Wild use three-goal first period to down Knights in Game 2, even series

The Minnesota Wild scored three goals in the first period and never looked back as they evened their first-round playoff series at one game apiece with a 5-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights in Game 2 Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Matt Boldy got the Wild run started with the first goal of the contest just four seconds shy of the midway point of the first period. Marcus Foligno made it a two-goal lead 11 minutes, 35 seconds into the frame, and Mats Zuccarello had the Wild well on the way to victory when his goal with 2 minutes, 45 seconds remaining in the first made it 3-0.

Kirill Kaprizov made it a 4-0 lead when he scored 3:59 into the second period, though the Knights got that back when Noah Hanifin scored 12:04 into the second frame. 

Vegas gave itself a chance in the third period when Tomas Hertl scored 2 minutes, 26 seconds into the frame to make it a two-goal deficit. But the Knights never got closer.

Kaprizov provided an empty-netter with 2 minutes, 26 seconds remaining.  

Vegas outshot the Wild 32-17, but Filip Gustavsson turned away 30 of those shots.

Knights goalie Aiden Hill made 12 saves on 16 Wild shots. 

The Wild were able to steal a win on the road and even the series as it shifts to Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., Thursday night. Puck drop is at 8 p.m. CT.