Kaprizov has 9 goals in 8 games. Blues goalie Joel Hofer left his net to hit him

By the Data Desk · Published 16 OCT 07:50 · Updated 19 OCT 07:30

With Minnesota 5-2 up and four and a half minutes left, St. Louis goalie Joel Hofer came out from behind his net, ignored the puck and put Kirill Kaprizov, the NHL's leading goalscorer, into the boards. "I think it's a dirty play," Wild goalie Jesper Wallstedt said after the 5-4 win, The Hockey News reports, and Kaprizov left for the dressing room soon after.

• Hofer was called for interference at 15:29 of the third period; Jimmy Snuggerud served the penalty (NHL play-by-play).
• Kaprizov scored his ninth goal and added two assists in 22:52 before the hit; nine goals in eight games leads the league.
• Coach John Hynes said after the game that Kaprizov is OK, The Hockey News reports; the Wild host Columbus on Sunday.

The play itself was simple. Kaprizov went behind the Blues' net for a loose puck, and Hofer stepped out to meet the man rather than the puck. Kaprizov crumpled on contact and slammed into the boards, The Hockey News writes. He stayed down for a moment, took one more shift on the power play that followed and then headed down the tunnel.

The Wild dressing room did not hide its anger. "There's no reason for him to go out there and not play the puck and just play the player," Wallstedt said. "Up 5-2, there's just no reason as a goalie to do that." Quinn Hughes and Wallstedt both said they were relieved Kaprizov seemed fine, and Hynes told reporters the same, though no club statement or diagnosis has followed.

The game turned messy after the hit. Robert Thomas scored short-handed at 16:00, 31 seconds into the power play Hofer had given Minnesota, and Dylan Holloway made it 5-4 at 19:45, so the Wild hung on in a game they had controlled. Matt Boldy scored a hat trick and Kaprizov finished with a goal and two assists, which takes him to nine goals in eight games; the next best total before Thursday was seven.

No hearing with the Department of Player Safety had been announced by Friday morning, and a minor penalty for interference is all the referees gave. What happens next: Minnesota (5-2-1) host Columbus on Sunday, 18 October, at 22:00 UTC, and Friday's practice will be the first sign of whether Kaprizov needs a day off.