Wild hit stunned Canucks for 10 in franchise-record win
Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov each netted a hat trick and the Wild scored five goals in the first 5 minutes, 12 seconds of the third period in a 10-7 victory over the Vancouver Canucks Monday afternoon at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
The Wild went into the third period down 5-3 but on a five-on-three power play after the Canucks’ Teddy Blueger and Elias Pettersson picked up high-sticking and hooking penalties, respectively, at the end of the second frame.
Eriksson Ek started the onslaught, converting on the power play 29 seconds into the third period to put the Wild (26-23-6) within a goal.
Vancouver’s J.T. Miller, who also had a hat trick, went to the box 19 seconds later for a delay of game penalty, giving the Wild another five-on-three chance.
This time, Kaprizov converted, tying the game just 1 minute, 23 seconds into the third period. Still on the power play, Eriksson Ek completed his hat trick by firing a shot past Canucks goaltender Casey DeSmith 21 seconds later to put Minnesota in front for the first time of the game at 6-5.
Marco Rossi made it a two-goal advantage, scoring at even strength 4 minutes, 48 seconds into the frame, and Kaprizov netted his second of the night 24 seconds later to make it five Wild goals in the first 5 minutes, 12 seconds of the third period.
The Canucks (37-13-6) did get two back — Nikita Zadorov scored 8 minutes, 26 seconds into the third and Brock Boeser scored with 2 minutes, 8 seconds remaining in the contest. But those goals just set one franchise record and gave the Wild the chance to set their second of the day.
Jonas Brodin scored an empty-net goal with 1 minute, 7 seconds left and Kaprizov added another with 1.9 seconds remaining for the Wild’s ninth and 10th goals of the day, the most they’ve ever scored in a game in franchise history. The 17 combined goals were also a franchise record for most in a Wild game, a record that was set by the time Zadorov scored the 14th of the contest.
The seven third-period goals were also the most ever scored by the Wild in a period.
Kaprizov (3 goals, 3 assists) and Eriksson Ek (3 goals, 3 assists) each tallied six points, matching the franchise record set by Marian Gaborik, who did so twice. Matt Boldy (1 goal, 3 assists) and Mats Zuccarello (1 goal, 3 assists) each had four points apiece.
Filip Gustavsson got the start for Minnesota, but after allowing five goals on 16 shots through two periods, coach John Hynes turned to Marc-Andre Fleury for the third.
Fleury stopped six of eight shots and picked up the win, the 555th of his career.
The Wild fell behind 2-0 in the first period as the Canucks scored on their first two shots of the contest, getting goals from Ian Cole and J.T. Miller.
Eriksson Ek got one back with 50 seconds remaining in the period to make it a one-goal game entering the second period.
Pettersson got the first goal of the second period, and Miller scored two in the frame with Boldy’s goal sandwiched in between the two. Zuccarello scored on the power play with 33 seconds remaining in the second period to make it a 5-3 game.
Monday’s game was the front end of a back to back for the Wild, who face the Winnipeg Jets Tuesday night. Puck drop in Winnipeg is slated for 7 p.m.
