Kirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy give Wild different breed of superstars up front: 'Special players'

AtlanticBruinsCanadiensLightningMaple LeafsPanthersRed WingsSabresSenatorsMetropolitanBlue JacketsCapitalsDevilsFlyersHurricanesIslandersPenguinsRangersCentralAvalancheBlackhawksBluesJetsMammothPredatorsStarsWildPacificCanucksDucksFlamesGolden KnightsKingsKrakenOilersSharksScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsFantasyNHL OddsNHL PicksPlayoff projectionsNHL Draft rankingRed Light NewsletterKirill Kaprizov, Matt Boldy give Wild different breed of superstars up front: ‘Special players’Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy celebrate a goal against the Stars on Saturday. Jerome Miron / Imagn Images Share article1DALLAS — First, there was Matt Boldy’s slick zone entry on the power play and one-touch pass to set up a tone-setting first goal from Joel Eriksson Ek. Then it was Kirill Kaprizov’s turn, ripping an elite shot into a tiny spot, top shelf, to beat Jake Oettinger. With the two top-end skill plays, the Minnesota Wild were off and running with a two-goal lead on their way to a dominant 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday in Game 1 of their first-round series. Kaprizov and Boldy, the dynamic duo who combined for 10 goals in the Wild’s first-round series against the Vegas Golden Knights last season, are off to a hot start again. And if they continue to play this way — if the Wild’s two 40-goal scorers can outplay the Stars’ two in Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson — it’ll go a long way toward lifting Minnesota to its first series victory in a decade. “When our top forwards are playing the way they did last night and in Vegas last year, it’s almost impossible to slow down,” Wild defenseman Brock Faber said. “When you have those other roles filled, and playing the right style and wearing teams down and making good puck decisions, we can roll over on teams and make them feel us. And I think (Saturday night), that was the case.” The Wild emphasized on Sunday that the blowout victory was just “one game” in what could be a long series. The franchise hasn’t held a 2-0 lead in its history. Coach John Hynes said the team wants to get better and not be “satisfied,” though he was happy with how everyone played so he didn’t anticipate any lineup changes for Game 2 (including leaving Jesper Wallstedt in goal). While this was a complete team effort, Boldy and Kaprizov had their fingerprints all over the win. It goes beyond Boldy’s two goals or Kaprizov’s snipe or their combined six points. They sparked a 2-for-4 power play, and Boldy was a key part of the penalty kill. The Wild are built on their ability to win puck battles — ranking fourth in the NHL in puck battle win percentage during the regular season, per Sportlogiq. Joel Eriksson Ek is third among all NHL players in puck battle wins, per Sportlogiq’s Mike Kelly, and among wingers, Kaprizov and Boldy are first and fifth in the league. “Those guys have a big role on the team, and some of that is being extremely competitive guys that can drive play and put the other team on their heels, and they do it in their way,” Hynes said. “So when they’re doing that, it certainly gives the team a little bit of juice.” Both Boldy and Kaprizov said they were feeding off each other during the season as they each reached and surpassed the 40-goal mark, and they were playing some of their best hockey down the stretch. They’re benefitting from resting some in the final week of the season, with Kaprizov and Boldy sitting out the last two regular-season games. Kaprizov was just coming back from a lower-body injury in the 2023 playoffs when they faced the Stars. “It feels so much better than I play against this team in last playoffs,” Kaprizov said. “It feels more comfortable, and it’s easy to play when you feel good.” Kaprizov’s goal Saturday was highlight-reel worthy, giving the Wild a 2-0 lead in the first minute of the second period. The Russian winger had plenty of time, getting the puck with a lot of space by the left circle. He picked his spot and beat Oettinger in a barely-recognizable opening over his left shoulder. Kaprizov credited defensemen Brock Faber and Quinn Hughes for sparking a breakout, as well as good passing from Mats Zuccarello and Ryan Hartman. As for the shot? He wanted to pass to Zuccarello. “In the last moment, shoot it in the net,” Kaprizov said. “Little lucky shot.” “That short side roof, there’s