Kaprizov exits with injury vs. Bruins after being boarded by Frederic

Minnesota Wild superstar Kirill Kaprizov left Thursday's game versus the Boston Bruins and was unable to return after being boarded by Bruins forward Trent Frederic.

The hit took place in the second period and resulted in an upper-body injury for Kaprizov, the Wild announced. Kaprizov skated off the ice cradling his arm as a scrum broke out after the collision.

Kirill Kaprizov heads to the @mnwild locker room after a hit from Trent Frederic. pic.twitter.com/bamIuwzpOJ

- Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 7, 2022

Frederic was penalized for boarding and for the ensuing fight with Wild blue-liner Dmitry Kulikov. Minnesota enforcer Marcus Foligno then dropped the gloves with Frederic in the third period.

Frederic vs. Foligno pic.twitter.com/Bqku6ZzW0s

- Marina Maher (@marinakmaher) January 7, 2022

Wild head coach Dean Evason was predictably upset about the play.

"Really frustrated with how Kirill got hurt," Evason said postgame, according to Sarah McLellan of the Star Tribune. "It's a predatorial hit. It's one that the league, we don't want that. The puck is sitting right there. You know what he's doing. He's going to hurt our best player."

Evason continued: "That is not a hockey play. The puck's sitting right there. Why not just take the puck and go? In a vulnerable position, you hit a player from behind. We see it all the time, and it gets taken care of. I hope it gets taken care of here."

Kaprizov scored his 14th goal of the season earlier in the contest, marking his team-leading 40th point through 32 games.

Minnesota held on to win 3-2 over the Bruins, snapping a five-game losing streak.

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