Kaprizov Sparks NHL Week with Overtime Clinic and Strong Finish
Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov earned the first star of the league’s final game week, a distinction that highlighted his late-season surge. The 26-year-old Russian produced seven points across four appearances, tallying four goals and three assists. His overtime goals against two well-known rivals helped define a strong push for Minnesota as the regular season closed, marking him as the second player in team history to notch overtime goals in back-to-back games. Kaprizov’s late-week performances underscored his continued impact as one of the most dynamic players in the organization, a trend that has carried over from his breakout rookie season. (Attribution: NHL stats report)
During this season’s campaign, Kaprizov logged 32 NHL games, finishing with 12 goals and 19 assists. This output reflects a steady scoring pace and playmaking ability that keeps him among the league’s top Russian-born talents contributing at both ends of the rink. His production has consistently placed him at the center of Minnesota’s offense, with his vision and skating creating opportunities for teammates while he also accepts primary scoring responsibilities in tight situations. (Attribution: team stats summary)
Looking back to the previous season, Kaprizov ranked as one of the most productive Russian players in the league. He stood behind names like Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Artemi Panarin, and Nikita Kucherov in overall output among his compatriots, a grouping that underscores the high level of competition and the expectations placed on Kaprizov to lead the next wave of Russian stars in North American hockey. (Attribution: league season review)
The second star of the week went to Swedish forward Mika Zibanejad of the New York Rangers, who collected seven points in three games, with four goals and three assists. The third star recognition went to Patrick Kane of the Detroit Red Wings, an American forward who posted eight points over four games with four goals and four assists. These selections illustrate the broad talent pool across the league and the kind of performances that shaped the closing stretch of the season. (Attribution: league awards digest)
In other notes, there were mentions of Ilya Kovalchuk reappearing in KHL registration conversations, a reminder of how players move between leagues and seasons across different regions. The ongoing cross-border dynamics add context to rosters, player development paths, and the strategies teams use as they prepare for postseason play. (Attribution: player movement tracker)