Wild vs. Panthers Recap: Kaprizov Hat Trick, Wild +1.5 and Hughes Cash

The Minnesota Wild beat the Florida Panthers 4-1 in regulation. Minnesota scored twice in the first 6:18, answered Florida's only goal less than three minutes later in the 2nd, and closed it with an empty-netter at 18:56 of the 3rd. Kirill Kaprizov scored 3 goals, one on the power play and one into the empty net, and added an assist. Shots were nearly even, 30 for Florida and 29 for Minnesota, but Jesper Wallstedt stopped 29 of 30 and Florida came up empty on all 5 of its power plays. Three DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

Wild +1.5 puck line (-230 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Florida was playing without Barkov and Marchand and scoring 2.0 goals a game, while Minnesota was allowing 2.0 a game. We liked Minnesota getting a goal and a half against a thinner Florida attack. - What happened: Minnesota won outright by 3, clearing the +1.5 by 4.5 goals. The ticket was in good shape from the start: Matt Boldy scored at 0:53 of the 1st and Kaprizov made it 2-0 on the power play at 6:18. - Worth watching: The puck line is a price play, and -230 is steep. It looks best when the other side is short key forwards, as Florida was without Barkov and Marchand.

Quinn Hughes 1+ points (-190 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Hughes had a point in all 4 of his games for Minnesota this season (6 points), and the Wild power play was converting 38.5%. - What happened: Hughes went 0 G, 1 A with 3 shots on goal in 25:35, including 3:06 on the power play. His assist came on Kaprizov's power-play goal at 6:18 of the 1st, so the prop was settled early. He cleared the 0.5 line by 0.5. - Worth watching: Hughes led every Minnesota skater in ice time and in power-play time. That role keeps his points prop in play whenever the Wild draw penalties.

ALT: Under 6.5 total goals (alt): CASHED - Our read: Both teams were allowing 2.0 goals a game, and Florida was scoring 2.0 a game without Barkov and Marchand. - What happened: The game finished with 5 total goals, 1.5 under the alt line, and that includes the empty-netter at 18:56 of the 3rd. Wallstedt made 29 saves on 30 shots, and Jacob Markstrom made 25 saves on 28. - Worth watching: An alt under at 6.5 gives a lot of room for a late empty-net goal. It fits games where one side's scoring is thin, which was the case for Florida here.

How the game played out

Minnesota owned the opening period, scoring at 0:53 and 6:18 and winning 63.2% of faceoffs on the night. Matthew Tkachuk cut it to 2-1 with an unassisted goal at 2:18 of the 2nd, but Kaprizov restored the two-goal lead at 5:00, with Boldy and Joel Eriksson Ek assisting. Florida had five power plays and could not convert any of them; 11 of Wallstedt's saves came with Florida on the man advantage. Markstrom was pulled late, and Kaprizov finished his hat trick into the empty net.

Trends to watch

• Hughes' power-play minutes: Hughes logged 25:35 and 3:06 on the power play, the most on the Wild, with Boldy (3:03) and Kaprizov (3:02) right behind. Minnesota scored once on its 3 power plays.
• Wallstedt's workload: He faced 30 shots and played 59:58. Florida put volume on him, so his saves line is worth tracking when the Wild play shot-heavy teams.
• Florida's power play without Barkov and Marchand: Florida did not score on 5 power plays, even with Sam Reinhart logging 6:29 and Seth Jones 6:27 on the power play. That unit is worth watching before backing Florida overs while those two are out.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. Brady Tkachuk also played for Florida in this one; read our story on the Tkachuk brothers with the Panthers. New to these bets? See how an alt line works, how a player prop is graded, and find more games on our NHL recaps page.