Kaprizov

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 4-3 win against the Vegas Golden Knights at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Wednesday night:

1. The offense arrives, just in time.
After the two teams each scored once in the opening two minutes of regulation, nobody scored again until the third, when the Wild got goals from Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Carson Soucy to open up a 4-1 lead and drive Marc-Andre Fleury from the game.

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      VGK@MIN: Soucy hammers 2-on-1 goal home off the rush

      Vegas didn't quit however, getting two goals late in the game from defenseman Dylan Coghlan, who also scored early in the game, to secure his first three NHL goals in hat-trick fashion.
      But Minnesota held on in a frantic final minute, sweeping the Golden Knights and dealing them their first broom job of the season.
      2. Off and running.
      It didn't take long for the Wild to get on the scoreboard on Wednesday night ... 19 seconds to be exact, as Eriksson Ek finished off a chance from the left circle that snuck under the glove of Vegas goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury for a quick 1-0 lead.
      For Eriksson Ek, the goal was his ninth of the season, which set a new career best for the Swedish centerman, and also put him back atop the team lead in goals after Kevin Fiala tied him last time out.

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          VGK@MIN: Eriksson Ek strikes 19 seconds into game

          But he wasn't done.
          With Minnesota up a goal in the third, Eriksson Ek doubled his pleasure and doubled his fun by doubling the Wild lead. After his initial shot from the slot was stopped by Fleury, Eriksson Ek poked at his own rebound and pushed it through the wickets of the goaltender, providing a critical insurance goal.
          Eriksson Ek, who scored his eight goals in 62 games last season, now has 10 goals in just 24 games in 2021.
          3. Consecutive contests for Kaapo.
          After securing his first career NHL shutout in a 2-0 win on Monday, rookie Kaapo Kahkonen was rewarded for his efforts by earning the start on Wednesday night.
          While his hopes for a second straight shutout were dashed just 1:42 into the game, his personal streak and the hopes of the Wild avenging last week's sweep at the hands of Vegas in Sin City were still worthy goals.
          Kahkonen wasn't severely tested through the first two periods, but when neither team is scoring, every save is critical.
          Finally, in the third period, the offensive cavalry arrived for Kahkonen and the Wild. The Golden Knights made things anxious late in the game, but Kahkonen made a couple of critical saves, including one robbery on Jonathan Marchessault, to preserve the win.
          Kahkonen stopped 24 shots in all to secure his eighth consecutive victory, extending his own franchise record and the longest streak by a goalie in the NHL this season.