Eriksson Ek, Kaprizov return to lead the Wild past the Sharks, 8-7 in overtime

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — 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.

Minnesota moved into the first wild-card spot in the Western Conference when the St. Louis Blues lost at Edmonton in a late game. The Wild and Blues each have 93 points, with St. Louis having played one more game.

Eriksson Ek missed the previous 21 games. Kaprizov also returned from a lower-body injury after missing the last 28 games and 40 of the 43. He had surgery in late January.

Kaprizov — who also had an assist — scored his 25th goal of the season at 1:01 of overtime to end it after Will Smith tied it for San Jose with 52 seconds left in regulation.

Eriksson Ek gave Minnesota a 3-2 lead at 7:29 of the second, then scored three straight in a 2:18 span late in the second and early in the third to make it 7-4. His first three goals came on power plays.

Marcus Johansson and Brock Faber also scored for the Wild, and Matt Boldy had four assists. Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 24 shots and broke a tie with Martin Brodeur for NHL regular-season OT victories with 70.

Rookie star Macklin Celebrini had three goals and two assists for San Jose, and Smith also had three assists. Tyler Toffoli, Carl Grundstrom and Nikolai Kovalenko also scored. Alexandar Georgiev made 36 saves.

Sharks: NHL-worst San Jose has lost six straight.

Wild: Eriksson Ek fell short of Marian Gaborik’s team record of five set Dec. 20, 2007 against the New York Rangers. To make room on the roster for Eriksson Ek and Kaprizov, forwards Brendan Gaunce and Devin Shore were sent to Iowa of the American Hockey League.

Kaprizov scored on overtime on a one-timer from the right side after a give-and-go play with Mats Zuccarello.

Minnesota was 3 for 4 on the power play, while San Jose didn't have a chance on with the man advantage.

The Sharks are at Edmonton on Friday night. The Wild have an Alberta back-to-back, playing on Calgary on Friday night and Edmonton on Saturday night.

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

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7), center, and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) celebrate after the overtime win against the San Jose Sharks of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild center Joel Eriksson Ek (14), middle, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal as San Jose Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun (3), foreground, skates across the ice during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) shoots the puck during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

San Jose Sharks goaltender Alexandar Georgiev (40), back, left, defends against a shot during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Marcus Johansson (90) celebrates toward center Gustav Nyquist (41) after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild left wing Kirill Kaprizov (97) skates with the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7), back, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild defenseman Brock Faber (7) skates after a goal scored by San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) stops the puck during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the San Jose Sharks, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) celebrates with teammates after the overtime win against the San Jose Sharks of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Minnesota Wild goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury (29) defends against a shot as San Jose Sharks center Cam Lund (46) pressures during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The driver of a car that barreled through a building used for a popular after-school camp in central Illinois, killing three children and a teenager, was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and may have had a medical emergency, police said Thursday.

No decisions have been made on whether to file charges against the 44-year-old driver, said Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly at a news conference. The driver, who was not injured, is not in custody, Kelly said.

Evidence that she may have had a medical emergency was “not conclusive” and the investigation is ongoing, Kelly said.

The car went off the road Monday, crossing a field and smashing into the side of the building in Chatham used by Youth Needing Other Things Outdoors, also known as YNOT. It traveled through the building, striking people before exiting the other side. Six other children were hospitalized, including one left in critical condition.

Security camera footage showed the vehicle was “a substantial distance” away when it left the roadway, said Jamie Loftus, founder of YNOT Outdoors. After speeding across a field, it crossed a road, the sidewalk and YNOT’s parking lot before crashing through the building “with no apparent attempt to alter its direction,” Loftus said earlier this week. The vehicle then crossed a gravel road and crashed into a pole and fence.

Chatham is a community of about 15,000 people outside of the Illinois capital of Springfield.

Those killed were Rylee Britton, 18, of Springfield, Ainsley Johnson, 8, Kathryn Corley, 7, and Alma Buhnerkempe, 7. All of the children were from Chatham.

Brandy Fletcher leaves flowers at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

An overhead view shows the scene where victims were killed when a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp, Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Police tape is left at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Damage is visible at the scene after a car barreled through a building used for an after-school camp Tuesday, April 29, 2025, in Chatham, Ill. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)