By Howie Hanson
ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota Wild return home Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues with one of the NHL's hottest goal scorers, the league's most productive power play and a growing injury list threatening to undermine their promising start.
Kirill Kaprizov has scored eight goals in seven games, including five in his last three appearances, but Minnesota (4-2-1) enters the Central Division matchup following a 5-2 loss Tuesday at Winnipeg. The Wild were off Wednesday.
Kaprizov scored twice in the opening period against Winnipeg, giving him eight points during a four-game scoring streak. His production has helped compensate for injuries that have depleted Minnesota's defensive corps, forward depth and goaltending.
Defenseman Brock Faber remains sidelined after undergoing surgery for a fractured skull sustained during the preseason. Captain Jared Spurgeon missed Tuesday's game with an upper-body injury, while forward Nico Sturm was placed on injured reserve after being struck near the head by a teammate's shot Monday against Vegas.
Goaltender Filip Gustavsson and forward Nick Foligno also are on injured reserve. Minnesota recalled forward Justin Kirkland from Iowa following Sturm's injury, adding another potential option for coach John Hynes as the Wild attempt to stabilize their lineup.
The injuries have placed additional responsibility on defenseman Quinn Hughes, who has recorded at least one assist in each of Minnesota's seven games. Hughes has two goals and eight assists, extending his season-opening scoring streak with an assist on Kaprizov's second goal against Winnipeg.
Minnesota's power play has converted seven of 19 opportunities, a 36.8% success rate that ranks first in the NHL entering Thursday's games. The Wild were unsuccessful on two opportunities against Winnipeg, however, and generated only eight shots over the final 40 minutes.
The Jets outshot Minnesota 13-3 in the second period and scored three unanswered goals after Kaprizov tied the game 2-2 late in the first. Cole Perfetti scored twice, Mark Scheifele contributed a goal and two assists, and Kyle Connor added a goal and an assist as Winnipeg improved to 4-1-1.
Calvin Pickard made 20 saves in his Minnesota debut, allowing five goals on 25 shots. The Wild had defeated Vegas 4-2 the previous night behind three first-period goals and 21 saves from Jesper Wallstedt.
Thursday's opponent presents another substantial test.
St. Louis (3-2-1) arrives with points in three consecutive games, including a 7-2 victory Tuesday at Ottawa. Pius Suter, Mason McTavish and Jake Neighbours scored twice apiece against the Senators, while Pavel Buchnevich collected three assists.
The Blues have killed 17 of 19 opposing power plays, an 89.5% success rate that ranks among the league's best. That creates a significant special-teams matchup against a Minnesota power play that has been its most reliable offensive weapon.
St. Louis won two of three meetings against Minnesota last season and has won three of its last four games at Grand Casino Arena. The Blues have scored at least three goals in each of those four appearances, outscoring the Wild 17-12.
Kaprizov has nine goals and 12 assists in 21 career games against St. Louis. Buchnevich has been particularly productive against Minnesota, recording 12 goals and 13 assists in 24 career meetings.
The Wild have collected nine of a possible 14 standings points despite their injury problems. Their two regulation losses have come against Tampa Bay and Winnipeg, with an overtime defeat at Buffalo accounting for the other setback.
Minnesota's immediate concern is generating offense beyond its top performers. Kaprizov has scored eight of the Wild's goals, and Hughes has been involved in 10 scoring plays, but Winnipeg demonstrated how quickly Minnesota's attack can disappear when opponents limit its offensive-zone possession.
Thursday begins a two-game homestand before the Wild embark on a five-game western road trip. With several regulars unavailable, the next seven games will provide an early measure of Minnesota's organizational depth.