“Our team's heartbeat”: Jack Eichel and Mark Stone lead Vegas Golden Knights over Minnesota Wild into second round

Jack Eichel and Mark Stone made some clutch performances down the stretch for the Vegas Golden Knights during their first-round war against the Minnesota Wild , guiding their team to the second round of the 2025 NHL Playoffs. Closing out the series with three one-goal thrillers, the defending champs provided just the proof that they continue to be one of the scariest postseason teams in the NHL.
Vegas Golden Knights dominate late-series efforts from Jack Eichel and Mark Stone
With their championship heritage shining through in the clutch moments, the Vegas Golden Knights presented an impressive grand finale in their series against the Minnesota Wild. Shea Theodore , a veteran from the team's first 2017-18 season, sparked Game 6 with a deciding power-play score — his second in three contests — after an opening-round shutout in the series.
Vegas wrapped up the series 4-2 Thursday evening with a measured 4-3 win at Game 6, becoming the first Western Conference team to punch their ticket to the second round. A revived offense by Jack Eichel, Mark Stone, and Shea Theodore, as well as an upticked game from goaltender Adin Hill , was the determining factor.
Following initial difficulties, Jack Eichel and Mark Stone came storming back into gear, generating nine points over the final three games. Both players scored a goal and assist in the deciding Game 6, with Eichel's breakaway speed game on full display on a silky breakaway goal after a sharp stretch pass from Stone.
“Him and Stoney are our team’s heartbeat. When Jack’s going, he’s pretty hard to stop, and he can shut down almost any player in the league, too, defensively,” added Adin Hill, who bounced back from a series' dismal start to save 78 of 85 shots over the final three contests. “Leaps and bounds his game has taken here, and the way he’s proven how clutch of a player he is is truly special.”
Bruce Cassidy , in his third year as coach, relied on experience and chemistry to fuel the turnaround. He re-teamed Stone and Eichel on the top line for Game 6, inserting William Karlsson in place of Pavel Dorofeyev's injury.
Despite initial pressure from Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy, who scored five goals apiece for Minnesota, Vegas's defense — led by Brayden McNabb and Shea Theodore — hardened in the second half of the series. Eichel was even able to shut down Kaprizov in key situations during Game 6.
“We knew that would happen. It just took some of those guys a little longer,” Cassidy said of Eichel.
The Golden Knights now move on to what may be their fifth semifinal appearance in eight years of existence. Since joining the league in the 2017-18 campaign, they've made the playoffs seven times, appeared in the finals twice, and captured the Stanley Cup in 2023.
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As the Vegas Golden Knights get to look like their championship squad from last season, the rest of the NHL might want to take note — the desert team is heating up at the perfect moment.