A third period blunder cost the Minnesota Wild in a 5-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Tuesday night.
The Wild found themselves trailing 2-0 entering the third period, before Marcus Johansson scored at the 1:42 mark of the period, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Following Johansson finding the back of the net, the two teams played even for the next 13 minutes. Then at the 14:57 mark, the wheels began to fall off as Vegas’ Jack Eichel scored his second goal of the game, 3-1 Golden Knights. 60 seconds later a Tanner Pearson empty netter increased to Vegas lead to 4-1. Following that goal, Eichel would score again 31 seconds later, extending the Vegas lead to 5-1. In total the Wild gave up three goals over a span of 2:37 in the final period.
Minnesota was outshot 38-24 by the Golden Knights. Marc-Andre Fleury saved 33 of the 37 shots he faced in net.
The Wild dropped to a record of 40-27-5 on the season. They will now welcome the Washington Capitals to the Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m.
Minnesota is in fourth place in the Central Division with 85 points. They currently hold the Western Conference’s top wild card spot with 10 games remaining in the regular season.
