Golden Knights Rely on Depth to Outlast Wild in Playoff Push
What a start to the playoffs for the Vegas Golden Knights. If you watched Game 1 against the Minnesota Wild, you could feel a familiar energy in the building—a throwback to 2023 when Vegas rolled through teams with an almost machine-like consistency. And honestly? It looks like they might be aiming to do the same thing again.
The Golden Knights took Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round with a solid 4-2 win, and the way they did it speaks volumes. What stood out wasn’t just the goals or the big names, but the depth . All four lines saw more than 10 minutes of action at even strength. That's the kind of balance most teams dream about, and it’s what separates playoff pretenders from true contenders.
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Tomas Hertl got the scoring started with a classic playoff move—stealing the puck and roofing it top shelf. The Wild tied it up quickly thanks to a nice setup from Kaprizov to Boldy, but from there, Vegas simply wore them down. Pavel Dorofeyev added a power-play goal, and Brett Howden became the unexpected hero of the night with two third-period goals, including an empty-netter that sealed the deal.
Coach Bruce Cassidy emphasized the importance of keeping guys like Jack Eichel fresh. Eichel only played 17 minutes—not because he wasn’t needed, but because he didn’t have to play more. When you can rely on your fourth line just as much as your top line, you’re setting yourself up for a long and successful run.
Minnesota, on the other hand, leaned heavily on their top unit—Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek, and Boldy all logged over 20 minutes at 5-on-5. Boldy delivered both of the Wild’s goals and looked sharp, but when you’re asking that much of your top guys in Game 1, fatigue starts creeping in fast over a seven-game series.
Even Wild coach John Hynes admitted they need more from their bottom six. It’s not that the top line isn’t pulling their weight—they clearly are—but playoff hockey is a grind. If your third and fourth lines are passengers instead of contributors, that’s a recipe for early elimination.
And let’s not forget about the goaltending. Adin Hill was solid for Vegas, stopping 18 of 20 shots. He didn’t have to be spectacular, and that’s the point—when your team is this balanced, your goalie just needs to be steady. For the Wild, Filip Gustavsson faced more action, turning aside 23 shots, and while he held up reasonably well, he didn’t get the help he needed in front of him.
There’s still a long way to go in this series, but if Game 1 is any indication, Vegas is once again leaning into what made them champions: depth, discipline, and the ability to beat you line after line. Game 2 is just around the corner, and Minnesota will have to adjust quickly if they want to keep up. Otherwise, the Golden Knights might just roll their way into another deep playoff run.
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