A Golden Knights First Period To Forget As Wild Even Series

Even the youngest hockey fan is aware that a hockey game is 60 minutes. Unfortunately, last night the Golden Knights only partially participated in the opening period of Game 2, allowing the Wild to even up seven-game series.

I thought Vegas took the game a little bit lightly in the 1st period. There’s no question. You think you’re ready to play but if you’re missing that extra edge, that nervousness. It’s a big differentiator of the way you come out to play. -Mark Messier, NHL analyst

Vegas came out hot and took the first 11 shot attempts of Game 2. For some reason after the 4:27 mark of the opening period, they casually handed off their momentum to the Wild. Minnesota launched the next ten shot attempts and promptly took the opening lead of the game.

We didn’t take care of the puck. Typically when things don’t go well for us that’s where it starts. They got behind us after we didn’t take care of the puck as well. So you’re giving their best players easy offense and in the playoffs that’s a bad formula. You’re supposed to make it hard on them and see if they’ll battle through and we didn’t. -Bruce Cassidy

A shift later, the visitors took a 2-0 lead. In that short span, Vegas lost both faceoffs, gave the puck away multiple times, and missed wide on their only shot attempt. It got even worse after that.

Prior to Game 2, captain Mark Stone mentioned coach Bruce Cassidy challenged his team to improve and get even better than they were in Game 1. That mindset lasted only four and a half minutes.

We had some great saves early in the first period. We had some big blocked shots which was a key to the game. Gus was sharp early which was important to get our feet under us a little bit. That’s what you need from your goaltender at that moment. Then we had some guys really committed to getting some big blocks. -John Hynes, MIN coach

Normally, when the Golden Knights fall behind by two they settle down and pick up the pressure. Or at least play conservative enough to go into the intermission down two, not three. Since Vegas has a flair for comebacks, it wasn’t until Minnesota’s early 2nd period goal to make it 4-0 that Vegas fans began to lose faith.

No one cares what we did two years ago. Nobody cares. They respect us for what we did but they don’t care now. There are 16 teams that want the trophy and they are hungry. Some of our guys need to realize we started Sunday here. Get hungry, get competitive. -Cassidy

Thankfully, the series is split, and Vegas can regain control on Thursday. The sloppy turnovers from Shea Theodore or Brayden McNabb’s poor positioning were uncharacteristic and unlikely to carry over to Game 3. History also tells us that Jack Eichel and Mark Stone will start producing. Also, it’s doubtful the Wild will block 30 shot attempts again. Like Cassidy blasted, it could come down to his team’s appetite.

We’re all in for some sleepless nights if the Golden Knights temporarily tune out again up in Minnesota.