Kirill Kaprizov scores twice as Wild finally start filling net in 4-1 victory over Ducks

ANAHEIM, CALIF. — Like most of the Wild lineup, Kirill Kaprizov was playing his second game in as many nights.

But his workload was a little lighter than many of his teammates.

After getting ejected for cross-checking the Kings' Drew Doughty in the face on Tuesday, Kaprizov made a splashy return by snapping the Wild's goalless skid and leading the team to a 4-1 win over the Ducks on Wednesday in front of 14,803 at Honda Center by burying two goals.

"Well rested," Matt Dumba said.

Kaprizov ended the team's scoring drought at 159 minutes, 45 seconds, a span that included back-to-back shutout losses to Los Angeles and Seattle, before adding his team-leading 10th tally in his 13th game.

Only Brian Rolston (2006-07) has recorded 10 goals in fewer games (12) in Wild history.

"Very motivated I think with everything that went on last night and what have you," coach Dean Evason said. "He was definitely ready to play."

Matt Boldy had the shot that Kaprizov tipped in to pick up his 50th career point in his 60th NHL game and become the second fastest in Wild history to reach that mark behind only Kaprizov (54 games).

"That's obviously our go-to guy," Joseph Cramarossa said of Kaprizov, "and when he gets a goal like that, the team rallies behind it."

Only 1:41 into the third, Dumba served up the tiebreaker with his first goal of the season.

"I thought I've had some chances late," Dumba said. "Just a little bit snakebit. It was good to get it done and get a goal."

During an ensuing 5-on-3 advantage, Kaprizov provided some insurance, stuffing in a give-and-go pass from Mats Zuccarello at 3:23, before Cramarossa padded the Wild's lead by tallying his first goal with the team at 11:42. In the end, 10 Wild players posted at least one point.

"He's going to make plays and find a way to find the back of the net," Dumba said of Kaprizov. "That's what he expects out of himself. That's what we've gotten used to. Sometimes we take it for granted. He's an awesome player."

The Ducks actually had one other puck go into the Wild net, with Trevor Zegras pulling off "The Michigan," a lacrosse-style goal, early in the second period against Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson.

"It's ridiculous," Gustavsson said. "I watched it in slo-mo between the periods. The speed he does it with picking up the puck by himself and doing that, it's just crazy."

But the Wild signaled for a video review, their first coach's challenge of the season, and the play was ruled offside to overturn the highlight-reel finish.

"There was absolutely no question," Evason said. "We were calling it right from the start."

"It was a mental relief to get the first win," Gustavsson said. "We had a tough start as a goalie pair the first three games with a lot of goals and then [Marc-Andre] Fleury stepped up and got some success, and my success has waited until now and now I finally got a win. So, it feels good."