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Wild looking to play the right way in home finale vs. Ducks The Wild will wrap up the home portion of its regular season schedule on Saturday with a rematch against the Ducks. May 8, 2021 1:20am Text size Copy shortlink:
But how it arrived at that outcome wasn t to the team s liking. We got to play like we want to play in the playoffs, center Joel Eriksson Ek said after Kirill Kaprizov s overtime goal sealed a 4-3 win over the Ducks on Friday at Xcel Energy Center that was covered in blemishes. It doesn t matter who is on the other side. I think we ve got to play with energy and come ready [Saturday].
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Three shots that sailed wide and three giveaways, including an egregious one on the power play.
Even rookie phenom Kirill Kaprizov wasn t immune from the lackluster moments that plagued the Wild when the team reported for a Friday evening date with the Ducks that felt like a snoozefest compared to the playoff preview earlier in the week against the West Division-leading Golden Knights.
But then Kaprizov fished out another impressive skill from his toolbox, and that s the ability to rise above the adversity and deliver the most important play of the game.
Kaprizov scored 17 seconds into overtime to lift the Wild to a 4-3 win against Anaheim in front of 3,000 at Xcel Energy Center, his second career overtime clincher and team-leading 27th goal.
It was reality.
The Wild and Golden Knights ditched their typically sharp styles for a scoring bonanza, with the Wild burying two goals in the final two minutes to shock Vegas 6-5 Monday in front of 3,000 at Xcel Energy Center in an entertaining preview of a potential playoff matchup. In a game like that, goaltender Cam Talbot said, just put the puck at the net and see what happens.
After rookie Kirill Kaprizov roofed a rebound over Golden Knights goalie Robin Lehner to tie the game with 1:32 to go in the third period, Jonas Brodin sealed the comeback just 26 seconds later on a slapshot from the point.
Kevin Fiala scored the decisive goal in the shootout, this after Cam Talbot totaled 35 saves - a handful spectacular in variety - and was perfect against all three Vegas attempts in the shootout.