In a way, what Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek did was much more dramatic, or at least more productive.
In that Game 7, Reed scored four points.
Wednesday, Kaprizov and Eriksson Ek combined for six goals.
Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and center Marco Rossi (23) join left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) in celebrating his goal in the second period against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at Xcel Energy Center. (Jeff Wheeler/The Minnesota Star Tribune)
Kaprizov’s first goal provided an instant reminder of the difference between NHL grinders and NHL stars. He received a pass to the right of the San Jose goalie, reached far to his right to control it, pulled it back toward his skates, and flicked it over a defender sliding to block his shot and over the right shoulder of the goalie.
The operative phrase to describe that play was “goal-scorer’s goal.” But that’s not specific enough. There are probably only a handful of players who could have made that play.
Eriksson Ek scored a career-high four goals in his return, going to the front of the net, withstanding checks and cheap shots, and muscling the puck into the net.