Howden's OT goal gives Golden Knights a 3-2 win over the Wild and 3-2 series lead

LAS VEGAS (AP) — It appeared in the closing two minutes that the Vegas Golden Knights would be heading back to Minnesota on the brink of elimination.

But in a crazy sequence in which the Wild's potential winning goal was at first upheld on video review and then overturned on a Vegas challenge, the Golden Knights had new life and forced overtime.

Brett Howden then scored 4:05 into the extra period Tuesday night to give the Golden Knights a 3-2 victory and put Vegas one game away from advancing out of the Western Conference first round.

“It saved our (butt),” Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said of the offside challenge. “We've got a minute left in the game. I'm not saying we couldn't have come back, but that's tough, right?”

The Golden Knights take a 3-2 series lead back to St. Paul for Thursday night’s Game 6. Vegas, which had the second-best record in the Pacific Division this season and won the Stanley Cup in 2023, will try to advance to at least the second round for the fifth time in their eight-year history.

Minnesota will attempt to avoid another first-round series exit. The Wild's last series victory occurred in 2015 when the Wild made the second round. They could already have wrapped up this series, but the Golden Knights have won back-to-back overtime games.

“The game was another 50-50 game,” Wild coach John Hynes said. “It's the playoffs. Sometimes it goes well for you and sometimes it doesn't, but we've got another one coming up, and there's where our focus is.”

William Karlsson and Mark Stone also scored goals for the Golden Knights, and Jack Eichel had two assists. Eichel had just one assist in the first four games. Adin Hill made 20 saves.

Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy scored for the Wild and Joel Eriksson Ek had assists on both. Kaprizov has at least one point in all five games and nine for the series, and Boldy leads both teams with five goals this postseason. Filip Gustavsson recorded 23 saves on 25 shots before being replaced by former Golden Knight Marc-Andre Fleury to open the third period.

The Wild said Gustavsson had an illness. Fleury, who remains a fan favorite, made six saves, but didn't face his first shot until 6:15 remained in the third period. This playoff appearance gave Fleury a goalies record 18 years competing in the playoffs, breaking a tie shared with Patrick Roy and Martin Brodeur.

The Wild appeared on the verge of winning when Ryan Hartman put the puck past Hill with 1:15 left. Officials checked the replay to see if Hartman kicked in the puck, but after ruling it a good goal, the Golden Knights challenged that Gustav Nyquist was offside. Video review upheld the challenge, overturning the goal and keeping the game tied.

That set the game for Howden’s winner and third goal of this series, taking a Tanner Pearson pass from below the goal line and scoring from just inside the left circle.

“(Pearson) drawing two guys to him left me open,” Howden said. “They play tight defensively, so for them to kind of have a quick breakdown like that and (Pearson) to make a great play and on his backhand, too, just puts me alone in front there. I just tried to get it off quick.”

The teams traded special teams goals 13 seconds apart in the first period on the same power play. Eichel passed to Karlsson on a 2-on-1 breakaway for a shorthanded goal, and the Wild then answered when Mats Zuccarello connected with Kaprizov on a cross-ice pass to even the score.

Stone put the Golden Knights back in front with 6:36 left in the first period.

Minnesota had a great opportunity to again tie the game when Zuccarello skated out of the penalty box and was alone with Hill. But Zuccarello lost the puck, and the Golden Knights remained in front.

That's the way the score stayed until Boldy scored in front of the net 3:31 into the third period to tie the game.

This was the Golden Knights' 100th playoff game. Only the Edmonton Oilers played in that many in their first eight seasons.

Vegas has won 41 consecutive playoff games when scoring three or more goals.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Minnesota Wild defenseman Jon Merrill (4) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) defend the net against Vegas Golden Knights left wing Tanner Pearson (70) during the second period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Minnesota Wild left wing Matt Boldy (12) reacts after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) handles the puck against the Minnesota Wild during the third period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

The Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal by left wing Kirill Kaprizov against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61), center Jack Eichel (9) and defenseman Shea Theodore (27) celebrate Stone's goal against the Minnesota Wild during the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) reacts after a goal by left wing Kirill Kaprizov against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Adin Hill (33) during the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) falls to the ice chasing Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith (19) during the first period of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights center Brett Howden (21) reacts after scoring the winning goal against the Minnesota Wild during overtime of Game 5 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)