Kaprizov Burns Panthers, Wallstedt Shuts the Door
Kirill Kaprizov supplied the headline with a hat trick in the Minnesota Wild’s 4-1 win, but the story was how Minnesota picked better looks and got the last save.
Minnesota didn’t just shoot — they created the more dangerous stuff. Their chances added up to 4.76 expected goals for to Florida’s 3.19, and they cashed. Kaprizov needed only four shots to bag three, while Matt Boldy added one and an assist to keep the top unit humming.
At the other end, Jesper Wallstedt turned Florida’s volume into frustration. He stopped 29 of 30 and erased about two more than expected — a +2.19 goals saved above expected night — including 14 saves on high-danger looks. The Florida Panthers had their looks and the bad breaks: three posts, one each from Carter Verhaeghe, Matthew Tkachuk, and Sam Reinhart. Jacob Markstrom’s 25 of 28 wasn’t enough to match it.
Minnesota leaves with confidence that quality and finish aligned. Florida leaves knowing the chances were there, but the bounces and the goalie weren’t.
