Preview: Wild vs. Golden Knights

SAINT PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild faces the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday afternoon as the push for playoffs continues.

Info for Tonight's Game:

• When: Saturday, March 30 at 2:30 p.m. CT
• Where: Xcel Energy Center
• Tickets: Ticketmaster
• Watch: ESPN+ / Hulu
• Listen: KFAN 100.3 FM
• Gamecenter: Wild vs. Knights

Wild Record: 35-28-9, 79 points, 6th in Central Division

Golden Knights Record: 40-25-8, 88 points, 3rd in Pacific Division

2023-24 Series Record: 1-0-0

Wild vs. Knights All-Time Record:  13-6-4 (7-1-3 at Xcel Energy Center)

Last Time Out

The Wild completed a 3-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center (3/28). Forwards Matt Boldy (1-1=2) and Kirill Kaprizov (0-2=2) paced Minnesota with two points each. F Joel Eriksson Ek (1-0=1) scored in the first and F Ryan Hartman (1-0=1) scored on the empty net, assisted by G Filip Gustavsson. Gustavsson saved 26-of-27 shots for a .963 SV%. 

The Knights defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 4-1, on Thursday on the road. F Ivan Barbarshev (2-0=2) netted two goals and F William Karlsson (0-2=2) had two assists to led Vegas with two points apiece. Forwards Jack Eichel (1-0=1) and Pavel Dorofeyev (1-0=1) also scored for the Golden Knights. G Logan Thompson stopped 39-of-40 shots faced (.975 SV%).

Previously on Wild vs. Knights

Minnesota won the series-opening contest, 5-3, at T-Mobile Arena (2/2).

Boldy led the Wild with three points (1-2=3). Eriksson Ek (2-0=2), D Brock Faber (0-2=2), F Ryan Hartman (0-2=2) and Kaprizov (0-2=2) each notched two points. Gustavsson stopped 27-of-30 shots against in the win for Minnesota.

D Alex Pietrangelo led the Golden Knights with two points (0-2=2). F Michael Amadio (1-0=1), F Jonathan Marchessault (1-0=1) and F Mark Stone (1-0=1) each scored for Vegas. G Adin Hill saved 24-of-28 shots against for the Golden Knights.

Players to Watch

• Kaprizov leads Minnesota with 81 points (36-45=81) and 36 goals this season while ranking T-1st with 45 assists and has 57 points (28-29=57) and a plus-19 rating in his last 38 games played
  • With a two-point game (0-2=2) vs. SJS (3/28), became the first player in franchise history with multiple 80-point seasons
• Gustavsson is 2-0-1 with a 0.99 goals-against average, a .968 save percentage and one shutout in his last three starts
• G Marc-Andre Fleury posted the 75th shutout of his NHL career vs. ANA (3/14) and needs one more to tie Tony Esposito and Ed Belfour (76 career SO each) for 10th most in NHL history
• Eichel (25-32=57) is T-2nd on Vegas in goals and assists, is second in points and owns 17 points (9-8=17) in his last 15 games played
• Marchessault leads the Knights with 62 points (39-23=62) and 39 goals and has scored seven goals in his last 10 games played
• F Anthony Mantha (21-19=40) has five assists in his last five games

Recent Transactions

The Minnesota Wild signed D Jack Peart to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning in the 2024-25 season.

To view more recent transactions, visit wild.com/transactions.

Connections

• Fleury went 117-60-14 with a 2.41 GAA, a .917 SV% and 23 shutouts in 192 games with Vegas (2017-21)
• D Jon Merrill collected 25 points (6-19=25) in 140 games with the Golden Knights in parts of three seasons (2017-20)

Fast Facts

• Minnesota is second all-time in the NHL in points (30) and in point percentage (.652) while ranking third in wins (13) all-time against Vegas

For more information on today's game, check out the game notes below.