Sports · NEWS EXPLAINER
Kaprizov scores 10th goal as Wild edge Blue Jackets 2–1
Kirill Kaprizov broke a 1–1 tie on the power play, Jesper Wallstedt made 13 saves and Minnesota limited Columbus to a season-low 14 shots.
The Minnesota Wild beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 2–1 on October 18 after Kirill Kaprizov scored the deciding power-play goal at 3:06 of the second period. It was Kaprizov's league-leading 10th goal in nine games and extended his point streak to six.
Danila Yurov and Adam Fantilli exchanged late first-period goals before Kaprizov restored Minnesota's lead. Jesper Wallstedt stopped 13 shots, while Columbus goalie Cam Talbot made 32 saves.
Two late first-period goals created the tie
Minnesota opened the scoring with 1:48 left in the first period. Yakov Trenin collected a loose puck, created a two-on-one and sent a crossing pass to Yurov for his fourth goal.
The lead lasted one minute. Columbus used a delayed penalty and an extra attacker, with Fantilli scoring from beyond the right faceoff circle to make it 1–1.
Kaprizov converted the decisive power play
Minnesota entered the game with the league's second-ranked power play at 33.3 percent. At 3:06 of the second period, Kaprizov beat Talbot short side from the circle for a 2–1 lead.
The goal was Kaprizov's third on the power play this season and his 10th overall. Reuters reported that he became one of six active players to reach 10 goals in nine or fewer games.
Minnesota controlled the shot count
Talbot faced early pressure and finished with 32 saves, including three during a first-period five-on-three that lasted 1:52. Columbus produced only 14 shots in the entire game.
Wallstedt needed 13 saves for his fourth straight win. Minnesota allowed only seven Columbus shots over the final two periods and protected the one-goal lead through the third.
What the result established
Minnesota won for the fourth time in five games and opened 4–0 at home for the first time since 2016. Kaprizov reached 10 goals and extended his point streak to six games.
Those are completed-game facts, not a season forecast. The hot start and power-play production do not guarantee standings position, playoff qualification or the same scoring rate later in the schedule.
