Eriksson Ek’s two goals key Wild’s win

Joel Eriksson Ek had his second career twogoal game and Kirill Kaprizov scored for Minnesota’s league-worst power play, leading the host Wild to a 4-3 victory over the West Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights on Wednes- day night.

Kaapo Kahkonen stopped 24 shots to win his eighth consecutive start for Minnesota, extending his franchise rookie record despite surrendering a hat trick to Dylan Coghlan for the first three goals of his career. Coghlan scored with 6 minutes left and then with the extra attacker with 2:10 remaining.

Carson Soucy scored Minnesota’s third goal of the third period during a rare stumble by Vegas goalie Marc-Andre Fleury, who stopped 25 shots be- fore being pulled for Lo- gan Thompson’s NHL debut about halfway through the final frame. Fleury entered the night ranked third in the league in both goalsagainst average and save percentage.

Eriksson Ek scored 19 seconds into the game after intercepting a clearing attempt, but Coghlan answered with his first career goal only 83 seconds later.

The tie lasted until Kaprizov padded his NHL rookie points lead early in the third, 25 seconds after Nicolas Hague was called for hooking on Mats Zuccarello. After Fleury denied a slap shot by Zuccarello and Nick Bjugstad kept alive the rebound, Kaprizov knocked in the puck for his seventh goal of the season. COYOTES’ KUEMPER COULD MISS SIGNIFICANT TIME >>

The Arizona Coyotes could be without top goalie Darcy Kuemper for a significant amount of time due to a lower-body injury.

Kuemper was injured in Monday’s game against Colorado. The team said Wednesday he is listed as week to week.

Kuemper, who missed three games earlier this season with a lower-body injury, went down to a knee in the third period against the Avalanche. He asked the officials to stop the game and skated off to the locker room.

ESPN JUMPS BACK IN HOCKEY GAME >> The National Hockey League and ESPN are together again: The two sides announced a seven-year agreement beginning next season that includes four Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL All-Star Game and comprehensive streaming rights.

ESPN has a long history with the league, stretching back to the network’s launch, but hasn’t aired games since 2004.

Under the new agreement, the Stanley Cup Final will air on ABC in four of the seven years, beginning next season. It also includes 25 regular-season games with the likely breakdown being 15 on ESPN and 10 on ABC. The ABC games would likely air on Saturdays beginning around the All-Star Game with the ESPN top game being on Thursday.

PREDATORS’ FABBRO SUSPENDED TWO GAMES >> Nashville Predators defenseman Dante Fabbro has been suspended two games for elbowing Carolina Hurricanes forward Brock McGinn, the NHL’s department of player safety announced Wednesday.

Fabbro was given a twominute minor penalty for elbowing McGinn hard into the boards.