CALGARY — The Minnesota Wild will be without leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov on Saturday afternoon against the Calgary Flames and potentially longer after taking a knee-on-knee hit from the Edmonton Oilers’ Drake Caggiula.
Kirill Kaprizov has gone to the dressing room following a collision with Drake Caggiula. pic.twitter.com/pjVyofSQIt
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 22, 2024
Kaprizov will be examined by the Wild’s orthopedist Sunday in Minnesota, a team source said. Center Marat Khusnutdinov, who blocked an Evan Bouchard shot on a third-period penalty kill Thursday night in Edmonton, also won’t play against the Flames and is day to day with a lower-body injury.
Travis Boyd was recalled and will make his Wild debut on an all-Iowa fourth line with Devin Shore and Ben Jones.
Kaprizov appeared to injure his right knee in the second period of Thursday’s game when he was nailed in the open ice by Caggiula. The Oilers forward didn’t receive a penalty on the play.
Kaprizov returned to play his final shift of the second period and completed the game. After the game, Kaprizov said he was sore but thought he’d be OK. On Friday, Kaprizov abnormally didn’t take part in an optional practice at Scotiabank Saddledome. Coach John Hynes said he was one of a number of Wild players receiving treatment but thought he avoided major injury.
Kaprizov entered Saturday’s NHL action with 34 points, tied with Nathan MacKinnon for first in the league. He leads the NHL with 12 multi-point games, 1.79 points per game, 26 even-strength points (11 goals, 15 assists) and 24 points on the road.
By NHL rule, Kaprizov’s franchise-record 11-game road point streak has come to an end.
(Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
