Wild get strong debut from Michael McCarron, topple Golden Knights

Minnesota completes season sweep of Vegas with 4-2 victory

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Filip Gustavsson made 29 saves and Michael McCarron had a goal and an assist in his Minnesota debut as the Wild beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 on Friday in Las Vegas. Mats Zuccarello, Zach Bogosian and Vladimir Tarasenko also scored goals for Minnesota, which completed a three-game sweep of the regular-season series with the Golden Knights.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Wild in the thick of the playoff race in the Western Conference, while the loss drops the Golden Knights out of first place in the Pacific Division, with the Anaheim Ducks now taking over the top spot.

The details

Minnesota took a 1-0 lead in the second period on a breakaway goal by Zuccarello. The Wild then extended the lead to 3-0 midway through the period with goals by Bogosian and McCarron. Vegas cut the deficit to 3-1 early in the third on a power play goal by Pavel Dorofeyev, but Tarasenko restored the three-goal lead for Minnesota late in the game. Dorofeyev scored again to make it 4-2, but the Wild held on for the victory.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • Minnesota took a 1-0 lead at the 5:18 mark of the second period.
  • The Wild extended their lead to 3-0 midway through the second period.
  • Vegas cut the deficit to 3-1 at the 2:17 mark of the third period.
  • Tarasenko restored Minnesota's three-goal lead with 4:18 remaining in the game.

The players

Filip Gustavsson

The goaltender for the Minnesota Wild, who made 29 saves in the game.

Michael McCarron

A forward for the Minnesota Wild, who had a goal and an assist in his debut with the team after being acquired in a trade.

Mats Zuccarello

A forward for the Minnesota Wild, who scored the team's first goal of the game.

Pavel Dorofeyev

A forward for the Vegas Golden Knights, who scored two goals in the game, including the team's first goal to make it 3-1.

Akira Schmid

The goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights, who made 20 saves in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This game showcased the depth and talent of the Minnesota Wild, as they were able to overcome the loss of several key players and get a strong performance from newcomer Michael McCarron in his debut. The loss drops the Golden Knights out of first place in the Pacific Division, highlighting the competitive nature of the Western Conference playoff race.