Wild Beat Canucks 4-2 as Hughes Scores in Return to Vancouver and Kaprizov Gets 13th Goal

The Minnesota Wild beat the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Sunday, October 25, 2026. Quinn Hughes, the former Vancouver defenseman now playing for Minnesota, finished with a goal and an assist in his return to Vancouver, and Kirill Kaprizov scored his 13th goal of the season.

Minnesota led 3-0 after two periods and 4-0 early in the third period. Vancouver scored twice late in the third period, but the comeback stopped at 4-2.

Minnesota builds the lead

Maxim Shabanov opened the scoring at 18:33 of the first period, assisted by Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy. The goal gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead late in a period that ended with Vancouver still looking for a reply.

Bobby Brink scored at 5:54 of the second period, assisted by Michael McCarron, to make it 2-0. Quinn Hughes then scored at 12:55 of the second period, assisted by Joel Eriksson Ek and Shabanov, to make it 3-0. The goal came in the building where Hughes played for Vancouver before his move to Minnesota, and it was the central moment of a game that had been billed around his return.

Before the game, Canucks forward Brock Boeser said Hughes should get a good welcome back. Hughes finished with 26 minutes and 10 seconds of ice time, the most of any Minnesota skater, with one goal and one assist.

Kaprizov makes it 4-0 before Vancouver replies

Kaprizov scored at 3:38 of the third period, assisted by Hughes, to make it 4-0. The goal was Kaprizov 13th goal of the season. The assist gave Hughes his second point of the night, after his second period goal.

Max Sasson got Vancouver on the board at 6:24 of the third period, assisted by Filip Hronek and Elias Pettersson. Brock Boeser scored at 16:53 of the third period, assisted by Pettersson and Jake DeBrusk, for the 4-2 final score.

The shot count tells the pressure story

Minnesota put 34 shots on goal in the game. Vancouver goaltender Leevi Merilainen made 30 saves on those 34 shots. That total matches the final margin: Minnesota created the larger share of the chances, scored in each period, and held a four goal lead before Vancouver scored its two late goals.

The scoring record for the night is complete: Shabanov at 18:33 of the first, Brink at 5:54 of the second, Hughes at 12:55 of the second, Kaprizov at 3:38 of the third, Sasson at 6:24 of the third, and Boeser at 16:53 of the third. Minnesota wins 4-2 in Vancouver, with Hughes scoring on his return and Kaprizov reaching 13 goals for the season.