The Minnesota Wild’s power play continued their hot start to the season as they added four more goals with the man-advantage. Unfortunately, the rest of their game didn’t carry over as they dropped their home opener, 7-4, to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Kirill Kaprizov added three more points as he had two goals and an assist, but the big highlight for the Wild was Zeev Buium’s first NHL goal.
Down 5-2 in the third period, the rookie defender breathed some life into the home team as he one-timed home a feed from Joel Eriksson Ek from behind the net.
bringing the Buium!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/mAUwOLNWfo
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) October 12, 2025
With the Blue Jackets on a constant commute to the penalty box, Buium ended the night with 7:37 of 5-on-4 ice time, and he took advantage, scampering around the ice and driving the play. On his goal he had two shot attempts prior to sliding up to the left circle to snap home the shot.
Minnesota ended up 4-for-8 on the power play, but couldn’t find the back of the net at even strength despite generating 35 shots on 61 attempts with things all level. On the other side of the ice, Columbus scored six of their seven goals at 5v5. With the game tied at two late in the second period, Kirill Marchenko beat Filip Gustavsson from the slot after the puck ricocheted off of a skate to him.
The Blue Jackets pushed the lead to 5-2 with goals from Zach Werenski and Marchenko (it was his third of the night) just three minutes into the third period. The Wild ended up chasing the game the rest of the way, and while Columbus kept handing them chances with power plays, the Wild couldn’t get closer after Buium’s goal.
The Wild had a franchise-high 52 shots in the loss, but also gave up 34 scoring chances, something out of the ordinary for the normally stout defensive team. They’ll have to tighten their game up as the Los Angeles Kings are in town on Monday.
Kaprizov continues hot start
Kirill Kaprizov picked up his second goal of the game (and third point on the night) with under four minutes to go to make it 6-4. Through two games, Kaprizov is up to six points and 392 for his career.
Brodin Returns
Back in the summer, it looked like Jonas Brodin would be missing several weeks of the season. In the end, he missed just one game. The 32-year-old played 16:57 of ice time, mostly with Brock Faber. While the duo was on the ice for two goals against, the Wild generated 10 scoring chances with them on the blue line.