Wild slip against a Vegas team with unlikely energy

Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello are once again clicking, but the Wild are glitching.

Despite their dynamic duo rekindling their chemistry during another two-goal effort by Kaprizov, the Wild were stalled 3-2 by the Golden Knights Sunday at Xcel Energy Center to also spoil goaltender Jesper Wallstedt's season debut with their third defeat over the past five games.

The Wild (20-7-4) have alternated wins and losses for the past six to sit third in the NHL, their 44 points tied with the Capitals and one back of the Jets.

"I feel like we had so many chances," Kaprizov said. "It's hockey."

After scoring twice off assists from Zuccarello, Kaprizov came close three times in the third period to getting a hat trick — his last attempt in the waning seconds blocked by Vegas' Alex Pietrangelo after Kaprizov pounced on a carom off the end boards during the Wild's only power play that turned into a 6-on-4 advantage with Wallstedt pulled for an extra attacker.

Earlier in the third period, Kaprizov was denied the go-ahead goal when fellow Russian and friend Ilya Samsonov gobbled up a one-timer off a Zuccarello feed. Later when the Wild were vying for the tying goal, Kaprizov tried to bank a shot in off Samsonov, but the puck stayed out.

"We would like to get a point and take it to overtime at least," Marcus Foligno said. "But we fought hard."

Wallstedt was ushered into duty with Filip Gustavsson getting evaluated for a lower-body injury coach John Hynes doesn't believe will be a major problem.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who was in net on Saturday for the Wild's 4-1 win over the Flyers, backed up Wallstedt, and the rookie finished with 24 saves in the first home game of his NHL career; last season, Wallstedt's NHL debut and two subsequent appearances came on the road.

"I was in the rink for a game less than 24 hours after I knew I was getting called up," Wallstedt said. "So, it was quick, but fun being back and playing. But obviously I would have wanted the win."

The Wild capitalized just 1:30 into the first period when Kaprizov one-timed a no-look backhand pass from Zuccarello, who pried the puck away from the Golden Knights along the boards.

On its first and only power play, Vegas responded at 9:31 on a Victor Olofsson shot that flew by Wallstedt as he was screened by Mark Stone. The Golden Knights moved ahead 6:04 into the second period when they scooped up a Brock Faber turnover and went the other way for a 4-on-3 rush that Shea Theodore buried.

But with 3:04 to go in the period, Kaprizov tallied his second of the game after catching a deflected puck, dropping it to the ice and wiring it by Samsonov, his shot getting lodged in the net and leading to a delayed reaction from the crowd.

"I just saw it was in," Kaprizov said. "But fans no jumping and I'm like, 'Here we go.'"

Kaprizov's 22 goals are tied with Edmonton's Leon Draisaitl for the NHL lead, and his 47 points are second.

Zuccarello also assisted on this goal, the second he's factored into since the two were reunited on Saturday in Zuccarello's return from a monthlong injury. Kaprizov also had two goals Saturday.

"He play pretty good right away," said Kaprizov, who has the most goals by a Wild player through 30 games. "He did a great job. I'm happy for him."

Kaprizov logged 28:03, the second-highest ice time of his career and the most played by a forward in a non-overtime game in Wild history; he was getting double-shifted with the Wild playing 11 forwards and seven defensemen.

Yakov Trenin (upper-body injury) and Jakub Lauko (lower body) remained out; Lauko is on injured reserve and considered week-to-week after reaggravating the muscle injury that previously sidelined him. Joel Eriksson Ek (lower body) is also still on the mend.

Travis Dermott made his Wild debut after getting claimed off waivers from Edmonton on Friday.

"I'm happy to swoop in, help out where I can, and their decisions will be their decisions going forward," said Dermott, who was added in the aftermath of Jake Middleton suffering an upper-body injury that'll keep him out long term. "All I can do is go and play hockey."

After that near goal by Kaprizov barely a minute into the third period, Vegas retook the lead for good when Olofsson's shot was tipped in by Frederick Gaudreau's stick at 3:49.

Samsonov, who totaled 20 saves, was airtight the rest of the way to keep the Wild in their first up-and-down funk of the season.

"You'd like to have this one," said Foligno, who got hit in the head with a shot but returned to fight for a second straight game. "To be 1-2 in the homestand is not ideal. But we're working, and we're right there."