Minnesota Wild defeat Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1

Kirill Kaprizov Scores 10th Goal as Minnesota Wild Defeat Columbus Blue Jackets

Kirill Kaprizov scored his NHL-leading 10th goal and goaltender Jesper Wallstedt stopped 13 shots to lift the Minnesota Wild to a 2-1 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night in St. Paul, Minnesota. The win improved the Central Division-leading Wild record to 6-2-1.

Danila Yurov also added a goal for Minnesota, while Adam Fantilli provided the lone scoring response for Columbus. Blue Jackets goaltender Cam Talbot turned away 32 shots.

Power-Play Execution Breaks Second-Period Tie

The game hinged on a second-period power play when Kaprizov broke a 1-1 tie at the 3:06 mark. Stationed at the bottom of the left faceoff circle, Kaprizov beat Talbot over the shoulder to capture the lead.

Wallstedt denied Connor Garland on a clean breakaway just two minutes into regulation, while Talbot answered by stopping three shots during a protracted 5-on-3 Columbus penalty kill that lasted 1 minute and 52 seconds.

Late First-Period Scoring Exchange

Minnesota broke the scoreless deadlock late in the opening period. Yakov Trenin intercepted a turnover at the Columbus blue line, bypassed a defender on his drive toward the net, and feathered a cross-crease pass to Yurov for a straightforward tap-in goal.

Columbus responded just a minute later during a delayed penalty sequence. Fantilli fired a heavy slap shot through traffic that eluded Wallstedt to level the score before Kaprizov’s decisive strike in the middle frame.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Matchup

What was the final score of the Wild and Blue Jackets game?

The Minnesota Wild defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 on Sunday night in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Who scored the game-winning goal for Minnesota?

Kirill Kaprizov scored the goal on a second-period power play, marking his NHL-leading 10th goal.

What are the upcoming schedules for both teams?

The Columbus Blue Jackets host Toronto on Tuesday night, while the Minnesota Wild travel to face Edmonton on Tuesday to begin a five-game trip.

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