Kirill Kaprizov
FILE - Russian athlete Kirill Kaprizov (77) tries to keep Frank Hordler (48), of Germany, away from the puck during the second period of the men's gold medal hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics, Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, in Gangneung, South Korea. The 2018 Olympics without NHL talent offered a glimpse of things to come for players who hadn't yet reached the best hockey league in the world. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
Olympics in 2018 showed glimpses of future NHL stars

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 16, 2023 06:00 AM EST

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) sprays water on his face during a timeout against the Florida Panthers during the third period in Game 4 of an NHL hockey second-round playoff series Monday, May 23, 2022, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Russians star in NHL playoffs as nation wages war in Ukraine

By Stephen Whyno May. 30, 2022 02:23 AM EDT

AP-Sportlight-Week Ahead

By The Associated Press Feb. 24, 2022 11:17 AM EST
Feb. 25 1940 — The first telecast of an American hockey game is transmitted over station W2XBS in New York. The viewing audience watches the New York...

The Russian Olympic Committee celebrates the winning shootout goal by teammate Arseni Gritsyuk in a men's semifinal hockey game against Sweden at the 2022 Winter Olympics, Friday, Feb. 18, 2022, in Beijing. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Favored Russians back in final at Olympics, now face Finland

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 18, 2022 01:07 PM EST

FILE- Dominik Kahun (72), of Germany, celebrates after making a goal in the penalty shootout during the preliminary round of the men's hockey game at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 18, 2018. Four years after an improbable run to the Olympic final and that ended with a silver medal, Germany is back at the Olympics without NHL players looking to duplicate that effort. "We never want to talk about that we won silver last Olympics, that we're going to win it again. We just go step by step," Kahun said. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Germany back at no-NHL Olympics aiming for another long run

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 06, 2022 04:39 AM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov is congratulated as he passes the team box after scoring a goal in the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Colorado Avalanche, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Minnesota Wild at Colorado Avalanche 1/17/2022

Jan. 20, 2022 02:18 PM EST

FILE - Canada's Owen Power (25) is chased by Czech Republic's Vojtech Jirus (25) during second-period IIHF world junior hockey championship game action in Edmonton, Alberta, Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. USA Hockey and Hockey Canada are eyeing several college players to play at the Olympics after the NHL decided not to participate in Beijing. Owen Power could suit up for Canada. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP, File)
Beijing Olympics will showcase hockey's next generation

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 20, 2022 02:15 PM EST

United States' Jake Sanderson (8), Tanner Dickinson (71) and Chaz Lucius (28) celebrate a goal against Finland during the first period of an exhibition game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, before the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press via AP)
No NHL boosts Russian hopes for Olympic gold in men's hockey

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 12, 2022 01:41 PM EST

Russia's Vyacheslav Voynov, centre, bottom, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the Channel One Cup ice hockey match between Russia and Finland in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)
Without the NHL, Russia emerges as favorite for Olympic gold

By James Ellingworth Dec. 23, 2021 01:03 AM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) reverses the puck next to Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nick Holden (22) during the third period of Game 7 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Friday, May 28, 2021, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Joe Buglewicz)
Minnesota Wild at Vegas Golden Knights 5/28/2021

May. 29, 2021 08:14 PM EDT

Minnesota Wild left wing Kevin Fiala (22) is congratulated by Joel Eriksson Ek (14) and Mats Zuccarello (36) after scoring a goal against the Vegas Golden Knights during the third period in Game 6 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup first-round playoff series Wednesday, May 26, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. The Wild won 3-0. (AP Photo/Andy Clayton-King)
Wild show promise, despite latest one-and-done in playoffs

By Dave Campbell May. 29, 2021 08:13 PM EDT

Vegas Golden Knights goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) celebrates with Chandler Stephenson (20) and Jonathan Marchessault (81) after the team's 5-2 win over the Minnesota Wild in Game 3 of a first-round NHL hockey playoff series Thursday, May 20, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Stacy Bengs)
Vegas surges past Wild for 5-2 win to take 2-1 series lead

By Dave Campbell May. 21, 2021 12:28 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, March 7, 2020, file photo, Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba passes the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Los Angeles Kings in Los Angeles. Bonding between veterans and youngsters has been a time-honored tradition in hockey. But in yet another setback related to the relentless COVID-19, NHL protocols aiming to curb the virus spread and keep the schedule on track could make that vital off-ice development of camaraderie more difficult. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Mentors wanted: Virus limits vet-rookie time away from rink

By Pat Graham And Dave Campbell Jan. 15, 2021 02:38 AM EST

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov, right, scores against Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick during overtime in an NHL hockey game in Los Angeles, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo)
Kaprizov scores in OT in NHL debut, lifts Wild over Kings

By Joe Reedy Jan. 15, 2021 01:04 AM EST

FILE - Russian athlete Kirill Kaprizov (77) celebrates after the semifinal round of the men's hockey game against the Czech Republic at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Gangneung, South Korea, in this Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, file photo. Olympic Athletes from Russia won 3-0. The Minnesota Wild, who have not won a playoff series in six years, seek to capitalize on the spark created by Russian rookie Kirill Kaprizov and lean on stalwarts like Zach Parise, Ryan Suter and Jared Spurgeon to make strides in this abbreviated season. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File)
Revamped Wild welcome spark from Russian rookie Kaprizov

By Dave Campbell Jan. 05, 2021 04:06 PM EST