Kaprizov Hat Trick Leads Wild Past Panthers 4-1

Kirill Kaprizov scored three goals and an assist for his first hat trick of the season as the Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 on Oct. 10, 2026, in Florida's home opener. Matt Boldy opened the scoring 53 seconds into the game. Kaprizov made it 2-0 on a power-play one-timer set up by Maxim Shabanov, added a wrist shot from the right circle five minutes into the second, and completed the hat trick—his seventh career—with an empty-net goal from Minnesota's defensive zone with 1:04 left. Matthew Tkachuk scored Florida's only goal on a rebound after Jesper Wallstedt stopped his first shot. Jacob Markstrom stopped 25 shots for Florida. Accounts differ on Wallstedt's save total (28 in one report; 29 of 30 in another). Florida went 0-for-5 on the power play and is 1-for-28 this season, fell to 2-1-2, and saw a four-game point streak end; Minnesota bounced back from its first regulation loss. Wallstedt is 3-1-1 with a .935 save percentage and 1.79 GAA through five games. Left-rated outlets stressed the spoiled home opener and Kaprizov's four-point night; the right-rated Pioneer Press stressed the bounce-back and penalty kill. The Wild host Vegas on Monday; the Panthers visit Buffalo.