'The Thrill' missing from Minnesota Wild offense in playoff series

Minnesota Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov generated a buzz this season for his playmaking ability and scorer’s touch.

Kaprizov led all NHL rookies with 27 goals and 51 points during the regular season and is the odds-on-favorite to claim the Calder Trophy. His No. 97 seems to be the runaway leader in popularity judged by the jerseys that fans sport inside the Xcel Energy Center, and a argument can be made that he is already the most dynamic player in the franchise’s history.

The Wild also seemed to feed off the energy and creativity that Kaprizov, nicknamed ‘The Thrill’,, brought to the ice each game.

But the Vegas Golden Knights have all but took that away — along with the ever-present smile that Kaprizov played with through the season — over the first four games of the best-of-seven series.

The Golden Knights hold a 3-1 series lead and can close out the Wild on Monday night in Las Vegas. The Wild have a 6-2-1 all-time record in Vegas that includes a 1-0 win in overtime in Game 1.

Minnesota has overcome a 3-1 hole in a playoff series before. It happened twice in 2003 as the Wild rallied past Colorado and Vancouver on the way to the Western Conference Finals. That run included Andrew Brunette’s overtime goal against the Avalanche in the deciding game.

It will take a spark from someone, perhaps from the team’s star player, for Minnesota to rally against the odds once again.

But Kaprizov has managed just an assist and eight shots so far and is part of a Wild offense that has been frustrated by the Golden Knights and goalie Marc Andre-Fleury in the series. He had six goals and eight points in eight games against Vegas in the regular season.

Kaprizov had just two shots in Saturday’s 4-0 loss in St. Paul which led to some speculation as to why he doesn’t seem like the same player who tore through his first NHL season — that it was perhaps more than just the Golden Knights paying more attention to him on the ice;

Reaves, after deflecting Kaprizov shot into the mesh with good D, takes mouth guard out, talks smack to Kaprizov and then mocked Kaprizov's edgework as he skated himself to the bench.

0 goals, 1 assist for Kaprizov in the series. Not sure he's completely healthy
— Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 23, 2021

Of course, Kaprizov isn’t the only player who has struggled against the Golden Knights.

Kevin Fiala, had 20 goals and 40 points in the regular season but has not been on the score sheet this series despite leading the team with 18 shots on net. Fiala, who has a -6 plus/minus rating through five games, slammed his stick to the ice in reaction to being robbed by Fleury in the third period.

“I am confident that we are going to score, including myself ,” Fiala said during a postgame media session. “I still feel like I’m going to get it done. I had great chances (Saturday) again and Fleury won it for them again ”

More from Gone Puck Wild

The Wild also are 0 for 8 on the power play after finishing 23rd in the league in that category during the regular season, and also surrendered a shorthanded goal during Game 4. Montreal is the only other team without a goal with a man advantage but the Canadiens have played just two games in a series against Toronto.

Wild defenseman and captain Jared Spurgeon had a NHL-high three PPG against Vegas during the regular season.. Minnesota entered the series 12-for-127 overall with a man advantage against Vegas since the Golden Knights entered the league.

The Wild have managed just four goals overall and have got just one puck past Fleury since the first period of Game 3. That goal by Joel Eriksson Ek in the first period of Game 4 was waved off by a questionable goalie interference call on Marcus Foligno.

That drought needs to end Monday or else the Wild’s season will.

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