In a critical Western Conference playoff race matchup, Vegas Golden Knights' Jonathan Marchessault scored an empty-net goal just 3:30 into overtime to secure a 2-1 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Saturday.
With the Wild trying to catch up in the standings, they pulled their goalie early in overtime, but Vegas seized control of the puck and Marchessault capitalized with his team's third short-handed goal in three games.
This outcome not only earned the Golden Knights two points, but also penalized Minnesota for the loss under the NHL rule that prohibits teams from gaining points after pulling their goaltender during overtime.
A Familiar Strategy
Minnesota head coach John Hynes employed this strategy before, which had resulted in a win against Nashville three weeks prior. However, this time around, facing another team within reach of the final playoff spot, it proved detrimental.
The Minnesota Wild could have played safe and tried to win the extra point in a shootout. However, Hynes considered the Wild's 3-3 shootout record against Vegas' superiority in that aspect, with a 4-2 record, when he decided to go for the high-risk, high-reward approach.
Where we’re at in the standings and where it goes, you’re trying to put your team in the best position to win the hockey game...and in our opinion, putting (Kirill) Kaprizov, (Mats) Zuccarello, (Joel Eriksson) Ek and (Matt) Boldy against three players on the ice gives us the best chance to win a game.
John Hynes
Fighting for the last playoff spot in the Western Conference, Minnesota was desperate to make up ground and decided to pull goalie Filip Gustavsson about three minutes into overtime. However, Vegas gained control of the puck and the game ended at 2-0, due to the rule that penalizes any team that loses after it pulls its goalie in overtime.
Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy revealed there was no element of surprise regarding Minnesota's strategy as Marchessault's goal came unexpectedly; but they were ready for it.
Bruce Cassidy said, “We felt that would probably happen. We talked about it during the timeout...Lo and behold, it lands on Jonathan ‘Money’ Marchessault’s stick and he makes no mistake."
Marchessault fired a shot from near his own blue line to make his 40th goal of the season.
Penalties and Power Plays
Vegas' Jack Eichel was penalized with a five-minute major and game misconduct for spearing Kaprizov late in the second period, resulting in Minnesota capitalizing on a power play to take the lead 1-0.
Amadio tied it up with less than six minutes remaining in regulation after Chandler Stephenson received a long outlet pass from Alec Martinez and set up Amadio for a wrist shot.
Michael Amadio found the back of the net for Vegas, while Logan Thompson made 32 saves.
For Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov scored their lone goal, and Filip Gustavsson recorded 29 saves.
This coming Tuesday, it's Vancouver's turn to face off against the Golden Knights; and Ottawa faces the Wild.
In their quest for a wild card berth in the Western Conference playoffs, Minnesota faces the challenge of outperforming two other teams.
Spotlight on Jonathan Marchessault
Born in Quebec on December 27, 1990, the 33-year old winger is having a really impressive campaign as it is. Saturday's heroics, however, gave him his first 40-goal season.
Riding the wave on his career-best campaign, Marchessault's hat tricks have been winning games for the Vegas Golden Knights and creating quite a stir.
Despite undisclosed injuries in 2018 and 2021 as well as lower body injuries, he is definitely back and on a roll this season.
Jonathan Marchessault's 246 shots on goal places him at 18th in the league, while his 40 goals this season puts him 10th in the league.
The Golden Knights' recent success, including their 5-0-1 run in the last six games, positions them well as they sit in third place in the Pacific Division.
