Coach’s review call helps Knights win in OT, take 3-2 series lead — PHOTOS

Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy had a succinct assessment of the work video coach Dave Rogowski did late in regulation Tuesday.

“It saved our ass,” he said.

And, in turn, the season.

A potential game-winning goal by the Minnesota Wild with 1:15 to play was wiped off the scoreboard after a video review, and Brett Howden scored 4:05 into overtime to give the Knights a 3-2 win in Game 5 at T-Mobile Arena and a 3-2 lead in the first-round playoff series.

The Knights, who also won in overtime in Game 4, can close out the series in Game 6 at 4:30 p.m. Thursday in St. Paul.

It likely would have been a different story if not for Rogowski.

Wild center Ryan Hartman appeared to score the go-ahead goal with 1:15 remaining.

The officials went to an automatic replay review to see if Hartman kicked the puck in. His foot was in mid-air as the puck crossed the goal line.

Rogowski was in the locker room, checking all angles to see if there was any chance the goal would be overturned. The time it took the linesmen to look over the kicking motion gave Rogowski more time to see that the play was offsides and suggest a challenge.

Cassidy was going to challenge no matter what with the game on the line.

Rogowski was dejected when the officials said the goal was good because he thought that was in response to the offsides challenge, not the kicking motion.

But the challenge was correct. Wild right wing Gustav Nyquist entered the offensive zone a fraction early, and the goal came off the board.

“It was a great pickup by (Rogowski),” Cassidy said. “It saved our ass.”

For the second straight game in this series, overtime was needed. On Saturday, Ivan Barbashev played the role of hero.

This time, it was Howden.

“It feels good. We’re happy with the spot we’re in now going back there,” Howden said. “Obviously good we have a day to reset and be ready to go for Game 6.”

Cassidy has always been quick to give Rogowski his flowers whenever it comes to a crucial challenge this season.

Not many calls have come with this much pressure.

But sometimes it can also be the calls the Knights don’t challenge, like Minnesota’s tying goal in the third period of Game 4 when left wing Kirill Kaprizov appeared to interfere with Knights goaltender Adin Hill prior to defenseman Jared Spurgeon scoring on a wrap-around.

Cassidy said Rogowski felt that would’ve been a 50-50 call. If the Knights challenged that goal and lost, it would’ve given Minnesota a power play and a chance to take the lead.

“Typically he’s been bang on,” Cassidy said. “Every challenge that comes up or some potential, he’ll look at it so you have the probability on it.”

The probability of this one, everyone agreed, was 100 percent.

“He does a great job for us,” Cassidy said. “He’s got a good eye for that. He’s got a routine. He knows what he has to look for.”

The challenge gave the Knights life. Howden, who had battled an illness since Game 4, received a backhand pass from left wing Tanner Pearson from behind the goal for his third goal of the series.

Howden, who scored a career-high 23 goals in the regular season, became the first player in franchise history to score multiple game-winning overtime goals in the playoffs. He scored the winner in Game 1 of the 2023 Western Conference Final against the Dallas Stars.

“(Pearson) drawing two guys to him kind of left me open,” Howden said. “That just puts me alone in front and I just tried to get it off quick, but a great play by him to draw them in and free me up.”

Here are three takeaways from the win:

1. Fleury in relief

Rogowski’s heroics capped a third period that seemed scripted by Hollywood writers.

Former Knights goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury entered the Minnesota net after the second intermission because starter Filip Gustavsson exited with an illness. “Fleury” chants rang throughout T-Mobile Arena once more for the future Hall of Famer, who is expected to retire at the end of the season.

The Knights didn’t challenge their former netminder much despite entering the third period with a 2-1 lead. They had just three shots on goal in the third. That opened the door for the Wild to tie the game on right wing Matt Boldy’s fifth goal of the series 3:31 into the frame.

“It’s obviously not an easy situation, but he’s a great goaltender and a Hall of Famer,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “I think he was prepared to go in, and he did a great job for us.”

Fleury faced seven shots. A desperate Wild team woke up in the third period, but the switch to Fleury had to have helped.

“I was excited to have a chance to play again. And in this building, too. In front of the crowd and get a little chant going, too, it gives you a few butterflies,” Fleury said. “That was pretty sweet, too.”

2. Line changes work

The Knights, anchored by the line changes that won them Game 4, survived Minnesota’s push.

Center William Karlsson and captain Mark Stone also scored for the Knights, while center Jack Eichel had two assists. Goaltender Adin Hill made 20 saves in the win.

Cassidy’s shakeup included putting Eichel and Karlsson together on one line. They looked good together early. They set the tone for the Knights on the penalty kill when Eichel forced a turnover by Kaprizov and sprung a short-handed rush.

Eichel then fed Karlsson in front to give the Knights a 1-0 lead 8:25 into the first period. Kaprizov answered 13 seconds later with a one-timer from the right circle to tie the game 1-1.

The Knights’ new lines also created more traffic in front of Gustavsson. Karlsson screened the goaltender on the team’s second goal, a point shot from Stone that gave the Knights a 2-1 lead with 6:36 remaining in the first period.

The Wild challenged for goaltender interference, but the goal was upheld by video review.

“Sometimes a little change can be a little excitement,” Stone said. “Me and Jack have played together the majority of the year, but it wasn’t going well the first couple games. We got away from each other for 40 minutes, and it turned out pretty well for the group.”

3. Power play goes cold

Minnesota’s failed challenge led to one of the Knights’ three power plays. The team, despite boasting the NHL’s second-best power play during the regular season, couldn’t capitalize on any of them.

Two came in succession in the second period. Hartman was called for delay of game at 8:08, then left wing Marcus Foligno was whistled for holding 25 seconds after the Hartman penalty was killed.

The Knights had ample opportunities to put the pressure on the Wild without needing the overtime dramatics.

Despite the missed opportunities, they found a way to win and are one win from the second round.

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