Kirill Kaprizov Stacks More Points; Nearly Scores Impossible Goal

Everything went right for the Minnesota Wild in their 5-1 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday night. Rising superstar, Kirill Kaprizov, scored two goals. But it was the goal he didn’t score that has everyone talking.

After a beautiful pass left him alone with Lightning goalie, Brian Elliott, Kaprizov sold the backhand before pulling the puck between his legs for an impossible forehand flick that deflected directly off the far corner pipe.

Kirill Kaprizov was just inches away from scoring a STUNNING between-the-legs tally#mnwild pic.twitter.com/kxfKbbDRhH

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights (@HockeyDaily365) January 5, 2023

This near-goal reminds us of what we are yet to see from Kirill Kaprizov, who’s capable of making jaw-dropping plays like this every time the puck touches his stick. What makes a great hockey goal can be debated but there’s no doubt this would have fallen into the best of all time.

Kirill Kaprizov the GOAT

But it isn’t just the flare factor Kaprizov brings to the ice. He continues to stack goals and points. His 22 goals in 2022-23 have Kirill tied for 9th-most in the NHL, his 47 points tie him for 8th. Last night marked Kirill’s 15th multi-goal game, tying him with Jason Zucker for 5th most in Minnesota Wild history. Zucker played 456 games in a Wild sweater, Kaprizov has played in 173.

Wild fans already know this but Kirill Kaprizov is the superstar this franchise waited 20+ years for. If he remains healthy and continues to play his home games in St. Paul, he will shatter every single franchise record in the books and the team will have a chance to hang banners never seen in the rafters of an NHL arena in the State of Hockey.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan