Kaprizov scores four points, Wild chase Hellebuyck in win against Jets

ST. PAUL, MInn.-- Kirill Kaprizov had a goal and three assists to help the Minnesota Wild defeat the Winnipeg Jets 7-1 at Xcel Energy Center on Friday.

Mats Zuccarello scored twice for Minnesota (13-6-1), which has won two in a row and three of five. Cam Talbot made 30 saves.
"Tonight we played a heck of a team game," Talbot said. "We had a lot of jump from the get-go. We knew that this is a big game, not only first game back home after Thanksgiving, but where these guys are in the standings. They're right behind us, and this is a chance for a little separation early and to start this homestand off right."
Pierre-Luc Dubois scored for Winnipeg (9-7-4), which has lost five straight. Connor Hellebuyck allowed four goals on 14 shots before getting pulled in the second period. Eric Comrie made 21 saves in relief.
"I thought there were some good things early on in our game and we're just ... we're playing a little bit fragile," Hellebuyck said. "And there's three zones and we have to care more about every single one of them, starting in our end. We can't be giving up seven. I mean, it's one of those nights. You can throw something at that, but it's just unacceptable if you want to win in this league."

Alex Goligoski made it 1-0 52 seconds into the first period on the first shot of the game with a wrist shot through traffic. Zuccarello put Minnesota up 2-0 at 7:47 with a wrist shot from the point that deflected off Hellebuyck's back.
Ryan Hartman made it 3-0 with a rebound goal at 2:04 of the second period.
Zuccarello increased the lead to 4-0, finishing a one-timer at the back door 45 seconds later to chase Hellebuyck. Minnesota outshot Winnipeg 21-6 in the second period.
"Up two goals and really just the way we were able to extend it and keep that momentum going and not give them anything, not let them back in the game whatsoever, it was great to see," Hartman said. "And it's something that hopefully we can look at and look back to this when we do get in these situations know that it's there."

Jon Merrill scored with a wrist shot from the left side at 9:35 to make it 5-0.
"I don't think they had it in the tank to push back," Jets coach Paul Maurice said. "We got sloppy for sure in the second. … We just weren't very good."
Matt Dumba made it 6-0, one-timing a pass from Marcus Foligno at 11:24 of the third period.
Dubois scored on the power play 15:08 to end Winnipeg's scoring drought of 164:41. The Jets have five goals in their five straight losses.
Kaprizov made it 7-1 at 15:22.
"We continue to talk about our depth and it's not one or two guys scoring," Wild coach Dean Evason said. "So lots been made of guys that don't score on our team, but not a lot's made of our depth scoring, or I assume. So that's a very good thing."
NOTES: Zuccarello did not return for the third period. Evason said it was precautionary, adding Zuccarello should be able to play when the Wild host the Tampa Bay Lightning on Sunday. … Kaprizov has scored 22 points (six goals, 16 assists), the most by a Wild skater through the first 20 games of a season. Marian Gaborik scored 21 points in the first 20 games twice (2001-02, 2002-03). …. Winnipeg ended an 0-for-13 power-play drought. … Jets forward Paul Stastny played 13:33 after missing eight games with a foot injury.