Kirill Kaprizov generated three goals and an assist to lead the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers at Amerant Bank Arena on Saturday. Kaprizov factored into every Minnesota goal except an empty-netter that he finished himself, giving the visiting Wild a decisive edge.
Minnesota took the lead just 53 seconds into the opening period when Matt Boldy scored his first goal of the season on a snap shot, assisted by Jared Spurgeon and Kaprizov. Kaprizov doubled the advantage at 6:18 of the first period, converting on the power play with a snap shot set up by Maxim Shabanov and Quinn Hughes.
Matthew Tkachuk cut the deficit to 2-1 for Florida at 2:18 of the second period with an unassisted wrist shot. The Wild answered quickly at 5:00 of the middle frame when Kaprizov notched his second goal of the contest on a snap shot, assisted by Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek. Kaprizov completed his hat trick and sealed the 4-1 result with an unassisted empty-net wrist shot at 18:56 of the third period.
Jesper Wallstedt earned the win in net for Minnesota by stopping 29 of 30 shots. Jacob Markstrom took the loss for Florida, turning aside 25 of 28 shots. The Wild killed off all five Florida power-play opportunities while going 1-for-3 on their own man advantages, and Minnesota controlled 43 of 68 faceoffs.
The victory moved Minnesota to 3-1-1 on the season and gave the Wild a win in the first matchup of the season series against Florida. The Panthers dropped to 2-1-2 following the defeat.
Both teams will continue regular-season action on the road. Minnesota visits the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, October 20, while Florida travels to face the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday, October 21.
