Postgame Hat Trick: Sharks 4, Wild 2 - BlueJackets.com

1. A separation second period.

The Wild and Sharks were scoreless after 20 minutes on Wednesday, but the difference in the game came in period number two.

It was in the middle frame where San Jose gained control, scoring a pair of goals to take a two-goal lead to the final period. 

Rudolfs Balcers scored his fourth goal of the season 4:41 into the period giving the Sharks the lead. San Jose doubled its advantage less than five minutes later, this time capitalizing on a power play when former Wild forward Ryan Donato gathered in a loose puck and slipped it under the outstretched left pad of goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen.

2. Dolla Bill Kirill got the Wild on the board.

Minnesota made its first offensive push of the game midway through the third period, breaking through on a goal by rookie Kirill Kaprizov.

As he's done a few times this year, Kaprizov skated through the top of the offensive zone then snapped a shot from the top of the left circle just inside the right post. 

Video: MIN@SJS: Kaprizov makes strong move for goal in 3rd

It's a shot that, especially with the velocity Kaprizov is able to get on it, is impossible to stop. 

For Kaprizov, the goal was his 12th of the season, which gives Kaprizov the solo team lead in that category.

3. Road weary.

Before its three-day break over the weekend, the Wild won the previous three games, all at home, to extend its winning streak to 11 games at Xcel Energy Center.

That same kind of success has not translated to road games of late, however, as the loss on Wednesday marked Minnesota's fifth consecutive contest without a victory when it comes to playing on the road. 

It's a stretch that began back on March 6 in Arizona, extended through two games in Colorado and now two games in San Jose. 

With the calendar flipping to April, Minnesota will hope for better luck on the road ... and it won't have to wait long. The Wild gets right back at it on Thursday in Las Vegas against the Golden Knights, who entered play Wednesday atop the West Division. 

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