Overview

• Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek returned to the Wild lineup after missing 27 and 21 games, respectively, due to lower-body injuries.
• In their first game back, Eriksson Ek scored a career-high four goals, while Kaprizov added two, including the overtime winner, in an 8-7 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
• The win moved Minnesota closer to securing a playoff berth, reclaiming the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference standings.
• Kaprizov had been sidelined for nearly half the season, undergoing surgery in January, while Eriksson Ek's absence highlighted the team's offensive struggles.
• The Wild, previously struggling with scoring, saw their offensive dynamic revitalized with the duo's impactful return to the lineup.