Stars shine for Wild in 4-1 victory over Panthers

Sarah McLellan, The Minnesota Star Tribune on Oct 10, 2026

Published in Hockey

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The stars aligned for the Wild in more ways than one.

They avoided going home from their road trip without a win, upending the Panthers, 4-1, on Saturday at Amerant Bank Arena after their best forwards teamed up on the same line.

Kirill Kaprizov netted a hat trick after not registering a shot attempt last game for the first time in his NHL career, and Matt Boldy snapped his scoring drought by burying his first goal of the season just 53 seconds into the game.

Joel Eriksson Ek, their center, assisted on Kaprizov’s second goal for his second point of the season. Boldy also picked up an assist, and the Wild’s loaded-up top line combined for seven points — including four for Kaprizov, who also had an assist.

Jesper Wallstedt, making his fifth straight start to open the season, stopped 29 shots, and the Wild penalty kill went an impressive 5 for 5.

After Kaprizov buried a Max Shabanov pass on the power play to give the Wild a 2-0 lead, Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk polished off a 2-on-1 in the second period. But Kaprizov responded with another slick shot before draining an empty-netter for his seventh career hat trick.

The Wild improved to 3-1-1 despite already being ravaged by injuries.

They were missing brothers Marcus and Nick Foligno up front and veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian, in addition to Brock Faber, who’s recovering from a skull fracture.

Olli Maatta did suit up after sitting out the previous game hurt, and 22-year-old Rieger Lorenz — a 2022 second-round draft pick by the Wild — made his NHL debut.