Report: Kaprizov out with injury for Sunday rematch with Winnipeg
The Minnesota Wild will be without their top star as Michael Russo of The Athletic reports that Kirill Kaprizov will not play Sunday due to an undisclosed injury that he suffered in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Winnipeg Jets.
Kaprizov sustained the injury when Winnipeg forward Brenden Dillon delivered two cross-checks to the Wild forward in the third period of Saturday afternoon's game at Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The two teams will meet again at 1 p.m. Sunday in St. Paul, Minnesota.
While Jacob Middleton avenged the injury by fighting Dillion later in the third period, Kaprizov missed the final 10 minutes of the game and Russo reports that team doctors will evaluate him on Sunday.
Kaprizov won't be the only key player out for Minnesota as Filip Gustavsson also suffered an injury in Winnipeg. Gustavsson played the first two periods of Saturday's loss to the Jets before exiting the game with an undisclosed injury.
While Marc-Andre Fleury will get the start in his 1,000th career NHL game on Sunday, the Wild have called up goaltender Zane McIntyre as well as forward Nic Petan to fill out the roster.
The injuries to Kaprizov and Gustavsson are the latest in a long line for the Wild this season. The Wild got defenseman Jared Spurgeon back from injury on Saturday but his linemate Jonas Brodin remains sidelined with a broken arm.
Ryan Hartman and Matt Boldy have also missed significant time due to injuries as the Wild sit in seventh place in the Central Division despite posting an 11-4-0 record since John Hynes took over as head coach on Nov. 28.
The puck drops at 1:10 p.m. CT in St. Paul.
Dec 30, 2023; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Winnipeg Jets defenseman Brenden Dillon (5) fights Minnesota Wild defenseman Jake Middleton (5) during the third period at Canada Life Centre.
Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