probably not a goalie in the league that hasn’t given up that kind of (goal),” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said. “That’s why they’re special players, right? Three inches, maybe, sitting up there, and he finds it.” When Kaprizov is at his best, there’s a tenacity to his game. A relentlessness on the forecheck. Other superstars have said it’s what they admire most about him. “He has the ability to have poise and read plays, but then he also has the ability to just kind of run right down your throat,” said former NHLer Brian Boyle, now an NHL Network analyst. “Which is just the speed … quickness. It looks like he has just a motor on him, especially on the offensive side of the rink. He gets over that red line and his legs are always turning. He’s looking to find space. He can finish. He’s got a great shot. It’s. He’s electric to watch. “He’s one of those players that — if you have a person who’s maybe never been to a game or doesn’t know a whole lot about hockey, (they can look) at the game and say, ‘That guy is different than everybody else.’” Those around the Wild, and even other coaches in the league, like the Blues’ Jim Montgomery, believe that Boldy isn’t far off from Kaprizov in terms of the entire package as a player. Boldy has talked about how he’s so much more comfortable in his own game since the last Dallas series two years ago, and a heart-to-heart with president of hockey operations and general manager Bill Guerin played a role in that evaluation. Then came Boldy’s breakout performance in the February Olympics, scoring a highlight goal against Canada in the gold-medal game. “Matt Boldy’s been a good, big-game player and has had big moments internationally,” said former NHLer Mike Rupp, an NHL Network analyst. “I think that’s something they have going for them a little better than they did maybe last time. The way he’s revered now. He’s elite. As the armchair GM here, Matt Boldy is a huge piece of the puzzle here. I’ll put it this way: Of the 40-goal scorers in this series, he’s the one I’m most confident that’s going to be looking like himself.” Boldy’s two-way play has really stood out — not just his offensive gifts. Take his play to help set up his first goal on Saturday. It started with a forecheck. Then, Dallas defenseman Tyler Myers was going to clear the zone when Boldy stripped the puck away from him and got it deep again. “He’s probably got one of the hardest sticks in stick battles,” Robertson said. “Guys have to try to equal or match that and not be surprised by it.” A few moments after the strip, with Joel Eriksson driving the net and Kaprizov close by, Boldy put in a loose puck near the back post. You can see a different maturity in Boldy, too — a little more leadership, almost always deferring credit to teammates, even on a play like that. “Especially in the playoffs, things are tight,” Boldy said. “You don’t get a bunch of opportunities. You try to create stuff on little plays like that. I strip it, turn and shoot it at a D, and you watch (Eriksson Ek) take four hard strides, gets into the corner against a huge defenseman, wins the battle. Kirill comes and helps. There’s so many things that come together for chances to happen” There’s going to be pushback by the Stars — and their stars. Johnston, Robertson and Mikko Rantanen were held to a combined two points on Saturday, with Robertson scoring the team’s only goal on the power play. Johnston was robbed by Wallstedt on a key two-on-one late in the second. Rantanen had more penalty minutes (four) than shots on goal (three). But Kaprizov and Boldy have the ability to turn a series and put the Wild on their backs for a long run. “On the big stage, there’s certain guys that get something done in a big moment, and it’s that ‘it’ factor,” Boyle said. “I think (Boldy) has the ability to do that — the potential to do that. He’s a quiet personality, a quieter kid. But he’s not quiet with his game. He goes and demands ice time, he demands the puck, and he’s going to put his stamp on games.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Joe Smith is a senior writer for The Athletic covering the Minnesota Wild and the National Hockey League. He spent the previous four years as Tampa Bay Lightning beat writer for The Athletic after a 12-year-stint at the Tampa Bay Times. At the Times, he covered the Lightning from 2010-18 and the Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2008-13. Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeSmithNHL