abcnews
In a standout performance, Kirill Kaprizov netted his league-best 16th goal and contributed three assists, driving the Minnesota Wild to a 4-1 win over the San Jose Sharks on Friday night in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Quinn Hughes also had a strong game with a goal and two assists, while Maxim Shabanov and Zach Bogosian each found the back of the net for the Wild. The team has now gone 6-0-1 in their last seven contests, accumulating 27 points, which leads the Western Conference.
Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 23 saves to earn his 11th win in 16 starts, both marks ranking first among NHL goaltenders. For the Sharks, Macklin Celebrini scored, and Yaroslav Askarov stopped 25 shots. San Jose has struggled recently, with just one win in their last seven games (1-6-0).
Key Analysis
The turning point came late in the second period when Shabanov broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal. Kaprizov threaded a cross-ice pass through the slot, and Shabanov redirected it past Askarov at the far post. Hughes extended the lead at 6:55 of the third period, skating across the high slot and firing a wrist shot over Askarov's shoulder. Bogosian later added his first goal of the season to seal the victory.
Kaprizov opened the scoring at 7:56 of the first period, beating Askarov from the right faceoff circle during a 5-on-3 power play. San Jose equalized midway through the second when Celebrini, the Sharks' captain, won a faceoff in the Minnesota zone and drove to the net. The puck cycled back to Dmitry Orlov at the point, whose wrist shot was deflected in by Celebrini for his seventh goal of the season.
Minnesota has now gone 8-0-3 in its last 11 games against San Jose. The Sharks will visit Dallas on Saturday night, while the Wild host Tampa Bay on Saturday night.
Originally reported by abcnews.