Dean Evason
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

San Jose Sharks' Matt Nieto, right, celebrates his goal off Minnesota Wild goalie Cam Talbot with Patrick Marleau, left, and Erik Karlsson (65) in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Parise gets winner for Wild in home opener over Sharks, 4-1

By Dave Campbell Jan. 22, 2021 10:53 PM 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

FILE - In this March 9, 2020, file photo, Buffalo Sabres forward Marcus Johansson (90) skates during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Washington Capitals in Buffalo, N.Y. The Buffalo Sabres acquired veteran center Eric Staal in a trade that sent forward Marcus Johansson to the Minnesota Wild on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes, File)
Sabres acquire Eric Staal in sending Johansson to Wild

By John Wawrow Sep. 16, 2020 06:15 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 1990 file photo, Boston Bruins defenseman Ray Bourque (77) reaches over the back of Hartford Whaler Dean Evason (12) trying to get to the puck behind Boston's goal during first period action in the Boston. The NHL hasn't had best-of-five playoff series since 1986. That's changing for this year with the league expanding to 24 playoff teams as part of its restart. The qualifying round will feature 16 teams facing off in best-of-five series to determine who moves on. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia, File)
Throwback 5-game series force players to 'embrace the grind'

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 29, 2020 10:35 AM EDT

Security guards stand by at a section of the street outside Toronto's Royal York hotel, which is closed off as NHL teams arrive at the "bubble" ahead of the return of the league's season following a disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Toronto, Sunday, July 26, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)
Bubble hockey begins: NHL playoff teams adjust to quarantine

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 27, 2020 07:19 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2020, file photo, New Jersey Devils interim general manager Tom Fitzgerald answers reporters' questions after the team announced that captain Andy Greene was traded to the New York Islanders before an NHL hockey game in Newark, N.J. The suspension of play in the NHL because of the coronavirus pandemic has put Fitzgerald of the Devils is limbo. The 51-year-old is waiting to see if the league will finish its season and also see if he still has a job. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)
NHL stoppage has Devils' Fitzgerald waiting on two fronts.

By Tom Canavan Apr. 17, 2020 02:11 AM EDT