The scoring punch the Minnesota Wild have been sorely lacking made a timely and triumphant appearance following the long-awaited return of vital forwards Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov from their long-term injuries.

Kirill Kaprizov scored 1:01 into overtime, Joel Eriksson Ek netted four goals and the Minnesota Wild escaped with an 8-7 win over the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night in Saint Paul, Minn.

The ice at Xcel Energy Center was decorated with hats Wednesday night as Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov returned from injuries to power the Minnesota Wild in an explosive offensive showing (and horrible defensive showing) and an 8-7 win overtime over the San Jose Sharks.

Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek returned to the Minnesota Wild lineup Wednesday night — just in time for a fight to hold onto the team's playoff spot in the regular season's final week. Why it matters: The Wild have endured more injuries to high-impact players than almost any other NHL franchise this season,

Joel Eriksson Ek scored a career-high four goals in his return from a lower-body injury, Kirill Kaprizov had his second of the game in overtime in his first game back and the Minnesota Wild outlasted the San Jose Sharks 8-7 on Wednesday night.

Joel Eriksson Ek scored a career-high four goals in his return from a lower-body injury, Kirill Kaprizov had his second of the game in overtime in his first game back and the Minnesota Wild outlasted the San Jose Sharks 8-7 on Wednesday night.

Obviously it changes the dynamic of your lines and you have to move some things around,” Wild coach John Hynes said.

Minnesota Wild head coach John Hynes delivered an encouraging update on injured stars Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek on Tuesday, but he stopped short of saying one or both might return to the lineup for Wednesday's game against the San Jose Sharks.

Kirill Kaprizov and Joel Eriksson Ek will each return for the Minnesota Wild against the San Jose Sharks at Xcel Energy Center on Wednesday (8 p.m. ET; FDSNNO, NBCSCA). “We’re hopeful they’re going to play,

Minnesota Wild senior adviser Ray Shero, who won a Stanley Cup as a general manager, has died at the age of 62.

Tragic news emerged earlier on Wednesday when the hockey world found out that Minnesota Wild senior adviser and former GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins and New Jersey Devils Ray Shero passed away at just 62 years old.

Shero and Bylsma made it to the hockey mountaintop together on June 12, 2009, when the Pittsburgh Penguins dethroned the mighty Detroit Red Wings in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Fina

Ray Shero, a longtime NHL executive and former Ottawa Senators assistant GM, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 62.

Ray Shero’s smile and personality lit up every room he walked into and brightened the day of everyone he met,” said NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Pittsburgh general manager Ray Shero holds up the Stanley Cup after the Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 to win Game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup finals. Shero has died at age 62. Paul Sancya/AP Share Longtime NHL executive Ray Shero,

When Ray Shero was named general manager of the Penguins in May of 2006, he called Sidney Crosby’s parents and introduced himself. He said to them, “I’m going to take care of your son, and hopefully it will go well.

Longtime NHL executive Ray Shero, who was general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins when they won the 2009 Stanley Cup, has died. He was 62.