Wild 4, Panthers 1: Kaprizov Hat Trick in Florida's Home Opener

October 10, 2026 - Sunrise - Florida's home opener lasted 53 seconds before it was 1-0 the other way. Matt Boldy had space on a change, and Jacob Markstrom did not. Kirill Kaprizov already had the secondary assist. He was not done.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers 4-1. Minnesota is 3-1-1 after two straight losses. Florida is 2-1-2. The NHL recap said the Panthers' season-opening four-game point streak (2-0-2) ended, and so did a seven-game winning streak in home openers. Shots were 30-29 Florida.

Kaprizov finished with three goals and an assist. The NHL recap called it his seventh career hat trick, two behind Marian Gaborik's nine for the franchise, and his fifth four-point game, tying Mats Zuccarello and Boldy for second behind Gaborik's seven. Boldy had a goal and an assist. He is not seeded on AthX player pages, so the name stays unlinked.

Jesper Wallstedt stopped 29 of 30. The Associated Press recap said he has started all five Minnesota games (3-1-1), with a .936 save percentage and a 1.78 goals-against average. Markstrom stopped 25 of 28.

Boldy on the first shift, Kaprizov on the power play

Boldy scored at 0:53 from the top of the slot. Jared Spurgeon and Kaprizov on the play. 1-0.

Kaprizov made it 2-0 at 6:18 on the power play, a one-timer from the right circle. Maxim Shabanov and Quinn Hughes the helpers. Shabanov is unlinked.

Kaprizov, to NHL.com: from the start, Boldy scored on the first shift. The boys played a great game.

Matthew Tkachuk told NHL.com it was 2-0 before you could blink, chasing the game one shift in. Not the recipe you want. Not the result they wanted. Minnesota is a good hockey team.

The Associated Press recap said Florida is without Aleksander Barkov and Brad Marchand, has nine goals in five games, and has led for 8 minutes, 40 seconds all season. Florida was the last club to play a home opener. The first five Panthers games were all somebody else's home opener: Carolina, San Jose, Anaheim, Los Angeles.

Tkachuk's rebound, then Kaprizov from Boldy

Tkachuk scored at 2:18 of the second, putting in his own rebound. Team-leading third of the season, the Associated Press recap said. 2-1.

Kaprizov answered at 5:00 from the right circle off a cross-ice feed from Boldy. Joel Eriksson Ek the other assist. 3-1.

Florida coach Paul Maurice told NHL.com they were slower in all parts of the game. Minnesota was quick with the puck and the feet. Two or three reads they normally do not miss ended in the back of the net. Being on your heels early in a home opener put them there.

Minnesota coach John Hynes said they wanted to play more connected and more competitive after a 3-2 loss at Tampa on Thursday. Most complete game they have played.

Kaprizov closed it at 18:56 of the third into an empty net. The NHL landing lists the empty-net modifier. 4-1.

Boldy, on Florida: unbelievable team, missing some guys, core has not changed much. You want to measure yourself against them.

Florida went 0-for-5 on the power play and is 1-for-28 this season, both recaps said. The Associated Press recap said Aaron Ekblad played his 807th game, past Barkov for most in Panthers history. Rieger Lorenz played 7:12 in his NHL debut for Minnesota and was minus-1, the NHL recap said. Unlinked. The Associated Press recap said Minnesota is 42-5-2 all-time when Kaprizov has at least three points (49 times).

Minnesota hosts Vegas on Monday. Florida visits Buffalo that night.

AthX Engine on a 19.80 road night

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Kaprizov at 18.40 (three goals, an assist, four shots, two blocks, one power-play bonus). Boldy is 8.40. Tkachuk is 5.90. Wallstedt's win, 29 saves, and one goal against land at 13.40. Markstrom is 6.40.

Minnesota's team line is 19.80. Florida floors at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for a Kaprizov hat trick in a building that waited until Saturday to open, and for a Panthers power play that is 1-for-28. They are not the same number.

Track Kaprizov, Wallstedt, Tkachuk, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com recap, NHL.com scoreboard. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from NHL gamecenter box 2026020073. Information only; not financial advice.*