Kaprizov scores twice, Gustavsson dazzles as Wild defeat Vegas for 2-1 series lead

Minnesota led 4-1 and was threatening on a power play when Vegas's Reilly Smith scored short-handed to cut the deficit to two with 8:26 left in the third period. 

As if holding off the Knights with a two-goal lead wasn't enough pressure, the heat got turned up higher when Jake Middleton was called for cross-checking with 6:22 to go. Wild killed that penalty only to have Marco Rossi get whistled for a hooking penalty with 3:28 left on the clock. 

Vegas took a risk by pulling the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage, and the Knights were buzzing until Gustavsson made the save of the series and Foligno found the empty net to seal the 5-2 victory. 

Minnesota controlled the game from start to finish thanks to two early goals.  

Kirill Kaprizov put Minnesota on top with his third goal of the series just 3:13 into the opening period, and the Wild took a 2-0 lead at 6:51 of the first when Rossi scored his first career playoff goal. 

The Golden Knights cut the Wild lead in half and controlled the last ten minutes of the first period, but Minnesota carried a 2-1 lead into the second and after killing a Vegas power play, Matt Boldy's hustle play forced a turnover and he buried his fourth goal of the series for a 3-1 lead. 

Then, with the Wild on the power play and the second period clock evaporating, Ryan Hartman flung a puck toward the net and Kaprizov buried the rebound with one second left for a 4-1 lead. 

Boldy and Kaprizov are now tied for the most goals in the playoffs with four apiece. 

Gustavsson finished the night with 30 saves, including nine on Vegas power plays — all of which the Wild successfully killed. 

Game 4 is at 3 p.m. CT Saturday in St. Paul, and a win would put the Wild one game from clinching the series and advancing in the playoffs for the first time since 2015.