Golden Knights defeat Wild 4-2 in Game 1

The Vegas Golden Knights defeated the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 1 of their first-round NHL playoff series, continuing their strong postseason record and capitalizing on an early third-period lead. Brett Howden scored twice for Vegas, with Tomas Hertl and Pavel Dorofeyev also contributing, while Matt Boldy netted both goals for Minnesota. Goaltender Adin Hill was solid for the Golden Knights, making key saves and improving his playoff record, while Filip Gustavsson kept the Wild competitive with several crucial stops. The win marks Vegas' fifth consecutive Game 1 playoff victory, underscoring their playoff experience and momentum from a historic regular season. Vegas, the Pacific Division champion, is favored in the series, having dominated recent matchups against the Wild and entering the playoffs with a healthy roster. Both teams will meet again for Game 2, with Vegas aiming to build on their early advantage in the best-of-seven series.