Wild F Kirill Kaprizov gets stitches after being hit in the mouth by a puck
Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov, front left, and Los Angeles Kings right wing Quinton Byfield (55) compete for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)[ASSOCIATED PRESS/Matt Krohn]
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov was struck in the mouth by an errant puck and missed much of the second period of Tuesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Kings before returning for the third.
Kaprizov, who is tied for the league lead with 21 points, was skating in the offensive zone after a faceoff when the puck was lifted and hit him in the face. He dropped to his knees and was bleeding. He skated off on his own and went directly to the team’s dressing room.
He missed the final 12 minutes of the period but started the third in Minnesota’s 5-1 loss. Wild coach John Hynes said after the game that Kaprizov got stitches.
Kaprizov leads all players with more than one game in points per game. He leads Minnesota with seven goals and 14 assists in 11 games.
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Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Matt Krohn)
Photo: ASSOCIATED PRESS/Matt Krohn
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