One man, three goals, and under two minutes to spare. That’s all it took for Kirill Kaprizov to remind everyone why he is the best player in Minnesota Wild history. The Wild traveled to Little Caesars Arena on April 5, 2026, needing a bounce-back performance after a rough stretch.
What they got was a masterclass in clutch hockey, a stunning collapse nearly undone, and a superstar who refused to let his team lose. This was the kind of game that defines playoff runs and settles debates about a player’s greatness.
Let’s take a closer look.
A first period that belonged to Detroit
The Red Wings drew first blood, and it looked like Minnesota might be in for a long afternoon in Detroit. Albert Johansson opened the scoring just 1:40 into the game, skating to the top of the left face-off circle and threading a shot off the right post and in. It was a calm, composed finish that gave Detroit an early edge.
Detroit led 1-0 after the first, and Minnesota responded with four second-period goals. The Wild spent the rest of the period finding their footing, content to absorb and respond. That response, when it came, arrived fast and furious.
Boldy and Kaprizov flip the script in seconds
Matt Boldy, who turned 25 on Sunday, tied it 1-1 just 18 seconds into the second with his 41st goal of the season, a wrist shot from the right circle that went between Cam Talbot’s pads. It was a birthday present to himself and a statement to the Red Wings that Minnesota had no intention of staying quiet.
Then, just 67 seconds later, Kaprizov redirected Ryan Hartman’s shot past Talbot to make it 2-1. The Wild didn’t just erase the deficit. They snatched momentum so fast that Detroit barely had time to process the shift. The second period belonged entirely to Minnesota.
The Wild put Detroit away
The Wild broke the game open midway through the second when Vladimir Tarasenko capitalized on a failed clearing attempt just as a Detroit penalty ended, pushing the lead to 3-1.
The collapse deepened for the Red Wings minutes later when Kirill Kaprizov turned a Brock Faber breakout pass into a highlight-reel goal, streaking down the left side to beat Talbot high on the blocker side. Entering the second intermission up 4-1, Minnesota appeared to have the game in hand before Detroit’s desperate third-period comeback began.
Kaprizov’s numbers are historic right now
With his first hat trick of the season, the 28-year-old winger moved to 43 goals and 87 points across 75 games, putting him in a tie for third on the NHL’s goal leaderboard alongside Connor McDavid of Edmonton. That kind of company tells you everything about where Kaprizov stands in the league right now.
With the game-winner against Detroit, Kaprizov surpassed Mikko Koivu for third in Wild franchise history with his 34th game-winning goal. He also has 10 goals in eight career games against the Red Wings, making Detroit something of a personal hunting ground. The man simply elevates when it matters.
Fun fact: Kaprizov was drafted by Minnesota in the fifth round, 135th overall, in 2015. He is now the all-time franchise leader in goals, having passed Marian Gaborik earlier this season.
Kane’s penalty opens the door for Kaprizov
The penalty gave Minnesota a crucial power play with the game on the line. Wild coach John Hynes had the right personnel on the ice. Kaprizov stepped into position, received a pass from Matt Boldy, and unleashed a bar-down slap shot from the right face-off dot that beat Talbot clean. The go-ahead power-play goal completed Kaprizov’s sixth career hat trick with just 1:51 remaining in the third period.
Detroit head coach Todd McLellan was visibly frustrated after the game. McLellan said the penalty hurt, calling it a costly infraction far from the play and away from their net. It was the kind of moment that decides seasons. Minnesota held on, and the final buzzer confirmed a 5-4 Wild win.
Detroit’s slide continues at the worst time
The Red Wings are in serious trouble, and this loss made a difficult situation even worse. Once the class of the Eastern Conference in late January, Detroit has watched a 12-point playoff cushion disappear over the last two months.
On January 25, the Red Wings were tied for first in the East. Since then, a dismal stretch in which they lost 12 of 20 games has pushed them outside the playoff picture with just five games left to play.
Cam Talbot allowed five goals on 20 shots on Sunday, and Detroit’s third-period rally still was not enough. A team that once looked like a legitimate contender is now simply fighting to get back into a wild-card spot.
Minnesota hits 100 points for the first time
With the victory, Minnesota reached 100 points on the season for the first time since 2022-23, finishing the day at 44-21-12. It is a milestone that reflects the team’s consistency and depth across a long, grinding regular season. The Wild have won three straight games and four of their last five.
Minnesota is locked in as a Central Division playoff team, and its first-round matchup is already taking shape. With Kaprizov firing on all cylinders and the team hitting its stride at the right moment, the Wild look genuinely dangerous heading into the postseason.
Fun fact: Kaprizov has six points across his last two games against the Red Wings this season alone, five goals and one assist. Detroit might want to avoid scheduling any more games against him.
TL;DR
- Kirill Kaprizov scored a hat trick, including the game-winning power-play goal with 1:51 left, to lift Minnesota past Detroit 5-4 on April 5, 2026.
- The Wild led 4-1 before Detroit scored three straight in the third to tie it, but Kaprizov’s clutch finish sealed the win.
- Kaprizov now has 43 goals and 87 points in 75 games, tied for third on the NHL goal leaderboard with Connor McDavid.
- The win pushed Minnesota to 100 points for the first time since 2022-23, with the team winning three straight heading into the playoffs.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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