Minnesota WIld’s Zach Parise is NHL’s First Star Of The Week

You could call this Minnesota Wild’s Zach Parise’s best week ever. He grabbed eight points, was named Captain of Team USA and now Parise is being named the league’s first star of the week.

His three goals and five assists only translated to a 1-1-1 record for the Wild, but they now have a highly productive line.

Jan 25, 2014; San Jose, CA, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) works against San Jose Sharks center

(38) during the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

The Wild have paired Parise with winger Jason Pominville around center Mikael Granlund might be a line to continue trotting out, even when center Mikko Koivu returns.

Parise is now the fifth Wild member to be named first start of the week. The other were Jason Pominville, Josh Harding, Marian Gaborik and Niklas Backstrom

From the team’s release:

Parise began the week by tallying the game-winning goal plus two assists in a 4-2 win at Anaheim Jan. 28, handing the Ducks their second regulation loss in 25 home starts.

He recorded a season-high four points (2-2–4) and nine shots in a 5-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Jan. 30 and notched an assist in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Calgary Flames Feb. 1. Parise also was named captain of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team on Jan. 31. The 29-year-old Minneapolis native, who served as an alternate captain for the silver medal-winning U.S. team at Vancouver in 2010, has recorded 35 points (18-17–35) in 42 games with the Wild this season.