ST. PAUL, Minn. — Kirill Kaprizov netted two goals, achieving the 20-goal mark for the season as the Minnesota Wild triumphed over the Philadelphia Flyers with a score of 4-1 on Saturday.
Matt Boldy and Marco Rossi also contributed to the scoreboard, while Marc-Andre Fleury showcased his skills by stopping 20 out of the 21 shots he faced. With this victory, the Wild momentarily secured the top position in the league with a total of 44 points.
For the Flyers, Samuel Ersson made 19 saves, but Philadelphia managed to lessen Fleury’s chances of a shutout with a goal from Travis Sanheim with just under six minutes left in the game.
Kaprizov kicked off the game by scoring a goal from a challenging angle, which deflected off Ersson’s helmet and found the back of the net. He later sealed the game by scoring into an empty net with 2:10 remaining on the clock.
In the second period, Boldy capitalized on a breakaway opportunity, increasing the score. Rossi finished an impressive 2-on-1 play alongside Mats Zuccarello, who made his return after missing 12 games due to a lower-body injury, earning an assist in the process.
A noteworthy point for the Flyers is that their seven-game away points streak was halted.
On the other hand, the Wild were looking to bounce back after a heavy 7-1 loss against Edmonton on Thursday. This victory ensured that Minnesota does not face back-to-back regulation losses this season. The team also welcomed back Zuccarello and Jonas Brodin, both of whom had significant absences, and each provided an assist during the match.
A critical moment unfolded late in the second period when the game was tied at 4-on-4. Wild defenseman Brock Faber recovered a loose puck in his zone and sent a long pass toward center ice. Boldy outpaced everyone to secure the puck, skillfully deked Ersson down before lifting a forehand shot into the goal for a 2-0 lead.
A key statistic from the game featured the Flyers’ power play, which failed to convert on three opportunities against Minnesota’s struggling penalty kill, ranked 30th in the league.
Looking ahead, the Wild will be facing the Vegas Golden Knights at home on Sunday, while the Flyers are scheduled to visit the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday.