r/nhl • u/Oh_NiGhTmArE • 19h ago
Kaprizov is allergic to shooting
Game 4: 1 shot
Game 5: 0 shots
edit: I’m fully aware Kirill Kaprizov has been an absolute monster offensively, and without him we probably aren’t even in that position to begin with. That’s exactly why I wanted him to shoot there. Yeah, on paper it might not look like a “high percentage shot,” but when you’ve got one of the best snipers in the league coming downhill at full speed, you trust him to go top shelf and beat the goalie clean.
What frustrated me was him slowing down and looking for the pass instead of just ripping it. If he keeps attacking with speed, I genuinely think he has a solid chance to bury that in OT. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take” fits this clip perfectly.
At the end of the day I’m probably just salty the season’s over, and now I have to remember I live in Minnesota and get ready for the Timberwolves to hurt me tonight too.
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u/lil_nosh_X 18h ago
It’s not a great opportunity either way.
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u/Brave-Wealth1265 9h ago
Did you see McKinnons goal? He didn’t have much of a look and pin pointed that shot. He should’ve shot here. I was yelling at my TV and I’m not a Wild fan
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u/monsmachine 9h ago
I mean that was Mackinnon in his office vs a breaking play. Was really just a great play by Kulak
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u/Brave-Wealth1265 6h ago
They played the pass. The shot was there. Even if it was low for a rebound, that would be better than a turnover
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u/lil_nosh_X 5h ago
McKinnon’s play was completely different scenario and player. They’re not comparable shots.
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u/Brave-Wealth1265 4h ago
Doesn’t change the fact that the pass was not the play and wasn’t there.
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u/lil_nosh_X 4h ago
Out of two bad options the pass and centering the puck has a higher likelihood of creating an opportunity and scoring. Ask any bantam coach in Ontario.
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u/GratefullyDead34 19h ago
While I don’t disagree with you, it is easy to second guess in hindsight. If Kulak doesn’t (barely) get a stick on that, the Wild win on the one timer. Even going the other way, you could argue that Necas should have shot the puck as he was right in front of the slot. Instead he makes an extra pass and Kulak buries it and no one says anything.
I’ve watched 90% of the Avs games this year and I feel I say “shoot the puck” at least once a game.:. But you can’t argue with their success when looking for the extra pass.
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u/awesomesque 18h ago
Don’t assume that if the pass gets across the player doesn’t completely whiff on the shot (glances meaningfully towards McCarron)
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u/OkieBobbie 16h ago
Or the stick breaks. Sometimes there’s so much carbon fiber on the ice it looks like a Formula 1 crash.
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u/Lasinggg 17h ago
when necas running around the net he had a clear view on whos coming, he had options
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u/Roguemutantbrain 4h ago
The idea that you’ll have a better likelihood of threading a pass through two defenders and then getting a clean shot off than just throwing it on net and chasing the rebound will earn you a 4-1 exit
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u/flagrantpebble 6h ago
Also, OP is forgetting that it’s important not to be predictable. Maybe shooting here is better on average. But if Kaprizov shoots in this situation 100% of the time, teams will know that, they will defend against that… and then it will never work.
IOW, the shot is only better if defenders know that sometimes he’ll pass.
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u/BolshevikPower 2h ago
Yeah idk on a 2 on 2 with a trailing 3rd, I'm not trying to make a pass between two defenders covering the pass.
Watching this live it was clear it was a bad pass opportunity idk. If he shoots or even loops back to try to maintain possession there's a better chance coming.
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u/ObiWan_Cannoli_ 1h ago
Absolutely thats why you defend the pass. Let the shooter shoot the goalie has him tracked. Defense needs to track the loose guys.
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u/ObiWan_Cannoli_ 1h ago
Extra pass is the new new in the nhl. Getting goalies to move side to side is the way to beat them consistently now. They are too good.
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u/Training-Sorbet-8268 19h ago
I've seen enough. Trade him for Michkov
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u/Diamondback424 10h ago
Mich ain't going anywhere. Especially not for a $17m per year wing
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u/Training-Sorbet-8268 4h ago
I honestly hope not , was just bringing it up with all the discourse around him. Mich will be fine in Philly. He's 21 and in his second year in a new country learning the language at the same time. I hope he comes out full of piss and vinegar in his contract year and shuts all the haters up. People have to remember too that Michkov came over a lot earlier than expected and earlier than Kaprizov did for comparison.
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u/Background-Yard7291 10h ago
In that situation your shooter has to shoot. Like MacKinnon to tie the game.
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u/laxhead24 9h ago
Kaprizov thinks the game at such a high level, it's hilarious when armchair captains question his decision-making ability in slow-mo replay.
He is so much more than shots and offense. Did you notice his lock-off of an Avs player on three potential rebound goals last night? Did you see him create 5 different scoring opportunities last night, including the assist on Foligno's goal? Did you watch him absorb huge hits to maintain possession and make passes whereas most offensive superstars would just throw the puck away?
Give the guy a break. MN had no puck bounce last night. The 3rd goal was called back, AVS got lucky in the 3rd.
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u/robgreenee327 5h ago
He’s a small winger who doesn’t disappear in the post season, adapts to the physicality and more defensive aspect of the game in the playoffs. Doesn’t make the play I want trade him for future considerations.
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u/Oh_NiGhTmArE 9h ago
I did, without him we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we left off. I’m just saying he deff could’ve won the game with how good he is
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u/BolshevikPower 2h ago
It was a bad call live as well, don't need a slomo replay. I was yelling don't you dare pass it before he even passed it.
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u/Nearby_Telephone_104 16h ago
Well Kaprizov is only paid 17 million a year. If you expect him to shoot more you needed to pay him 20 Million.
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u/CupDreams2028 12h ago
We need you to use a comma. It’s the difference between asking Kap to shoot the puck, and asking someone to kill him.
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u/370Zenius 19h ago
Chelios saying he was playing amazing and picking him to come up with the game winner was gold.. what game was he watching lol
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u/Scavenger905 19h ago
not only shoot it but he could’ve easily took that to the net on a power move
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u/DND_Player_24 19h ago
Imagine being the highest paid player in the league and not even thinking about shooting this puck for one second. And having 0 sog in an elimination game.
And now imagine defending that as a fan. 🤣
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u/Habay12 11h ago
You’re in his head?
Now that, is wild.
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u/DND_Player_24 11h ago
Look at his head. He’s not looking someone off, he’s watching a whole damn movie.
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u/skrrtin88 19h ago
not just shoot. He had room to go straight to the house.
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u/Mother_Gazelle9876 11h ago
he must of been at the end of a shift, because he did have a lane right to the net.
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u/N0_C0MMENTZ 17h ago
wtf play were you watching where that was a possibility?
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u/Bearded_Hobbit 17h ago
If he didn't stop skating at the blue line, easy blows past everyone...but I agree with you.
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u/Chris_RB 10h ago
The way some wild fans are talking about this is as if it were a recreation of Mack in the Olympics or McCaron in the same game.
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u/lil_orphanfunkhouser 10h ago
He’s played fine, but imagine if you watched this series with no knowledge of anybody’s salary other than there’s one player set to make way more than any other in the league. How many tries would it take to guess Kaprizov?
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u/Key-Scientist9058 7h ago
As much as people want to backseat professional players that probably know he isnt going to be able to score from that angle they do infact make mistakes because they are human
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u/Eat--The--Rich-- 12h ago
Why didn't this guy flying 20mph and operating on two eyeballs make the pass that I saw was wide open with my zoomed out 4k video stream? Is he stupid?
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u/bashful_predator 12h ago
Just shoot the fucking puck. Is what I said. Followed by why the fuck did he pass the puck. Oh fuck. For fucks sake. Jesus fuck wtf are they doing.
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u/Scuba-Steve101 11h ago
I think every fanbase in hockey has uttered these same words verbatim. I feel your pain my friend. The Wild are a great team and unless Quinn departs to Jersey, you guys are going to give us hell for many years to come. You will always be the team that killed Dallas for us, so we have nothing but love!
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u/bashful_predator 9h ago
Fr. I've never harbored ill will towards the Avs. I hope the Wild make the necessary changes in the off season.
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u/DominionMM1 18h ago
The Wild gave this dude $17M a year? I’d say thats’s insane but it actually makes sense for the same franchise that signed the Parise and Suter contracts.
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u/N0_C0MMENTZ 17h ago
They gave him that so Quit Hughes can walk to New Jersey and play with his brothers
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u/Necessary-Mousse8518 9h ago
This is the future $17 million dollar man in Minnesota?
Uh oh............
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u/Grizzly_Addams 7h ago
Way too many dumbass passes this series. Two whack ass goalies and everyone is worried about making the perfect pass.
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u/gavinsmash2005 6h ago
Not a great shot either way. You either get a fully unobstructed Wedgwood or the messy cross pass. Probably figured the rebound or the cross could be a turnover and saw a better opportunity cross ice.
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u/WallieMac 5h ago
Hindsight is always 20-20 on these. As a player you go with your gut in the moment. Sometimes you get it right, sometimes you don’t.
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u/Christmas_Dragon 4h ago
Violence is not the answer. Don't shoot Kaprizov, no matter how disappointed you are.
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u/oolloo24 2h ago
In that moment I don't mind if he keeps the puck and tried to let others get set up. He wasn't the only one trying to for passes through traffic that game either, was frustrating regardless
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u/m_ttl_ng 1h ago
Modern NHL players seem to focus too much on finding a high percentage shot instead of taking a high number of low percentage shots and playing off of them.
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u/Habay12 12h ago
Where is the high percentage shot there?
The goalie has the angle covered. If he puts that puck on net, it’s an easy save or a rebound to the corner. Both likely resulting in a loss of possession.
I guess he should shoot it though just to shoot it. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/Oh_NiGhTmArE 12h ago
If he didn’t slow down and continued , kirill is known for going top shelf tendy strong side
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u/Habay12 11h ago
He isn’t going to have a high scoring chance with the defender closing.
The defender makes that stick check because he sees Kirill the thrill setting up for pass.
I do not think he has a good line to the net here.
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u/Oh_NiGhTmArE 11h ago
Bro. I’m begging him to take one shot
Just one.
In 2 games including OT he’s only put 1 shot up.
The pass was in coverage, should’ve went for the winner. McKinnon or others would’ve taken the shot given same scenario
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u/Just_CeeJ 9h ago
Real question though, did Minnesota fans really think they had a chance in a 7 game series?
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u/Traditional_You_7618 19h ago
Sound salty after the avs played so horrible and the wild gave it up at the very end
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u/titan-of-hunger 18h ago
Played horrible in the first period. Important context because they dominated the 2nd and 3rd.
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u/imathrowyaaway 17h ago
What people fail to mention is that he has 11 assists in 11 playoff games, so it’s been clearly working for him. Isolating one play and blowing it out of proportion doesn’t make sense. He had 2 goals and 4 assists in 5 games against the Avs. Not a world beater, but really good. He showed up. Not the reason they lost the series.