1. Who doesn't love a little bonus hockey?
After going two months without a shootout, the Wild was in its second one this week on Thursday night.
The shootout on this night ended what was a fantastic game, as the Wild and Golden Knights played 65 minutes filled with entertaining, back-and-forth hockey.
Cam Talbot was terrific, making 35 saves in regulation and in overtime then making three more stops in the shootout.
Kevin Fiala was credited with the shootout winner after his second-round shot hit the post and banked in the net off Robin Lehner's back.
The win improved the Wild to 3-1-1 in five games against Vegas this season, with another on tap on Saturday night.
2. Talbot says "NO" twice in a matter of seconds.
It's not uncommon for a guy to have two save of the year candidates in the span of a season. Talbot had two in a matter of a few seconds.
Video: MIN@VGK: Talbot flashes the leather to rob Kolesar
The first came at the tail end of a 2-on-1 rush for Vegas, as Reilly Smith found Keegan Kolesar for what looked like a tap-in. But Talbot refused to give up easily, sprawling to his left to make an incredible glove save, robbing Kolesar of what looked like an easy goal.
But he wasn't done, and he wasn't even done robbing Kolesar.
Video: MIN@VGK: Talbot makes save on Kolesar
Off the ensuing faceoff, Kolesar had a chance in front again, this time taking advantage of a pin-baling puck that had Talbot leaning to his left. Kolesar got the puck on his stick and went to Talbot's right and had a yawning cage, but he didn't get all of a shot, which gave Talbot enough time to throw the blade of his own stick out and deny the young Knights forward a second time in the span of about five seconds of game time.
Just for good measure he stoned Alex Tuch on a breakaway a few minutes after that, flipping his leg pad out to block a well-placed shot.
Talbot's heroics kept the game tied at 1-1 after 40 minutes and gave the Wild a chance in the third period.
3. Kirill is heating up.
Just 24 hours after getting the Wild on the board in the third period in San Jose, it was Kirill Kaprizov doing the same against the Golden Knights.
With some juggled lines, Kaprizov played right wing next to Joel Eriksson Ek and Jordan Greenway on Thursday, taking a feed from the Big Rig and redirecting it past Knights goaltender Robin Lehner.
Video: MIN@VGK: Kaprizov tips a pass into back of the net
Kaprizov's re-direct came from a tough angle too, standing on top of the crease and getting a pass from his left while skating with pace. He had to adjust the angle of his stick perfectly to avoid pushing it high or wide of the cage, and of course, the gifted rookie did just that.
The goal was Kaprizov's 13th of the season, two more than any other rookie in the NHL this season. His 13 goals are also third-most by a rookie in franchise history, trailing only Marian Gaborik (18) and Pascal Dupuis (15), although there is still plenty of season left for Kaprizov to re-write the record book there too.
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