Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov left Saturday’s loss to the Winnipeg Jets in the third period with an apparent lower-body injury after receiving a cross-check to the back.
Head coach John Hynes didn’t have an update on his status or Filip Gustavsson, who also left the game with a lower body injury.
The incident happened in the third period as the Wild were attempting a late comeback against the Jets. Kaprizov was battling for the puck along the boards when Jets defenceman Brendan Dillon cross-checked him from behind. Kaprizov continued to fight for the puck until Dillon landed another that appeared to hit on the left side of his lower back.
Appearing in visible pain, Kaprizov kept skating until the end of his shift. No penalty was called on the play.
Through 33 games this season, Kaprizov has 13 goals and 33 points — on pace for his third consecutive point-per-game campaign. He leads the Wild in points, and is two behind Joel Eriksson Ek in goal leaders.
Emerging as an unexpected superstar for the Wild after they selected him in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Draft, he won the Calder Memorial Trophy after scoring 27 goals and 51 points in 55 games his rookie year.
The Jets held on to take a 4-2 victory, but the two teams face off again Sunday in Minnesota in the second half of a home-and-home two-game set.