Wild Eliminated by Vegas, First-Round Streak Hits Nine

The Minnesota Wild were eliminated from the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the first round for the ninth consecutive time, falling 4-2 in the series to the Vegas Golden Knights after a 3-2 loss in Game 6. Despite strong efforts from Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy, Ryan Hartman, and goaltender Filip Gustavsson, the Wild could not overcome key injuries and limited roster depth caused by salary cap constraints. Vegas, with major contributions from Jack Eichel and Mark Stone, capitalized on Minnesota's struggles and won several close games, including two in overtime. The Wild's inability to advance past the opening round now spans a decade, prompting speculation about offseason changes as they gain cap flexibility. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights advance to face the winner of the Edmonton-Los Angeles series in the Western Conference Semifinals.