Do the Wild have the NHL’s best top line right now?

Matt Blewett/Imagn Images By John Shipley / St. Paul Pioneer Press Today at 12:00 PM Listen Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Do the Wild have the best line in the NHL? It’s certainly one of them, and it appears to be getting better after — through its play even strength and on the power play — combining for 10 points in a 4-1 victory over San Jose on Friday. If that seems high, it frankly is because three of those points were racked up by defenseman Quinn Hughes, who has given an already potent line a fourth member. He had three of those points with a goal and two assists. ADVERTISEMENT “He’s like a fourth forward out there, so agile, he’s moving well with his skates. He’s always a threat,” said Jesper Wallstedt, who, as the team’s goaltender, can watch from the other end of the ice as Hughes, Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek and Matt Boldy befuddle defenses nightly. Kaprizov scored his NHL-leading 16th goal and added three assists, Boldy and Eriksson Ek each had an assist — and were on the ice for every Minnesota goal — and Hughes had a goal and two assists (for a team-leading 19). With Hughes sharing the ice with the top line — it was with D partner David Spacek on Friday — the Wild are a scary offensive threat to any team. “There’s been games where I feel like we’ve completely dominated,” Hughes said. “(Friday), I feel like we had two or three shifts where we dominated. But yeah, it’s been good. I think it’s helping us win games.” Even without Hughes chipping in, the forwards are a formidable group. According to analytics site moneypuck.com, among lines with at least 193 minutes of ice time together, Kaprizov, Eriksson Ek and Boldy led all NHL lines in goals expected per 60 minutes (3.94) entering this past weekend. Next is Edmonton’s powerhouse group of Leon Draisaitl, Vasily Podkolzin and center Connor McDavid — whose 44 points lead the NHL, 13 more than Leon Draisaitl — with an expected 3.53 per 60 minutes. MORE MINNESOTA WILD COVERAGE: Pro Nikita Kucherov scores OT winner as Lightning rally past Wild 1d ago · By Field Level Media Pro Streaking Wild top West after 4-1 victory over Sharks 2d ago · By John Shipley / St. Paul Pioneer Press Pro Tough lineup decisions coming as Wild get closer to full health 3d ago · By Jess Myers / St. Paul Pioneer Press Not coincidentally, the Wild (27 points) and Oilers (25) entered Saturday’s slate No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, in the Western Conference. The Wild played the Tampa Bay Lightning, while the Oilers faced Alberta rival Calgary. ADVERTISEMENT “We just try to play smart. Sometimes we go D zone, too, and just try to put (the) puck in the offensive zone and just play smart and play good in the line,” Kaprizov said after Saturday’s game. “But everyone plays good, whole team.” At 29, Kaprizov seems to be hitting his prime. The left wing has four seasons with 40 or more goals, and already is the franchise’s leading lead goal-scorer. He ranks third in the NHL with 30 points. And with his league-best 16 goals in 18 games, he’s on a (fantastical) pace to score 73 if he can play all 84 games. That’s top 10 all-time territory. “Really complete,” coach John Hynes said of his top forward. “It’s going on four years now, where you know he’s had some stretches where he’s been able to produce similar(ly) to this, but his overall game has been excellent — just the way that he’s playing, the competitive level he’s playing with, his decision-making, his commitment without the puck. It’s a really strong two-way game.” Kaprizov started the season on a line with Danila Yurov and Maxim Shabanov, but after a 3-2 loss at Tampa Bay on Oct. 8, Hynes grouped him with Boldy and Eriksson Ek. Since then, the Wild have earned 22 points in their past 14 games (10-2-2). “Those guys have played together for numerous years now, and they feel like they have great chemistry. They can make things happen,” San JOse Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said Saturday. It’s obviously common for teams to get their best puck movers on the ice with the top line; Evan Bouchard is a huge part of the Edmonton line’s success, as is Cale Makar in Colorado. ADVERTISEMENT Now the Wild have Hughes — acquired in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks last December — helping facilitate the production of one of the NHL’s top few lines. Combined, they are plus-53 with 35 goals. That’s 58.3 percent of the team’s 60 total goals. “I think the coaches have done an unreal job getting us out there (together),” Hughes said. “And you see, like, Edmonton does it with Bouchard and McDavid and those guys. Colorado’s done it for a bunch of years. So, I think what we’re doing has helped us be successful.” Text Example ____________________________________ This story was written by one of our partner news agencies. Forum Communications Company uses content from agencies such as Reuters, Kaiser Health News, Tribune News Service and others to provide a wider range of news to our readers. Learn more about the news services FCC uses here. Comments Share Share this article News Reporting News Reporting Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. The Trust Project What is this? Tags Tags MINNESOTA WILD HOCKEY Listen to this article Conversation ADVERTISEMENT What To Read Next Pro Ayo Dosunmu, Timberwolves handle Jazz for 4th straight win 16h ago · By Field Level Media Pro Loons beat San Jose, but MLS Cup Playoffs bid falls short 1d ago · By Andy Greder / St. Paul Pioneer Press Pro Timberwolves rally to snap Pelicans' 4-game streak 2d ago · By Field Level Media ADVERTISEMENT Get Local Must Reads Lifestyle 701's Acme Mac and Cheese is a serving of savory food history 6h ago · By John Lamb Business West Fargo Crumbl Cookies ranks No. 8 in store foot traffic in the U.S. 1d ago · By Staff reports Subscribers Only Health Study: Vaping among teens drops significantly in Clay County 5 years after Moorhead flavored tobacco ban 7h ago · By April Baumgarten Prep Minnesota state football brackets released, here’s who, where and when area teams will play 1d ago · By Staff reports