Wild winger Kirill Kaprizov could be in trouble for a hit on Nashville’s Alexandre Carrier Thursday night.
In the first period of the Wilds’ 6-1 thumping of the Predators, Kaprizov came speeding down ice and looked to hit Carrier in the head with his shoulder. Carrier fell and stayed on the ice for a few moments before skating off the ice slowly. The defensemen did not return to the game.
Predators head coach Andrew Brunette said he “didn’t like” the hit.
“I thought it was a little predatory hit to the head, obviously with no puck. But not much I can do, I don’t ref,” he said.
.@Skillsy75 is not happy about the referees not calling the Kaprizov hit on Carrier a major penalty.
"This is exactly what the NHL is trying to get out of the game…" pic.twitter.com/pCCExZjjzk
— Alex Daugherty (@AlexDaugherty1) December 1, 2023
The Athletic’s Michael Russo said the Wild star “could be in trouble” for the hit but that, as of Friday morning, the league has not called for a hearing. “[The Department] of Player Safety may have decided on nothing or a fine after considering [Kaprizov’s] head contact on Carrier,” he tweeted.
Kaprizov has struggled to get going this season scoring just seven goals and 13 assists in 21 games this season during the team’s lackluster 7-10-4 start.
Now former Wild head coach Dean Evason revealed that Kaprizov’s struggles this season come down to the winger still being “in recovery mode” from an injury suffered late last season.
Minnesota have started the John Hynes-era 2-0 with consecutive wins by a total of 9-2. Minnesota return to home to take on Chicago Sunday afternoon with puck drop set for 2 p.m.
