Stars focus on slowing down Kaprizov in 1st round against Wild

DALLAS -- Kirill Kaprizov brings skill. He brings speed, strength, shiftiness, the ability to change a game in a heartbeat, all the good things you usually find in an elite NHL player.

For the Dallas Stars, he brings a challenge: trying to contain the Minnesota Wild forward as much as possible when they meet in their Western Conference First Round series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, beginning with Game 1 at American Airlines Center on Monday (9:30 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN360, TVAS2, BSSW, BSN, BSWIX).
"He's a great player, yeah, no secrets there," Stars forward Joe Pavelski said Sunday. "His skating and his tenacity on pucks is what separates him and he's got the skill to go with it. You know he's going to get his space, going to get a few looks. You have to defend as a unit, try not to give him any free offense if you can."
Kaprizov led the Wild with 75 points (40 goals, 35 assists) in 67 games this season. He also led them in power-play points (32) and goals (17). He returned April 8 in a 5-3 win against the St. Louis Blues after missing 13 games with a lower-body injury.
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The 25-year-old had three points (two goals, assist) in four games against the Stars this season. Last season, he had nine points (four goals, five assists) against them.
"Of course, great player and really good with the puck and really good in the offensive zone," Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen said. "You have to stay close on him all the time, don't give him much time or he's going to use it well, for sure.
"You just try to stay close and play him hard, take away time and space. I think that's the key when you play against him."
Kaprizov had a strong first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, with eight points (seven goals, one assist) in six games in the series loss to the Blues. Two of those were game-winning goals. He had six game-winning goals this season as well, a reminder of how effective Kaprizov is any time, but especially late in games.
"He's an elite player," Stars forward Max Domi said. "Obviously everyone knows that. A lot of speed, lot of strength, lot of skill. You kind of have to limit his chances and try to take away his time and space as much as you can. Playoff hockey's a chess match, so he's a big part of their team and someone we'll have to key on for sure."

Stars goalie Jake Oettinger said Kaprizov is enough of a concern on his own. But he said Kaprizov's chemistry with Mats Zuccarello, who plays on the top line with Kaprizov, adds another wrinkle to worry about defensively.
"Him and Zuccarello, they know each other so well, it seems like, out there. They can have a chance in the slot, and they'll dish it over to the other guy who's in the corner," Oettinger said. "You have to be so aware when they're on the ice and can't make those mistakes because they're going to make you pay. They're special, obviously two guys that are in the circle for our group.
"They're great players but we've had success against them this year, so we know what to do. We have to just make sure we know when they're out there."