Wild ready for challenge of Game 2 vs. Vegas

The Minnesota Wild are confident heading into Game 2 Tuesday night at Las Vegas.

Wild goaltender Cam Talbot stopped all 42 shots he faced and improved to 7-4-2 in 13 starts against the Golden Knights. A big reason for the team’s success is from blocking shots, something coach Dean Evason says is essential to have more success.

"It’s just the nature of it. But if your goalie is enforcing it as our goalies do and appreciate it as they do, then I think clearly that reinforces what they’re doing. If we can box out and not let people to the net and have our goalies see the pucks, that’s what we want to do," said Evason.

***To watch Dean Evason’s Zoom session prior to the Game 2, CLICK PLAY ABOVE***

The Wild have won six games this season against Vegas, including three on the road. But grabbing the home-ice edge was critical for the Wild, who are 6-0-2 all-time against the Golden Knights in Minnesota. The key now is to find a way to be up 2-0 heading to the "X" for Thursday’s Game 3.

"They’re gonna be desperate, so we need to be more desperate than they are. We talked all year that it doesn’t matter what happened in the last game. We have to prepare at the drop of the puck, ready to go. If we can match what we know they’ll bring, hopefully exceed it, we’ll be in a good spot," Evason added.

Tuesday’s Game 2 is scheduled for 9:10 p.m. Central.