The celebration looked familiar, a huddle around rookie phenom Kirill Kaprizov after he scored a goal.
But the circumstances were different.
After netting a team-high 27 goals in the regular season, Kaprizov finally registered his first in the playoffs in Game 5 — the start of a three-goal first period that paved the way for the Wild's 4-2 victory.
"The game has definitely changed," Kaprizov said in Russian through a translator Wednesday before the Wild's 3-0 victory in Game 6. "It's definitely gotten a little bit more difficult."
Before scoring, Kaprizov had only an assist in the series, setting up center Ryan Hartman early in Game 3. But Kaprizov has gone head-to-head with some of Vegas' best players, regularly facing one of the Golden Knights' top defensemen in Shea Theodore. That's who was on the ice when Kaprizov capitalized in Game 5 to become the seventh Wild rookie in team history to tally a goal in the playoffs.
"Feels good to score," Kaprizov said. "Anytime you can score a goal and help your team with the win, it's something you look forward to. But, of course, it makes things a little bit easier, kind of takes the monkey off the back and just makes it a lot easier."
Strong debut
Calen Addison didn't look out of place when he made his NHL debut in February, and the defenseman's first playoff game Monday was just as smooth.
"He played great," said Ian Cole, who was paired with Addison in Game 5 at Vegas. "A ton of poise for his first playoff game coming into a very loud, tough building to play in against a team that's really, really good. Ton of poise. Creative puck plays."
Addison logged 13 minutes, 18 seconds against the Golden Knights and picked up his first point in the NHL, an assist on winger Jordan Greenway's game-winning goal. His playing time went down to 9:53 in Wednesday's victory when Jared Spurgeon, Jonas Brodin and Ryan Suter each played more than 24 minutes — and Matt Dumba would have if he hadn't spent seven minutes in the penalty box.
"As much as everything's around you and the setting's crazy and all that, it is just another hockey game," Addison said. "It sounds pretty crazy to say once you do get in the moment. But the end of the day, it is another hockey game. The more you think of it, the more stressed you're going to be and the more you relax, I think the better it'll go usually."
The 21-year-old, who was acquired in last season's trade that sent Jason Zucker to the Penguins, was in the lineup because Carson Soucy, Cole's usual partner, has an upper-body injury.
"To go into a game in an elimination game like that in a place like Vegas is insane," said Addison, who was named to this season's AHL all-rookie team and Central Division all-star team for his steady pro debut with Iowa. "That place is rocking, and you can barely hear yourself talk.
"To get put into that opportunity was awesome, and it's something I'll never forget."
Same lineup
Despite having what coach Dean Evason called "some game-time decisions," the Wild rolled out the same lineup for Game 6 that it used in Game 5.
That meant forward Matt Boldy didn't make his NHL debut after skating with the group Wednesday morning. Evason said Boldy, the Wild's first-round draft pick taken 12th overall in 2019, was available to suit up and he wouldn't be nervous to have someone make his NHL debut in a game of this magnitude.
"They've all been on the big stage and if you're talking about a guy like Boldy or Addison, they've played the World Juniors," Evason said. "They've played at the highest level. It's hockey. End of the day, it's hockey. They go out there, and you hopefully have the right mind-set to play and have fun. You try to score, and you try to not let the other team score."
