Kaprizov Speaks on Performance

ST. PAUL, Minn. --Even Kirill Kaprizov is anxious for the Kirill Kaprizov breakout game.
If it seems like it's a long time between appearances on the scoresheet for Minnesota Wild sniper, well, that's because it has been a long time.

Actually, you have to travel back in time all the way to the last minute of the first period of Game 1 when Kaprizov deftly tipped home a Jared Spurgeon point shot on the power play for the first goal scored by either team in the series. Leading up to Game 6 and a do-or-die moment for the Wild, who trail Dallas 3-2 in this best-of-seven playoff series, Kaprizov has yet to collect a point since.
There have been flashes of the Kaprizov that has established himself as one of the most dynamic young players in the game. There were 11 shot attempts in Game 4 and several Grade A scoring chances. There were a couple of good looks on the three power plays the Wild enjoyed but could not produce on in the second period of Game 5. But no points. Not yet.
For the first time since the playoffs began Kaprizov addressed the media about the series, his play and what he is hoping for moving forward. Speaking through an interpreter after Thursday's skate he acknowledged he's frustrated but believes a breakout in Game 6 is a real possibility.
"For me personally, obviously, it's a bit frustrating but I'm confident this next game I should break through and be able to help out the team and do more on my end," Kaprizov said.
Although he did suffer some stickwork at the hands of the Stars and most noticeably former Wild defenseman Ryan Suter in Game 1, Kaprizov insisted he's in good health.
"I feel great. One hundred percent," he said.
As for the pressure to produce, of course it's there for the young star who this week turned 26.
"I think there's definitely some responsibility on my end to play better," Kaprizov said. "Of course I feel that. Of course I feel that I need to perform better. But it's not something I want to dwell on and it's not something I want to think about. It's not going to make it better. I've got to go out there and I've got to play my game. If I do that I think it'll turn and the goals will come."
Being the subject of special attention by opposing teams is not new to the skilled winger. He recalled similar tactics of being hounded by opponents dating back to his time in the Kontinental Hockey League and at World Junior Championships.
"Yeah it's definitely happened in the past," he said. "I remember they were chasing me around the ice. But at the end of the day you've got to play your game and it's a good thing that they're following you around. It means you have an opportunity to do something. It means you're an impactful player. Just got to find a way to get it done."
The key in taking advantage if a team is focusing on Kaprizov is to find open teammates and to continue to go to heavy-traffic areas of the ice to look for scoring chances, he said.
"In moments like this, you got to find open guys," Kaprizov explained. "You got to find your fellow teammates, do the dirty work, get the dirty goal, grind through and if I do the little things right, if I do the little things correctly, usually the other stuff, the goals, the pretty goals start coming and you start playing the game you want to play."
The longest point drought of this past season for Kaprizov, when he was in the lineup, was two games. Last season his longest stretch without a point was three games.
Head Coach Dean Evason has consistently said he remains optimistic about Kaprizov's ability to impact this series because he is getting chances and making plays. Is it possible Evason will mix up his lines to try to coax more offense out of the team including Kaprizov and young star Matt Boldy who has three assists and no goals in the series? Yes.
"We have no doubt that our group and those guys in particular will show up in Game 6," Evason said after Game 5, a 4-0 loss in Dallas.
As for the task at hand, winning a game on Friday night to force a seventh and deciding game back in Dallas on Sunday, Kaprizov believes he and his teammates are ready for the challenge.
"I think every single player on the team knows what needs to happen tomorrow," he said. "It's a home-ice advantage, right? We got the crowd. We got beds that we can sleep in at home. This is our barn. We need to go out there and play the game that we can play and the home support and the teammates, everyone knows their responsibilities and what they need to do to be able to play the right way."
"Playoff hockey is all about kind of figuring each other out and that's kind of what's happening," Kaprizov added. "They're figuring us out. We're figuring them out as we continue throughout the series. Obviously, their power play is clicking right now. Ours not so much. Penalty kill also needs some work. But it really comes down to the small things here and there that maybe they're doing better than us but we can obviously as well do on our end to get back to our game, to do the small things right and get a victory."