Kirill Kaprizov's early goal sets tone as Wild handle Kraken

Oct 24, 2026; Seattle, Washington, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates against Seattle Kraken forward Chandler Stephenson (9) during the first period at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images Kirill Kaprizov scored his NHL-leading 12th goal of the season and added an assist as the Minnesota Wild defeated the host Seattle Kraken 5-1 Saturday night. Blake Coleman scored twice, including an empty-netter with 3:36 remaining, while Joel Eriksson Ek added a goal and an assist and Olli Maatta also tallied for the Wild. Minnesota snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 1-1-1 on its five-game trip, which concludes with stops Sunday at Vancouver and Tuesday at Utah. Goaltender Jesper Wallstedt made 22 saves. Berkly Catton scored for Seattle, which had won its previous two games. Joey Daccord stopped 31 of 35 shots. Kaprizov, who is tied for first in goals with the Oilers' Leon Draisaitl, opened the scoring on a breakaway just 26 seconds into the game. He skated down the left wing before cutting across the low slot and putting a backhander over a sprawling Daccord. Seattle tied the score at 10:13 as Catton lifted a sharp-angled shot from low on the right wing just over Wallstedt's shoulder and inside the near post. The goal came one second after a power play expired. The Wild pulled away with three unanswered goals in the second period. Coleman scored on a breakaway at 2:11 just after he exited the penalty box, beating Daccord with a snap shot low to the glove side. Maatta made it 3-1 at 11:33 with a wrist shot from the left point that found the far upper corner of the net past a screened Daccord. Eriksson Ek added another at 13:00, after Daccord made a save on Matt Boldy's shot from the top of the left faceoff circle. The goalie couldn't quite corral the rebound and Eriksson Ek chipped the puck over Daccord's right shoulder. Kraken forward Jared McCann, the franchise's career scoring leader, didn't play as team officials said he's still being evaluated for a lower-body injury sustained in a 5-3 victory Thursday against Utah. --Field Level Media