Zach Parise’s goal to tie the game 1-1 in the first period was an uplifting moment and brought hope to the Wild. Kirill Kaprizov’s goal early in the second period to tie it 2-2 did the same.
But the hope stopped there as Vegas buried the Wild with a trio of goals in the second period and cruised to a 6-2 victory in Game 7 of the Western Conference quarterfinal series.
The loss ends Minnesota’s season while the Golden Knights advance to face the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference semifinals, with Game 1 in Denver on Sunday night.
Minnesota was battered in a physical contest. Jonas Brodin left the game early in the first period after being crushed by a check into the boards. Joel Eriksson Ek had his left ankle rolled up on, though he fought through the injury and finished the game after a brief departure.
Jordan Greenway, Nick Bjugstad and Ryan Suter were bloodied, with Bjugstad taking a high stick to the face and Suter cutting his cheekbone when he was checked from behind into the goalpost. No penalty was called on either bloodying shot.
The final nail in the coffin came on a turnover – Suter had the puck poked away behind his own net – and Nicolas Roy found Mattias Janmark in close and he beat Cam Talbot with a one-timer for a 5-2 lead.
Janmark completed the hat trick with an empty-net goal with 3:07 left in the game. Minnesota pulled Talbot with 4:56 to go in a desperation move.
The Wild are now 3-1 all time in Game 7s.
