Domestic fans were waiting for the match between Minnesota and Tampa Bay with particular interest, because a number of Russian hockey players were to meet each other, including star strikers Nikita Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov.
The latter also had the opportunity for the first time in his career to upset Andrei Vasilevsky.
However, the goalkeeper could not take part in the game due to illness.
He even went to the reel, but the coaching staff decided not to risk the leader's health and threw reserve Brian Elliott into the fight.
On top of all the troubles, Zak Bogosyan and Vladislav Namestnikov could not help the team due to various health problems.
And already in the course of the game, defenders Haydn Fleury and Cal Foot were out of action.
All this could not but affect the actions of the Lightning, which also held the second meeting in two days.
Opponents, on the contrary, rested from the first of January.
As a result, the Wild not only interrupted the opponent's four-game winning streak, but defeated him - 5: 1.
At the same time, in terms of the number of shots, the minimum advantage turned out to be on the side of the guests - 35:33, but they only once managed to upset Philip Gustavsson, who made 34 saves.
What are at least a one-on-one performance by Braydon Point or his throw at point-blank range from a zero angle even with an equal score.
Do not show the Swede reliability, and the game could go in a completely different scenario.
The hosts, on the other hand, were much more attentive to their moments.
Shortly before the first break, they opened an account.
And the goal turned out to be funny.
After a bounce on a nickel, the puck treacherously hit the defender's skate and slowly crawled into the net.
Elliott simply did not see her and failed to rescue the partners.
The goal was credited to Joel Erikssoan Ek, who was the last player in Minnesota to touch the puck.
And in the second period it was Kaprizov's turn.
Wards Dean Evason earned debut majority and a minute later realized it.
Matt Baldy seemed to be throwing a strong shot to the penny area, but Kirill, having shown miracles of reaction, adjusted to the puck so that it ended up in the net.
The goalkeeper could not save his team again.
The Russian, along the way, repeated the club's record for the number of home matches in a row with goals.
The confrontation with Tampa Bay was already the 14th productive for him at home.
In the 2007/08 season, a similar series was given by the Slovak Marian Gaborik.
And very soon the forward almost created a masterpiece.
Having received a transmission from the port side and being completely alone, the Russian laid a beautiful feint.
With a movement of the club, he showed Elliott that he would beat him to the right side, but instead, from under his feet, he struck a click into the near nine.
Unfortunately, the guests were saved by the cross.
However, even before the break, Kalen Addison and Sam Steel provided the team with more than a comfortable advantage.
The first was marked by an amazing powerful shot from a medium distance.
The goalkeeper in this episode was closed by the opponent and did not see the moment of the throw.
The second one successfully put his foot under the partner's throw, and the goalkeeper failed to react to the rebound.
However, Kaprizov still did not leave the ice without a double.
In the end, the Lightning, losing with a difference of three goals, decided to change the goalkeeper, but only let them into the empty ones.
An accurate throw was made by Kirill, who scored two or more times in the fourth match in the current regular season.
In total, he now has 96 goals in the NHL - there are very few left to the coveted hundred.
Also, the domestic athlete managed to climb into the top 10 both in the list of the best snipers and scorers of the current season.
In the first, he shares 9-13th places with Point, William Nylander, Jack Hughes and Cole Cofield with 22 goals.
Of his compatriots, only Alexander Ovechkin, who occupies the third or fourth position, is ahead of him (28).
But in the second, a native of the Kemerovo region caught up with the Washington veteran.
Having scored 47 points each, they share 9th-11th lines with Matthew Tkachuk.
For Tampa, the only positive moment of the meeting was the goal of prestige in the majority by Point.
However, the whole effective combination with the participation of Brandon Hagel and Kucherov deserves attention.
Players in several passes in touch beautifully went through the entire defense of the opponent.
And thanks to this attack, Nikita returned to the sole leaders of the race of the best assistants.
He now has 41 assists to his credit, and the striker is one ahead of Connor McDavid and Erik Karlsson.