LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Vegas Golden Knights are returning to home ice with their 1st round series against the Minnesota Wild tied at two wins apiece.
Reilly Smith's ricocheted pass and Ivan Barbashev's game-winning overtime goal lifted the Knights to a 4-3 road win Saturday night in Game 4.
WATCH | Golden Knights gear up at practice for Game 5
The momentum-shifting goal can be a springboard for the Knights to take the series and advance to Round 2.
"It helps a lot," forward Pavel Dorofeyev told Channel 13's Nick Walters after Monday's practice. "The previous win was huge for us. Finally things start going our way a little bit. Hopefully we'll keep going and keep building our game."
"Obviously we're coming off a big overtime win which is great," Hague said, while adding the best teams know how to stay even-keeled no matter wins and losses. "It's best of three now so we're definitely in a series and we look forward to the challenge. It's going to be fun."
While the overtime win in Minnesota was followed by an emotional celebration on the ice, the team is moving forward and is solely locked in on winning Game 5.
"You get some juice from that, no doubt," VGK head coach Bruce Cassidy said Monday. "It's a big swing in the series. After that, that's it. It's back to work. Guys have been through some tight series here before. We know they'll be ready to go game 5. They're not going to overthink game 4 because it didn't go their way."
"We just have to stick to the plan and play our game," Dorofeyev said. "Manage the puck well between the blue lines and keep scoring."
Jack Eichel is still looking for his first goal this postseason. The star VGK center didn't record a point until posting one assist in Game 4.
The puck hasn't bounced the right way for Eichel, a trend that he and the Golden Knights are looking to change in Game 5.
"I need to get to the net and play my game," Eichel said. "Maybe attack when I get the opportunity a little more. Give them credit, they've been doing a good job. But obviously I have to be better and try to be more dynamic and make more of an impact offensively."
"We're trying to help him any way we can," Cassidy said. "I hate always going back but Jonathan Marchessault didn't score until... Game 3 against Edmonton. You're eight games in and the guy won the Conn Smythe so things can change. Sometimes it just doesn't go your way early and you got to help the team win. That's what we're asking Jack. Hopefully it'll turn for him."
The Knights host the Wild Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. and one team will be taking a 3-2 series lead.
Where to Watch
All seven games for the Vegas Golden Knights in the first round will be broadcast on Vegas 34 "The Spot" and streamed on the KnightTime+ app.
Vegas 34 (KMCC) can be found as Channel 34 on Cox Cable and DIRECTV, and as Channel 34.1 for viewers with an antenna.
For streaming services, Vegas 34 can be found on the DIRECTV streaming app or on FuboTV.
