KIRILL KAPRIZOV

The NHL is wrapping up the first round of the playoffs with a rare treat.

Kaprizov has an NHL-leading seven goals in the playoffs, already a Wild record for a series. The Wild are 4 for 19 on the power play, and Kaprizov has three of the goals. The series returns to St. Louis for Game 6 on Thursday night. That gave the Wild a 2-1 edge, completing the first lead change in the series. ... Marian Gaborik, with nine goals in 18 games in 2003, holds the Wild scoring record for a single postseason.

Vladimir Tarasenko had three goals in the third period to break open a tied game and series, and the St. Louis Blues pushed the Minnesota Wild to the edge of elimination with a 5-2 victory in Game 5.

Wild Blues Hockey St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in St. Louis. Binnington made 28 saves and the Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 on Sunday to even the best-of-seven Western Conference series at two games apiece. Perron also had an assist for St. Louis. Game 5 is Tuesday night at St. Paul, Minnesota, before returning to St. Louis for Game 6 on Thursday. St. Louis struck first when Kyrou pounced on his own rebound just 4:19 into the game.

Wild Blues Hockey St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou (25) celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Wild, Sunday, May 8, 2022, in St. Louis. Ryan O'Reilly added a goal and two assists, and Perron also had an assist for St. Louis. Game 5 is Tuesday night at St. Paul, Minnesota, before returning to St. Louis for Game 6 on Thursday. St. Louis struck first when Kyrou pounced on his own rebound just 4:19 into the game. CONSISTENT SUCCESSMinnesota and St. Louis are two of just four teams to have made the playoffs nine times in the last 10 seasons.

Jordan Kyrou and David Perron each scored twice, Jordan Binnington made 28 saves in his first start this postseason and the St. Louis Blues beat the Minnesota Wild 5-2 to even the best-of-seven Western Conference series at 2-2.

Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and an assist, Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 29 shots, and the Minnesota Wild beat the St. Louis Blues 5-1 to take a 2-1 lead in their Western Conference playoff series.

Vladimir Tarasenko had a goal and an assist for the Blues, who host Game 3 in St. Louis on Friday night. In between Kaprizov’s scores, Eriksson Ek thought he had a hat trick himself. Eriksson Ek broke Husso's scoreless streak at 69:33 when he scored on Minnesota's first on-target shot. After Justin Faulk was called for high-sticking, Husso left a juicy rebound of Jonas Brodin's slap shot out front that Gaudreau knocked in. Then, just 51 seconds into the second period, Eriksson Ek gave the Wild a 4-0 lead.

Kirill Kaprizov had a hat trick and Joel Eriksson Ek scored twice for the Minnesota Wild, who snapped back at the St. Louis Blues with a 6-2 victory to even their first-round playoff series at one game apiece.

Kirill Kaprizov also scored and Cam Talbot made 37 saves for the Wild, who are 10-1-1 in their last 12 games. Fiala has 10 goals and eight assists in his last 14 games. Frederik Andersen stopped 24 shots for the Hurricanes, who fell to 17-5-2 in their last 24 games. Sharp goaltending kept the game scoreless through a slew of prime chances, until the 10:14 mark of the second period. Kaprizov knocked in his own rebound for his 20th goal of the season to give the Wild a 2-0 lead at 1:16 of the third period.

Kevin Fiala and Frederick Gaudreau each had a goal and an assist for the Minnesota Wild in a 3-2 victory over Carolina.

NHL All Star Skills Hockey St. Louis Blues' Jordan Kyrou participates in the Skills Competition fastest skater event, part of the NHL All-Star weekend, Friday, Feb. 4, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) (Rick Scuteri)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman won the Hardest Shot competition and St. Louis' Jordan Kyrou was the Fastest Skater during an NHL All-Star skills competition with a distinct Vegas flavor Friday night. The actual skills competitions probably weren't as entertaining as the lighthearted Breakaway Challenge, which featured multiple costume stunts by eager pros. The Blue Jackets star then won the striking competition in the final, easily hitting the targets faster than the Nashville captain. Aho closed the show with an easy victory in the Accuracy Shooting event, hitting all four targets in succession.

Tampa Bay’s Victor Hedman won the Hardest Shot competition and St. Louis’ Jordan Kyrou was the Fastest Skater during an NHL All-Star skills competition with a distinct Vegas flavor.

Washington star Alexander Ovechkin and high-scoring Edmonton teammates Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl headline the rosters for the NHL All-Star Weekend announced Thursday.

The St. Louis Blues cruised through the coldest outdoor game in NHL history to beat the host Minnesota Wild 6-4.

The Minnesota Wild are preparing to play in the NHL's Winter Classic for the first time.

Wild Sharks Hockey Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) is congratulated by Kevin Fiala (22) after scoring a goal against the San Jose Sharks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 9, 2021, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar) (Tony Avelar)SAN JOSE, Calif. — (AP) — Jordan Greenway scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. Fiala put the Wild up 1-0 early, scoring his fourth goal of the season with 13:38 left in the first period. Dahlen got San Jose on the board with 16:31 remaining in the third period, deflecting Erik Karlsson’s point shot past Talbot. Hertl scored his team-leading 13th goal on the power play with 6:34 left to bring the Sharks within one. The Sharks reassigned G Alexei Melnichuk to the AHL’s San Jose Barracuda.

Jordan Greenway scored twice and the Minnesota Wild beat the San Jose Sharks 5-2 for their eighth straight win.

Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid ran away in the voting to win his second Hart Trophy as NHL MVP after leading the league in points.

Mattias Janmark notched his first career hat trick as the Vegas Golden Knights eliminated the Minnesota Wild with a 6-2 win in Game 7 of their opening-round series.

APTOPIX Wild Golden Knights Hockey Minnesota Wild left wing Jordan Greenway (18) celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of an NHL hockey game Monday, May 24, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher) (John Locher)LAS VEGAS — (AP) — Cam Talbot made 37 saves and the Minnesota Wild beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 despite having only 14 shots on goal to stave off elimination in their opening-round playoff series on Monday night. Vegas, which was looking to close out a playoff series at home for the first time, leads the series 3-2. Mark Stone and Alec Martinez scored for the Golden Knights. It marked the first time the Golden Knights allowed three goals in a playoff period in 11 games, dating to the postseason bubble last season.

Cam Talbot made 37 saves and the Minnesota Wild beat the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 despite having only 14 shots on goal to stave off elimination in their opening-round playoff series.

Reilly Smith capped a three-goal second-period surge by the Vegas Golden Knights with the go-ahead score in a 5-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild.

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has stopped 63 of 65 shots from the Minnesota Wild over the first two games of their West Division playoff series.

Now their first scheduled game with Houston has been added to the postponement list. ___The Big 12 has announced the reschedule dates for nine women’s basketball games postponed this season because of COVID-19 protocols. ___The Atlantic Coast Conference announced Thursday that Louisville's men's basketball game at Virginia Tech scheduled for Saturday has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. Ad___Saturday’s men's basketball game between Texas A&M and Florida has been postponed due to COVID-19. It's the third straight Florida men's game affected by the coronavirus.