Kirill Kaprizov Exits Blues Game After A Hit By St. Louis' Goaltender Joel Hofer

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Minnesota Wild entered the game with seven players injured. Already without top players Jared Spurgeon and Brock Faber, the Wild could not afford an injury to another top player.

In the third period of Thursday's game, the State of Hockey's jaws all dropped.

Kirill Kaprizov, who recorded his ninth goal of the season in the 5-4 win, went to play a loose puck in the corner behind the net.

Joel Hofer, who allowed five goals in the loss, went to play the puck. Hofer stepped out of his way to check Kaprizov, who folded on impact and slammed into the boards.

Kaprizov got up and took the next shift on the power play but once Robert Thomas scored shorthanded when Kaprizov missed the loose puck in the slot, Kaprizov left and went down the tunnel.

This would be a huge blow for the Wild if there is an injury here. The fact that Kaprizov did not leave the ice after the hit is a positive. But it is still worth monitoring.

*** This story will be updated.

*** Post game update:

Wild head coach John Hynes said after the game that Kaprizov is OK. Quinn Hughes also said post game that he is happy to see that Kaprizov was OK. Jesper Wallstedt said the same thing but he also said he did not like the hit.

"I think it's a dirty play. There's no reason for him to go out there and not play the puck and just play the player. He knows, everyone knows, that's one of our best players. Up 5-2, there's just no reason as a goalie to do that. If they give me a penalty when players are skating through my crease, they should give him penalties for being outside the crease, hitting guys. I like him as a guy. I thought that was an ugly play from him."