Ivan Barbashev scored the overtime winner, securing a 4-3 victory for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Minnesota Wild in Game 4 and leveling the series at 2-2.
The series is now set for a best-of-three finish. Following head coach Bruce Cassidy’s strategic lineup adjustments made on Saturday, it seems likely that we will see a revitalized Vegas team on the ice in the upcoming games.
After a season characterized by significant line adjustments necessitated by injuries across the roster, Vegas head coach Bruce Cassidy had initially adopted a patient strategy for the Golden Knights` first-round playoff series against the Wild.
However, through the initial three games of the series, his top line, comprising Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone, had been notably quiet, failing to record a single point.
Entering Saturday’s Game 4 trailing the series 2-1, Cassidy began the matchup in Minnesota with the same top forward trio. While Barbashev and Eichel eventually contributed points by assisting Shea Theodore’s opening power-play goal in the first period, it became apparent after Minnesota took the lead in the second – having clearly outworked Vegas by forcing neutral zone turnovers and applying relentless pressure – that changes were definitely needed.
