Kirill Kaprizov scores twice to lift the Wild over the Blues 4-2

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kirill Kaprizov scored a pair of third-period goals, and Jonas Brodin and Ryan Hartman also scored to help the Minnesota Wild beat the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Filip Gustavsson made 22 saves for the Wild who improved to 12-3-3 on the season.

Scott Perunovich and Jake Neighbours scored, and Jordan Binnington made 24 saves for St. Louis, who saw Robert Thomas return to the lineup after missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle.

Brodin scored his second goal of the season with 6:16 remaining in the third period to put the Wild ahead 3-2, and Kaprizov added an empty net goal for his second of the game and 13th of the season with 1:23 remaining to clinch the win.

Neighbours scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season on a power play with 9:23 remaining in the third period to tie the game at 2-all.

Kaprizov deflected a shot from Jake Middleton past Binnington 6:07 into the third period to put Minnesota ahead 2-1.

Wild: Minnesota continued to dominate away from home improving to a league-best 8-1-2 on the road.

Blues: While Thomas returned to the lineup, the lack of depth continued to show on defense as St. Louis was playing without defensemen Nick Leddy, Philip Broberg and Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

With a little more than three minutes remaining in the third period, referees Kelly Sutherland and Corey Syvret missed an apparent high sticking penalty on Jared Spurgeon that would have sent St. Louis to a late power play.

Kaprizov has 12 points (six goals, six assists) while recording at least one point in each of his last six games.

The Wild visit Edmonton while the Blues host San Jose on Thursday night.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) is checked by St. Louis Blues left wing Pavel Buchnevich (89) as center Robert Thomas (18) controls the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) shoots and scores against the St. Louis Blues in front of St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) skates against St. Louis Blues defenseman Ryan Suter (22) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14) controls the puck from St. Louis Blues defenseman Colton Parayko (55) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Scott Perunovich (48) reacts with center Zack Bolduc (center) and center Dylan Holloway (81) after scoring a goal against the Minnesota Wild during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) looks on during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild defenseman Jonas Brodin (25) checks St. Louis Blues right wing Alexey Toropchenko during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) and St. Louis Blues defenseman Justin Faulk (72) look on as goaltender Jordan Binnington (50) eyes the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

Minnesota Wild center Marco Rossi (23) celebrates with teammates after a goal scored by right wing Ryan Hartman, far left, against the St. Louis Blues during the first period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Le)

VANG VIENG, Laos (AP) — Two Australian tourists are being treated in Thailand for suspected severe alcohol poisoning after consuming tainted drinks in neighboring Laos, Australian media reported Tuesday.

The two 19-year-old women were on a backpacking vacation in Laos when they became ill in the tourist town of Vang Vieng, The Age newspaper in the women’s hometown of Melbourne reported.

Duong Duc Toan, manager of the Nana Backpacker Hostel, said Tuesday that staff were told by other guests that the two women were unwell after they failed to check out as planned on Nov. 13, and they arranged transport to a hospital for them.

He said that two days earlier the women had joined more than 100 other guests for free shots of Lao vodka offered by the hostel as a gesture of hospitality. He said no other guest reported any issue, adding that the women had then gone for a night out, returning in the early hours of the morning.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that it was providing consular assistance to two Australians and their families in Thailand, but couldn't provide further information for privacy reasons.

“Our thoughts are with them at this deeply distressing time,” the office said.

They were then transported to Thailand and are being treated at hospitals in Bangkok and Udon Thani, The Age reported. Their parents have flown in to be with them.

It wasn't clear what the two drank, but methanol is sometimes used as the alcohol in mixed drinks at disreputable bars and can cause severe poisoning or death.

Australian media also reported that two Danish tourists died after consuming tainted alcohol in Vang Vieng at the same time as the Australian women, but it was not immediately possible to confirm details.

Asked about media reports, Denmark’s Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press that “two Danish citizens have passed away in Laos” but that it could not provide specifics for “reasons of confidentiality in personal matters.”

Vang Vieng is a tourist town particularly popular among backpackers seeking partying and adventure sports. Businesses appeared to be going on as usual Tuesday evening in the surrounding neighborhood of the hostel bustling with bars and food stalls.

Jasmine Antonius, a Dutch tourist who has been in Vang Vieng for three days, said that she tried to become more careful with drinks after she heard about the case.

“I think sometimes you’re not really watching how your drinks are being made,” she said. “I feel now it’s a wake up call for many people since this happened. So I hope people would take more precaution because it’s really sad.”

It wasn't immediately possible to verify reports that other tourists were also poisoned in the same incident.

Toan, the hostel manager, said he hoped the investigation would clear its name, but for now the hostel has stopped giving free shots to its guests.

Foreign tourists drink beer at a bar near a river in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Foreign tourists have a drink at a night club at Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Tourists talk to a bar owner in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman carries a baby as she walks by the Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Foreign tourists relax at a swimming pool at Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel sits in the bar of the hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A foreign tourist buys coffee at Nana Backpack hostel bar in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A woman swipes the floor as foreign tourists check out of Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Duong Duc Toan, the manager of Nana Backpack hostel displays a bottle of vodka, in the bar of the hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Foreign tourists relax at a swimming pool at Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

A notice displayed at the bar of Nana Backpack hostel in Vang Vieng, Laos, Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)