One reason he is making a run at NHL MVP honors this season is Minnesota superstar Kirill Kaprizov’s endless desire to be on the ice and improve every aspect of his already exemplary game.

The Wild will be without their best player in Kirill Kaprizov on Saturday after he suffered a lower-body injury.

With his eye-popping offensive numbers in the first fourth of this season, Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov is establishing himself as a marquee attraction in the NHL and is being mentioned in the conversation about league MVP. Following the team’s Wednesday morning skate in Buffalo, reporters asked the Wild coach what is fueling Kaprizov’s jump.

It would have been easy for the Minnesota Wild to quietly head home, satisfied with winning two out of three on their road trip. But trailing 3-1 late and playing with their star player injured,