Wild 4, Bruins 1: Kaprizov Twice in a Home Opener

October 3, 2026 - Saint Paul - Tanner Jeannot scored 1:53 in, and for a while Grand Casino Arena sounded like a Boston building. Then Kirill Kaprizov tied it on the power play, Quinn Hughes scored with one second left on a two-man advantage, and the home opener turned.

The Minnesota Wild beat the Boston Bruins 4-1. Minnesota is 2-0-0 after a 3-1 win at Nashville on Thursday. Boston is 2-1-0 after a 4-3 overtime win at Winnipeg on Friday. The AP recap said Minnesota is 18-4-4 in home openers. Eight Wild players had points, a night after nine did in Nashville.

Jesper Wallstedt stopped 26 of 27. Michael DiPietro stopped 26 of 29 in his third career start and first since Jan. 23, 2022, with Vancouver. The AP recap called him the 2025-26 AHL MVP with Providence.

Jeannot first, then a 5-on-3 that paid

Jeannot finished a touch pass from Mark Kastelic at 1:53, Connor Clifton the second assist. 1-0 Boston. Jeannot played 8:10. That was the Bruins' only goal. They went scoreless on four power plays. Minnesota has killed all eight short-handed situations through two games, the AP recap said.

Kaprizov tied it at 6:11 of the second on the power play from Maxim Shabanov and Joel Eriksson Ek. 1-1.

Minnesota then had a 5-on-3 for 1:52. Hughes scored with one second left on the second penalty, a wrist shot through Ryan Hartman's screen, Bobby Brink the other assist. 2-1. Hughes played 22:23.

A skate, an empty net, and 19,185

Jared Spurgeon scored at 3:24 of the third. The AP recap said the shot changed direction off Nikita Zadorov's skate. Michael McCarron and Hughes on the play. 3-1.

Kaprizov hit the empty net at 18:59. No assist. 4-1. The AP recap called it his third goal of the season and 11th in eight career games against Boston.

Boston's stars were quiet. David Pastrnak did not land on the scoring sheet. Wallstedt saw 27 shots. Shots finished 30-27 Minnesota. Attendance was 19,185.

Boston hosts Ottawa on Monday. Minnesota starts a three-game trip at Buffalo on Tuesday.

AthX Engine on a 4-1 home opener

AthX Engine (our projection and scoring system) scored Wallstedt at 12.20 (win, 26 saves, one goal against). Kaprizov is 10.30 (two goals, three shots, power-play bonus). Hughes is 9.90. Spurgeon is 5.10. Jeannot's goal and one shot are 4.60. He is not seeded on AthX player pages yet, so the name stays unlinked. DiPietro is unlinked for the same reason. Shabanov's primary assist on the tying goal stays unlinked too.

Minnesota's team line is 19.80, tied with Utah and Vancouver. Boston floors at 0.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay for Kaprizov after two goals in a home opener and for Wallstedt after 26 saves. They are not the same number.

Track Kaprizov, Hughes, Wallstedt, and both clubs on the marketplace.

*Sources: AP recap (ESPN), ESPN box score, NHL.com scoreboard, NHL gamecenter boxscore 2026020031. AthX Engine fantasy points scored from that verified box. Information only; not financial advice.*