Desperate for two points, the Minnesota Wild pulled the goalie in overtime and wound up losing on an empty-net goal by Jonathan Marchessault.
WHAT A WAY TO SCORE YOUR 40TH GOAL pic.twitter.com/OmujOwJWw2
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 30, 2024
Losing with the empty net means Minnesota goes home empty handed. Typically, an overtime loss is worth one point in the standings but when a team pulls the goalie and loses, they forfeit the bonus point for simply getting to overtime.
It was the second time this season that head coach John Hynes has made the risky move to pull the goalie in overtime. The first time it worked in an overtime win over Nashville on March 10.
This was a game the Wild (79 points) needed to win. They now have nine games to go and are eight points out of the second wild card – and it could be nine or 10 points depending on the outcome between the L.A. Kings and Calgary Flames later Saturday night.
Kirill Kaprizov’s 37th goal of the season was Minnesota’s only goal of regulation. It came with the Wild on a five-minute power play after Vegas star Jack Eichel was tagged for a spearing penalty and a game misconduct.
Minnesota held the 1-0 lead until Michael Amadio beat Filip Gustavsson on a 2-on-1 break at 13:43 of the third period. Gustavsson was brilliant, making 13 saves (including four on two Vegas power plays) in the first period and finishing the game with 29 saves.
Up next: Wild vs. Ottawa, Tuesday at 7 p.m. CT.
