Brett Howden’s breakout season just keeps getting better. The 26-year-old forward, who had never scored double-digit goals in an NHL season before this year, found the back of the net 23 times in the regular season.
On Sunday night, he carried that hot hand into the postseason, scoring the game-winning goal and later sealing the deal with an empty-netter as the Vegas Golden Knights took Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference series with a 4-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.
“He’s been really consistent for us,” Vegas coach Bruce Cassidy said postgame. “I told him before the game, just keep doing what you’ve been doing all season—don’t try to be something different because it’s the playoffs.”
Howden entered the game with just six career postseason goals, but his timely performance lifted the defending Stanley Cup champions to a crucial opening win.
Both teams wasted little time getting on the board. Vegas forward Tomas Hertl, a trade deadline acquisition, opened the scoring midway through the first period by stripping Minnesota’s Brock Faber and firing a quick shot past goaltender Filip Gustavsson from the left circle.
Just over two minutes later, Minnesota answered when Kirill Kaprizov threaded a perfect cross-ice pass to Matt Boldy, who buried it off the rush to tie the game at 1-1.
The Golden Knights regained control in the second period when Pavel Dorofeyev scored on the power play. After Hertl won a faceoff, Shea Theodore walked the blue line and set up Dorofeyev for a rocket from the right circle. It marked Dorofeyev’s third straight game with a goal, including the end of the regular season.
Early in the third period, Howden extended Vegas’ lead to 3-1 with a strong drive to the net, beating Gustavsson for his first of the night. Boldy responded with a wrap-around goal at the 11:46 mark of the third, his second of the game, bringing the Wild within one.
Minnesota pushed for the equalizer, but Adin Hill stood tall for Vegas, finishing with 18 saves. With Gustavsson pulled in the final minute, Howden capped the win with an empty-net power-play goal—Vegas’ second of the night—scored with just under one second left.
On a night filled with standout performances, 19-year-old defenseman Zeev Buium made his NHL debut for the Wild. Fresh off playing in the NCAA’s Frozen Four for the University of Denver just 10 days earlier, Buium logged 13:37 of ice time and recorded one shot on goal while paired with veteran Zach Bogosian.
The game also saw an officiating change early in the second period when linesman Bryan Pancich left after a collision with Howden. Frederick L’Ecuyer stepped in as the replacement.
With the win, Vegas takes a 1-0 series lead and builds early momentum as they look to defend their title. Game 2 is set for Tuesday night at T-Mobile Arena.
For Howden and the Golden Knights, the formula is simple: keep doing what’s been working.
