Kaprizov Reaches 500 Points as Wild's Fast Start Ends Capitals' Winning Run

Kirill Kaprizov reached 500 NHL points in style on Sunday, scoring an empty-net goal to seal Minnesota's 5-1 victory over the Washington Capitals and end the hosts' three-game winning streak. Kaprizov's milestone goal, his league-leading 15th of the season, took his career tally to 245 goals and 255 assists, and capped a fast start that saw the Wild score twice in the first five and a half minutes through Quinn Hughes and Michael McCarron.

Washington briefly threatened a comeback when Justin Sourdif scored with six seconds left in the second period to cut the deficit to 2-1, but Minnesota pulled away in the third. Maxim Shabanov restored the two-goal margin on the power play with 2:23 remaining, Kaprizov struck into the empty net, and Danila Yurov added one more with 24.9 seconds left. Jesper Wallstedt made 26 saves for the Wild, who have now collected points in eight of their last nine games and permitted two goals or fewer in five of their last six.

The defeat was a reality check for a Capitals side that had scored at least four goals in five of their previous six games. Washington will need more from its attack when Dallas visits on Tuesday night.