St. Paul, MN — In a heart-stopping game that showcased the Minnesota Wild’s resilience, forward Kirill Kaprizov made a triumphant return from a prolonged injury absence, scoring the overtime winner just 1:01 into the extra period to secure an 8-7 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
Kaprizov, sidelined since January 26 due to a lower-body injury that required surgery, resumed skating in late March and marked his comeback with a stellar performance. He tallied two goals and added an assist, demonstrating his pivotal role in the Wild’s offensive dynamics.
Joining Kaprizov in a remarkable comeback, Joel Eriksson Ek scored four goals in his first game since February 22, becoming only the second player in Wild history to achieve a four-goal game. His performance, coupled with Kaprizov’s clutch overtime goal, underscored the team’s determination to maintain their playoff position despite earlier injury setbacks.
The Wild’s victory was crucial, keeping them four points ahead of the Calgary Flames for the second wild-card spot in the Western Conference, with four games remaining in the regular season. Their next challenge looms as they face the Flames on April 11, a game that could significantly impact their postseason aspirations.
