Alex Tuch, Marc-Andre Fleury spark Vegas to 3-1 victory over Wild to even series

LAS VEGAS - How does it feel to control play, take most of the shots, and still lose like Vegas did in Game 1?

The Wild found out in the rematch.

After the Wild eked out a 1-0 overtime win on Sunday, the team switched spots with the Golden Knights in Game 2 as Vegas overcame being upstaged to rally 3-1 on Tuesday night in front of 8,683 at T-Mobile Arena and even the best-of-seven series 1-1.

Game 3 of the first-round matchup is Thursday at Xcel Energy Center.

"Obviously, the loss stings and [in the] playoffs, you don't really want moral victories," Wild center Nick Bonino said. "But I think tonight we got better [and] played better."

Former Wild winger Alex Tuch scored twice, including the go-ahead goal at 17 minutes, 19 seconds of the second period when he one-timed in a behind-the-net feed from Mattias Janmark soon after the Wild was back to full strength after killing off a Vegas power play.

Tuch also added a power-play goal with 53 seconds remaining in the third period after rookie Kirill Kaprizov was whistled for a tripping penalty with the Wild in a 6-on-5 formation — a call that stalled the Wild's comeback bid before Tuch pulled the plug.

But goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury was the backbone of this victory for the Golden Knights with 34 saves that helped Vegas avoid going into a 0-2 hole for the first time in its postseason history.

As for the Wild, the team is now 2-13 all-time in Game 2s.

Early on, though, it looked like the Wild might ditch that trend and return to St. Paul in the driver's seat in the series.

After a timid-looking start to Game 1, the Wild was much more aggressive Tuesday.

In fact, the team dominated the Golden Knights in the first period and could have led by multiple goals if not for the stellar play of Fleury, who made 17 saves alone in the first.

He stopped shots in tight, from a distance and even had a sequence when he kept the puck out while lying down in the crease.

"We loved our start," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "We loved the whole game, not just our team. The game was fantastic. They're going to be like that the rest of the way."

BOXSCORE: Vegas 3, Wild 1

Fleury's best work in succession came in when he made consecutive saves on three shots from Kevin Fiala, one from Victor Rask and another from Ryan Suter — five shots by the Wild in 27 seconds, this after the team managed only five against Fleury in the entire first period of Game 1. Overall, Fiala racked up eight shots and was the most dangerous skater on the ice despite not producing any offense — repeatedly getting foiled by Fleury.

"What can I do?" Fiala said. "What can we do? Just keep pushing. I feel tonight was his night."

The pressure had Vegas looking frazzled, a rare sight this season, but the action was scoreless until the second period.

That's when the Wild finally capitalized, going ahead at 12:07 on a point shot by Matt Dumba that sailed by Fleury while Marcus Foligno was setting a screen in front of the net.

The finish continued a strong game by Dumba, who was a shot-blocking fiend in the first — making four of his eight total blocks in the period.

But the Wild had the lead for only 18 seconds before the Golden Knights responded, a shot by Jonathan Marchessault from the right faceoff circle that flew top-shelf on Wild goalie Cam Talbot — snapping Talbot's shutout streak to open the series at 95:45.

Later in the period, Ian Cole was penalized for roughing and although the Wild survived being shorthanded, Tuch scored the decisive goal soon after play was back to 5-on-5. Talbot finished with 25 saves.

The Wild had only one power play in the game, in the first period, but the team blanked on its opportunity — one of many unsuccessful looks that could have flipped the game in a different direction if the Wild converted.

"It was tough not coming out with a goal," Suter said, "but the way that we played, we have to continue to play that way."