Wild strike early and win special-teams battle, 4-2 over Golden Knights

The Minnesota Wild jumped on the Vegas Golden Knights from the opening stretch, scoring three times in the first period on the way to a 4-2 victory on Monday night. Max Shabanov added to that early momentum with a power-play goal, and the Wild’s ability to create chances across special teams proved decisive as the game settled into a tighter late rhythm.

Minnesota’s start was the separating factor. Along with Shabanov’s power-play tally, Matt Boldy and Danila Yurov scored early in the first period, turning a game that could have swung either way into one the Wild controlled for long stretches. By the time Vegas found its bearings, the deficit had already become difficult to chase against a team defending with discipline and quick transitions.

The Wild’s special-teams impact was reinforced by the shot profile through the game’s middle stages. In the first two periods, Minnesota outshot Vegas 23-11, including a notable 6-1 edge while short-handed. That short-handed effectiveness matters because it limits the opponent’s ability to set up, and it often forces opponents into riskier puck decisions to try to erase time in penalty trouble.

Vegas did not go quietly, finishing the night with enough offensive pressure to keep the final score in a manageable range. Still, Minnesota’s margin in the early scoring and the efficiency of its power-play moment allowed the Wild to absorb the Golden Knights’ surges without letting them take the lead.

Special teams often functions as a scoreboard in disguise, particularly early in the season when teams are still ironing out lines, defensive matchups, and goaltending routines. With Shabanov’s power-play goal and the Wild’s ability to be effective while down a skater, Minnesota demonstrated that its preparation and in-game adjustments were producing results when the opponent had an extra man or when Minnesota was trying to kill a penalty.

For Vegas, the challenge after the loss will be translating the defensive improvements it can make in single shifts into a full contest against a team that can score early and then manage the pace. The Golden Knights’ shot totals suggest they were able to generate chances, but Minnesota’s early structure and short-handed shot dominance reduced how quickly those looks could turn into a comeback.

What to watch next is whether Minnesota can sustain this form of special-teams effectiveness, particularly the ability to keep shot volume down while killing penalties. For Vegas, the question is whether it can respond with more consistent first-period execution, since the game’s biggest swing came before it could fully establish its rhythm.