The Wild has played a handful of former West Division teams that saw him last season, but it has also gone against a number of clubs that saw Kaprizov only on the night-time highlight reel shows last season.
And they have no desire to be a part of those reels this year.
Still, Kaprizov said the reason for his goal-scoring drought to start the season was missed opportunities more than any other factor.
"It definitely felt like the teams kind of targeted me, but it's my fault," Kaprizov said. "I should have been scoring. I had the chances. I didn't put them in the back of the net. So, that's on me. I own that."
Wild coaches were sure to give Kaprizov some space during the first few games. Dean Evason admitted Thursday they could see Kaprizov wearing the disappointment of not scoring on a couple of different occasions, but he didn't sulk long.
"They knew I was hard on myself and that I was already overthinking, so they tried not to say much, let me focus," Kaprizov said. "Like we would say in Russia, 'sometimes I do need a kick in the ass to get going.'"
Kaprizov hopes the overtime winner against the Sens serves as that swift kick, even though slow starts - at least in the goal-scoring department - aren't new for him.
"Most of my seasons when I start, I start pretty slow," Kaprizov said. "Since I can remember, my seasons start slow and then I build momentum and the goals and everything else comes."
That checked out last season, when a breakaway goal in 3-on-3 overtime got Kaprizov off to a great start as a rookie. But his extra-time winner in Los Angeles was actually his only goal through the first seven games.
That six-game goal drought was one of two he had last season, and was his longest until the eight gamer to start this year. Kaprizov had just three goals through 14 games lasts season, but had 11 points during that stretch because of eight assists he had also accumulated.
But he scored one goal in game 15, then went off, tallying 24 goals over the final 41 games of the regular season.
"I remember a game that comes to mind in Ufa [in the KHL], where it was the 10th game and I finally scored and I happened to score three that night and then every game after that they started coming. So I'm hoping for the same," Kaprizov said. "It all comes from your head not to think about it and just to play, help the team out as much as you can and not focus on just the goals and just being the best player you can be."
That wasn't always easy.
"I was actually pretty nervous in the beginning. I definitely was kind of in my own head and I was a little nervous. But then I relaxed. I just started focusing on the game," Kaprizov said. "I finally scored and I think that's kind of the mentality I need to have moving forward is just focusing on my game and not really so much about the goals or my points, just focusing on the team and it'll all come."
A 6-3-0 start to the season has helped, especially considering Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala - the Wild's two most potent offensive players - have scored a combined two goals to start the year.
Both players have proven in the past that one goal can get them hot for an extended stretch. And once that happens? The sky could be the limit.
"Feels a lot better once you get the first one," Kaprizov said. "I was focused on it after the second and third game had I not scored. Obviously this will give me a little bit of confidence, but not to really think about not scoring, just play the game and the goals will come if you play well. That's where I need to focus."
