Marc-Andre Fleury, who was in net on Saturday for the Wild’s 4-1 win over the Flyers, backed up Wallstedt, and the rookie finished with 24 saves in the first home game of his NHL career; last season, Wallstedt’s NHL debut and two subsequent appearances came on the road.
“I was in the rink for a game less than 24 hours after I knew I was getting called up,” Wallstedt said. “So, it was quick, but fun being back and playing. But obviously I would have wanted the win.”
The Wild capitalized just 1:30 into the first period when Kaprizov one-timed a no-look backhand pass from Zuccarello, who pried the puck away from the Golden Knights along the boards.
On its first and only power play, Vegas responded at 9:31 on a Victor Olofsson shot that flew by Wallstedt as he was screened by Mark Stone. The Golden Knights moved ahead 6:04 into the second period when they scooped up a Brock Faber turnover and went the other way for a 4-on-3 rush that Shea Theodore buried.
But with 3:04 to go in the period, Kaprizov tallied his second of the game after catching a deflected puck, dropping it to the ice and wiring it by Samsonov, his shot getting lodged in the net and leading to a delayed reaction from the crowd.
“I just saw it was in,” Kaprizov said. “But fans no jumping and I’m like, ‘Here we go.’”