finishing from just inside the left circle.
Earlier, the teams traded special teams goals just 13 seconds apart during the same power play. Eichel and Karlsson connected on a 2-on-1 for a shorthanded goal, while Kaprizov tied it seconds later off a Mats Zuccarello cross-ice pass. Stone gave Vegas a 2-1 lead later in the first period.
Minnesota nearly tied the game again late in the first when Zuccarello exited the penalty box and had a breakaway, but he lost control of the puck. Boldy eventually tied the game 3:31 into the third.
This was the 100th playoff game in Golden Knights history, a milestone only previously reached in an NHL team’s first eight seasons by the Edmonton Oilers. Vegas has now won 41 straight playoff games when scoring three or more goals.
