Wild Beat Capitals 5-1 as Kaprizov Reaches 500 Career Points

The Minnesota Wild beat the Washington Capitals 5-1 at Capital One Arena in Washington on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Kirill Kaprizov reached 500 career NHL points with an empty net goal in the third period, a goal the Associated Press reported was also his league leading 15th goal of the season.

Two goals in the first six minutes

Quinn Hughes gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead at 3:42 of the first period. Michael McCarron increased the lead to 2-0 at 5:27 of the first period. Reuters, via Field Level Media, also reported the 5-1 final, with Hughes and McCarron scoring in the first six minutes to put Washington behind early in a game it never recovered.

Washington had won three straight games before Sunday. The Capitals had also scored at least four goals in five of their previous six games, so the early deficit put a team used to scoring in a position it had not faced often in recent games.

Washington cuts the lead to 2-1

Justin Sourdif scored the lone goal for Washington, deflecting a Cole Hutson point shot past Jesper Wallstedt at 19:54 of the second period to cut the deficit to 2-1. The goal came in the final seconds of the period and gave the Capitals a chance going into the third.

Minnesota held that one goal lead for most of the third period. The Wild have now permitted two goals or fewer for the fifth time in six games, and Wallstedt finished with 26 saves on 27 shots.

Three goals late in the third period

Maxim Shabanov made it 3-1 when he scored on a wrist shot during a power play at 17:37 of the third period. Kaprizov then scored his empty net goal for point number 500. Danila Yurov buried a one timer from the high slot during a 5 on 3 power play at 19:35 of the third period for the 5-1 final.

Joel Eriksson Ek and Bobby Brink each had two assists for Minnesota. Logan Thompson made 24 saves for Washington.

What 500 points means for Kaprizov

NHL.com lists Kaprizov at 245 goals and 255 assists for 500 points at the milestone. He became the second player in Wild history to reach 500 points, joining Mikko Koivu, who has 709.

Kaprizov reached 500 points in 413 games. NHL.com reported he tied Evgeni Malkin at 413 games as the fourth fastest active player to record 500 career points, behind Connor McDavid at 369 games, Sidney Crosby at 369 games and Alex Ovechkin at 373 games.

Where the teams stand

Minnesota is 10-3-3, has points in five straight games at 4-0-1, and has points in eight of its last nine games. Washington is 8-5-0 and had its three game winning streak snapped by the loss.

Up next, the Wild play at Philadelphia on Tuesday night and the Capitals host Dallas on Tuesday night, the Associated Press reported via theScore.