Vegas Loses Major Contributor for Game 6 vs MN Wild

The Minnesota Wild are locked into a playoff battle against the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and their backs are against the wall on Thursday night. The series returns to the Xcel Energy Center, but Minnesota is facing elimination as they trail 3-2.

If there’s a silver lining to the team that they’ll face on Thursday, it’s that Las Vegas won’t be at full strength. The series has been tight the entire way, and this could provide the difference the Wild need in order to force a game seven.

Vegas’ Pavel Dorofeyev out against Minnesota Wild

In game five, the Minnesota Wild all but had the contest won. However, center Gustav Nyquist couldn’t keep his skate onside and cost the team a game-winning goal. They’ll now try and emerge victorious in game six, and luckily Golden Knights leading goal-score Pavel Dorofeyev won’t be on the ice.

Bruce Cassidy ruled Pavel Dorofeyev out tonight, and said he’s considered day to day beyond that.

— Jesse Granger (@JesseGranger_) May 1, 2025

Throughout the first five games of the series Minnesota has kept Dorofeyev pretty quiet. He has just one goal and one assist in the series, while recording a below average -5 plus/minus. In 82 games for Las Vegas this season Dorofeyev poured in a team-high 35 goals. He finished the regular season with 52 total points by adding 17 assists.

With Dorofeyev being relatively quiet in the playoffs, it has been Tomas Hertl and Brett Howden doing the heavy lifting against Minnesota. That tandem has a trio of goals apiece.

Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Wild in Brutal Self-Induced Gm 5 Loss vs Knights

Among wings, only right wing Mark Stone has averaged more time on the ice (21:37) than Dorofeyev has (17:40) for Vegas. That means head coach Bruce Cassidy will have some significant ice time to fill in game six.

Healthy Filip Gustavsson key for Minnesota

During game five Minnesota Wild starting goalie Filip Gustavsson was replaced late by the future Hall of Famer Marc-Andre Fleury. That wasn’t by design as the Minnesota netminder became ill. Good news for the Wild now, as it appears he’ll be ready to go for Thursday’s matchup.

“It looks that way” that Filip Gustavsson will start for the Wild tonight, per John Hynes.

— Danny Webster (@DannyWebster21) May 1, 2025

Gustavsson has been a key for Minnesota throughout the series. His .919 save percentage (148-161) has led to plenty of chances to win for the Wild. He has been substantially better than the Golden Knights’ Adin Hill (.865/96-111). If Minnesota is going to pull off a victory, they’ll need Gustavsson to be himself, and they’ll need to pound the net and make Hill work.

This Minnesota Wild team has looked the part of a group that got out to a strong start this season. They are healthy and making it a series against a more-difficult opponent. There are no participation trophies though, and they’ll need to execute at a high level to extend the series.

Puck drop for game six is set for 6:30 pm CDT on Thursday night.