Golden Knights struggle early, get pounded by Wild

The snowball started rolling 26 seconds into the game. It only got bigger — and worse — from there.

The Golden Knights had no answer for the offensive onslaught by the Minnesota Wild in a 5-2 loss at T-Mobile Arena on Monday night.

Brayden McNabb and Mark Stone scored, but the goals came after the Knights (17-9-11) found themselves down 5-0 midway through the second period.

“We didn’t close plays off quick enough,” Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said. “Too many easy plays for them.”

Goaltender Carter Hart allowed five goals on 12 shots, his last coming at 6:56 of the second period when Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek finished a tic-tac-toe play in front of the net.

Akira Schmid made all 15 saves he faced in relief. Schmid is scheduled to start Wednesday against the Nashville Predators after Hart started the past four games.

It’s the second straight game the Knights allowed five goals, after losing 6-5 to the Colorado Avalanche in a shootout on Saturday. They’ve allowed 22 goals in their last five games and are 1-3-1.

“We’ve got to plug some holes there,” Cassidy said. “That’s the area we’ve got to be better at.”

The uphill climb started not even a minute into the game.

Wild left wing Marcus Johansson’s one-timer from the right circle beat Hart 26 seconds into the game to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.

“Obviously, not a great start,” Stone said.

The second verse was the same as the first to begin the second period. Wild captain Jared Spurgeon scored 26 seconds into the middle frame on a shot from the left circle for a 3-0 lead.

“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot in the first 22 minutes,” Stone said.

Defenseman Brock Faber and Eriksson Ek scored twice within 2:24 to make it five goals on 12 shots, putting an end to Hart’s night.

“It was five early, Carter hasn’t played a lot of hockey. Let’s get Schmid in there,” Cassidy said of the decision. “I’m not blaming it on the goalie, but sometimes after five, you don’t want to bury the guy either.”

Five Minnesota players had at least two points. Johansson had four. Johansson, Eriksson Ek and Boldy were each a plus-4.

Brett Howden and Braeden Bowman, who drew the matchup for that line, were a minus-4. Reilly Smith was a minus-3 on that line, but was on the ice for McNabb’s goal at 16:50 of the second to end Filip Gustavsson’s shutout bid.

Here are three takeaways from the loss:

1. Hertl tossed

It didn’t take long for it to go from bad to worse for the Knights.

Less than two minutes after Johansson’s goal, center Tomas Hertl was given a five-minute major and a game misconduct for a boarding penalty on Wild center Ryan Hartman in the defensive zone.

Hertl doesn’t carry a dirty reputation. It’s only the second time in his career he’s been tossed from a game because of a penalty — also a boarding call in January 2018 against the Winnipeg Jets.

Hartman was bleeding from his forehead. Because blood was drawn, it led to the officials ejecting Hertl.

“I don’t think Tommy was trying to kill him or anything,” Stone said. “If that guy handles the puck, he’s probably still in the game.”

The Knights killed the five-minute power play, but couldn’t generate any momentum from it. Right wing Matt Boldy scored at 14:06 of the first to push the lead to 2-0.

The Knights are already down centers Jack Eichel and William Karlsson, and are resorting to playing Mitch Marner at first-line center.

Losing Hertl, especially that early, put the Knights behind the eight ball.

“To me, maybe because he drew blood. Could be as simple as that,” Cassidy said. “I was surprised it was a five-minute and an ejection. Usually with an ejection, there’s some sort of nefarious behavior or intent. I didn’t see that, but that’s not my decision.”

2. Quiet night from Hughes

The Knights didn’t even have to deal with a dangerous game from star defenseman Quinn Hughes, who played a team-high 23:01 and had only two shots on goal.

It was the first time the Knights faced Minnesota (24-10-6) with Hughes in the lineup since they acquired the former Norris Trophy winner from the Vancouver Canucks on Dec. 13.

The Wild improved to 6-1-1 with Hughes in the lineup.

It was Hughes’ defensive partner Faber with the strong night offensively with the goal at 4:32 of the second. His point shot beat Hart with traffic in front.

3. Eichel looming

There was good news for the Knights before the puck drop.

Eichel, their No. 1 center and leading scorer, could be returning soon after he was a noncontact participant at morning skate on Monday.

Eichel, who has 41 points in 31 games, missed his sixth consecutive game with a lower-body injury and an illness.

Cassidy continued to call Eichel day to day and did not rule him out against the Predators for a New Year’s Eve tilt on Wednesday.

The Knights could use all the reinforcements they can get for that one. Nashville, which won 4-3 in Utah on Monday night, has won nine of its last 13 games.

Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.