StaTuesday: Kaprizov’s hat trick stacked up against Wild history

Skating through a scoreless contest between Minnesota and Arizona in the third period Friday night, Wild standout rookie Kirill Kaprizov danced around the left circle, turned and fired a shot on net.

It banged the twine for a 1-0 Wild lead.

That turned out to be the only goal Minnesota needed, as goaltender Cam Talbot kept his net clean with 25 saves in a 4-0 Wild victory. But Kaprizov wasn’t satisfied.

He scored again less than three minutes later to make it 2-0, and lit the lamp a third time with 48 seconds left to finish off the win.

It marked Kaprizov’s first career NHL hat trick, and the 29th three-goal effort in Wild history.

Which Kirill Kaprizov goal was your favorite?#mnwild pic.twitter.com/UgkAIpiVju

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) March 13, 2021

Kaprizov, who was 23 years and 320 days old on the night of his three-goal performance, is the fourth-youngest player notch a hat trick in Wild history. Only three other players — Marian Gaborik, Nino Niederreiter and Guillaume Latendressse — accomplished a hat trick with Minnesota before turning 24 years old.

Gaborik did it an absurd seven times, including his first career hat trick Nov. 13, 2001 at 19 years and 272 days old. Niederreiter (22 years, 66 days) and Latendresse (22 years, 237 days) registered one hat trick apiece with the Wild before the age of 24.

For what it’s worth, Eric Staal is the oldest Minnesota player to score a hat trick, tallying three goals and two assists on Feb. 27, 2018 at 33 years and 121 days old.

Kaprizov is the third NHL rookie to log a hat trick this season. Vegas defenseman Dylan Coghlan lit up the Wild for three goals on March 10, and Chicago’s Pius Suter registered a trio of goals Jan. 24 against Detroit. Coghlan and Suter notched a hat trick on five shots apiece, while Kaprizov fired eight shots on net against Arizona on Friday.

The rookie simply can’t be stopped. He leads all first-year skaters with 10 goals and 14 assists, adding up to a whopping 24 points in 26 games. Only one other rookie has more than 13 points — Ottawa winger Tim Stutzle, who has registered six goals and 12 assists (18 points).

Kaprizov also leads the Wild in points, ranks second in goals (trailing Joel Eriksson Ek by one) and is tied for the team high in assists with Jordan Greenway and Mats Zuccarello.

The former fifth-round pick is on a collision course with the Calder Trophy.