Victor Olofsson’s Two Goals Propel Golden Knights to 3-2 Victory Over Wild
On Sunday evening in Saint Paul, Minn., Victor Olofsson delivered a standout performance, scoring twice, including the decisive third-period goal, as the Vegas Golden Knights edged the Minnesota Wild 3-2. The win marked a strong response for Vegas following their loss to Edmonton the previous night.
Shea Theodore added a goal and an assist for the Golden Knights, while Jack Eichel contributed two assists. Goaltender Ilya Samsonov made 20 saves on 22 shots, improving his record to 7-3-1 for the season.
For Minnesota, Kirill Kaprizov continued his stellar campaign with two goals, bringing his season total to 22. Mats Zuccarello provided two assists, and rookie goaltender Jesper Wallstedt, promoted from Iowa of the AHL just a day earlier, made his season debut with 24 saves on 27 shots.
Fast-Paced First Period
The Wild struck early, taking a 1-0 lead just 90 seconds into the game. Mats Zuccarello battled for the puck in the corner and sent a backhanded pass to Kaprizov, who buried a one-timer past Samsonov on the stick side.
Vegas answered midway through the first period with a power-play goal. Olofsson carried the puck from the blue line to the top of the right circle, releasing a wrist shot that beat Wallstedt cleanly. The goal, set up by Frederick Gaudreau’s penalty for closing his hand on the puck, tied the game at 1-1.
Momentum Shifts in the Second Period
The Golden Knights grabbed the lead at 2-1 early in the second period on an odd-man rush. Theodore, continuing his strong form, fired a wrist shot past Wallstedt for his fourth goal of the season and third in the last five games.
Kaprizov responded with a spectacular play to level the score at 2-2 late in the period. The Wild forward deftly controlled a fluttering puck out of midair, dropped it to the ice, and unleashed a quick shot to beat Samsonov. It marked Kaprizov’s second goal of the game and his team-high 22nd of the season.
Olofsson Secures the Win
Vegas regained the lead early in the third period, and Olofsson was once again the hero. His second goal of the game and seventh of the season came on a precise shot from the right circle through traffic, giving the Golden Knights a 3-2 advantage with 16:11 left on the clock.
The Wild pressed for the equalizer, but Samsonov and the Vegas defense held firm, securing the team’s bounce-back win.
Looking Ahead
With the victory, Vegas strengthened their position in the standings and showcased their resilience after a tough loss. Minnesota, meanwhile, has dropped three of their last five games and will look to regroup as Wallstedt’s promising debut offers a potential bright spot for the Wild’s future.
