The Minnesota Wild and Vegas Golden Knights face off tonight in Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series, tied 2-2. The game is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time at T-Mobile Arena.
Minnesota expects to have a full roster available for this pivotal game. Forward Marcus Johansson is expected to return after missing Game 4, and center Joel Eriksson Ek is set to play despite missing a practice Monday for maintenance.
A significant lineup adjustment for the Wild places veteran defenseman Jon Merrill into the lineup, replacing rookie Zeev Buium. Merrill played 70 regular-season games but has not appeared in the series. Buium, who made his NHL debut in Game 1, had one assist in four games.
Wild coach John Hynes emphasized the team's focus on execution. “It’s consistently trying to find a way where we can get better, competitive areas of the game that we can get better in,” Hynes said Tuesday.
The Golden Knights seek more offense against a Wild defense that has limited space through the neutral zone. Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy noted the challenge in generating speed and odd-man rushes against Minnesota's approach.
The Wild's penalty kill has struggled in the series, operating at 63.6 percent and allowing four goals on 11 opponent power plays. Two power-play goals by Vegas, from Shea Theodore and Nicolas Roy, factored into their Game 4 overtime victory.
Minnesota's top line of Eriksson Ek, Kirill Kaprizov, and Matt Boldy has produced eight goals and a plus-9 rating in four games. Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy has the opportunity to control matchups as the home team.
Forward Marco Rossi, despite scoring two goals in the series, has seen limited ice time, often placed on the fourth line.
Two Wild forwards, Ryan Hartman and Marcus Foligno, have provided energy and secondary scoring. Foligno has three goals in the series, while Hartman has four assists.
“We’re playing the top team in the League and I think it’s an even series,” Wild forward Mats Zuccarello said. “It’s expected. It’s a best-of-3 now and we have to figure out a way to win one in Vegas and take care of it at home. That’s where we are at.”
