Matt Dumba promises Wild will be 'different beast' at home

On Tuesday night, the Wild lost 3-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights but still left T-Mobile Arena with a split of the first two games of the West Division first-round playoff series.

Afterward, Matt Dumba was asked if the Wild had proved it can compete with the Golden Knights, a team that has five playoff series triumphs and a Stanley Cup Final appearance to its credit since its inaugural season in 2017-18.

The defenseman quickly had a counter. "We're not proving anything to ourselves," Dumba said. "We know the level that we can play at. It's more you guys, the media, putting us as underdogs. You're going to see a totally different team at home. We're a different beast."

Game 3 shifts the series to Xcel Energy Center on Thursday night, and it was Dumba who did seemingly everything possible in an attempt to swing Tuesday's game the Wild's way. A spirited first period by Minnesota saw Dumba collect four of his game-high eight blocked shots. In the second period, he fired a shot from the point past Marc-Andre Fleury, giving Minnesota a 1-0 lead against the stingy goalie. And in the third, his slapshot with 1:51 to play was the last, best chance for the Wild to tie the score.

The all-around effort from Dumba, which followed a Game 1 in which he twice was whistled for penalties, drew praise from his coach.

"Just his will," Dean Evason said when asked what impressed him. "When Matt simplifies his game, he's got such tremendous ability — skating, shooting, offensive instincts. When he's really playing north — going forward, moving the puck, moving his legs, getting up the ice — that's when he's effective."

Dumba also was effective using his body to knock down the Golden Knights' shots. In two games, he has nine of the Wild's 49 blocked shots.

"It just so happened that the plays were breaking like that and I was getting in front of shots," Dumba said. "Any of my teammates would have done the same."

Seeing Dumba sacrifice his body to stop pucks is something that can boost a team's morale, Evason said: "When shots are blocked, it's a lift for your bench, no question. When guys are paying the price, it's team-first mentality. It shows you're doing everything it takes to keep the puck out of the net. Matt's been no different."

Evason wouldn't say if he had any plans to change the team's lineup for Game 3.

"We chatted last night with [General Manager] Billy [Guerin] and the staff, and we went over the tape this morning," Evason said. "We'll get a chance to chat on the plane going back. We'll evaluate. It's no different than any other game throughout the season."

Winger Zach Parise, the team's all-time leading playoff scorer, was a healthy scratch for the two games in Las Vegas.

With the season over for Iowa of the AHL, the Wild recalled six players — including 2019 first-round draft pick Matt Boldy — as "Black Aces" to join the team for the playoffs. They will practice with the taxi squad and could be called on to play, if needed.

Boldy, 20, was effective in 14 games played for Iowa, collecting six goals and 12 assists after signing when Boston College's season ended in the NCAA tournament. The others called up from Iowa are forwards Connor Dewar and Brandon Duhaime, defensemen Calen Addison and Louie Belpedio and goalie Hunter Jones. Iowa coach Tim Army will be with the Wild, too.

"All of them will be prepared, Boldy included, if needed," Evason said.

Vegas coach Peter DeBoer said forward Max Pacioretty, whose 24 goals led the Golden Knights in the regular season, remains a game-time decision because of an undisclosed injury. Pacioretty missed Games 1 and 2.

Vegas left winger Tomas Nosek played only 1:13 in the first period before leaving because of injury. DeBoer had no update for Nosek.