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Wild Make Kirill Kaprizov Announcement After Sharks Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Antonio Losada | Last updated Apr 10, 2025 7:05 AM ET

The Minnesota Wild marked Kirill Kaprizov’s return to the lineup with a milestone—and a dramatic overtime win over the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks.

After the 27-year-old picked up a helper in Wednesday’s 8–7 overtime victory against the Sharks, the team jumped on X to announce the historic franchise milestone.

“With his in tonight's game, Kirill Kaprizov is the FASTEST player in Wild history to reach 200 assists!!” the team wrote.

It was Kaprizov's first game back since Jan. 26 after missing 28 games, but his impact was immediate. He scored twice, including the game-winner at 1:01 of OT, after tying the game 4–4 with a second-period power-play goal.

With his in tonight's game, Kirill Kaprizov is the FASTEST player in Wild history to reach 200 assists!!#mnwild x @StarTribune pic.twitter.com/8rKbWxkLTC
— Minnesota Wild (@mnwild) April 10, 2025

Kaprizov's overtime goal was also the 10th in his career, another franchise record.

“It was not our best defense game,” Kaprizov said postgame. “But it’s nice win. We take these two points.”

Kaprizov’s 200th assist came in just his 252nd NHL game, the fastest to the mark in Wild history.

Meanwhile, Joel Eriksson Ek, also returning from injury on Wednesday, scored four goals—the second four-goal game in Wild history—while Matt Boldy tallied four assists.

The Wild needed all of Erikson Ek's and Kaprizov's production on Wednesday, and thanks to them, the team moved into a tie with the St. Louis Blues for the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference.

“Obviously (Eriksson Ek) and Kirill were huge difference makers in the game,” Wild head coach John Hynes said after the game. “You give those guys credit… they were ready to play, and they were huge difference makers in the game.”

Minnesota holds the tiebreaker with one game in hand, and both franchises are tied at 93 points apiece.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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