The Wild is averaging an NHL-low 8.7 penalty minutes per game and is perfect on the penalty kill.
Despite being without Marian Gaborik, who continues to nurse a "lower body" injury, the Wild keeps on rolling along.
Heading into tonight's game against the Dallas Stars, the Wild is the NHL's most disciplined team (8.7 penalty minutes a game), has the NHL's third-lowest goals-against average (1.97) and is the NHL's only team without a regulation loss (6-0-1).
"I don't think anybody expected us to start the season this well," center Eric Belanger said.
The biggest key to success has been the Wild's 22-for-22 penalty kill. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Wild is the first NHL team to go the first seven games of the season without allowing a power-play goal since the 1962-63 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The last teams to go longer to begin a season without yielding a power-play goal were Detroit (eight games) and Montreal (10 games) in the 1955-56 season.
"It's probably one of those things that you want to think about," Mikko Koivu said, grinning.
Despite different personnel, the Wild's penalty kill the past three seasons has finished first, second and second, respectively.
Coach Jacques Lemaire dodged any credit Tuesday, saying, "we've got the right guys to do the job."
Belanger said the players "play the system well and read each other really good."
"You would think it would be harder for us to kill penalties because all faceoffs are in the defensive zone," Belanger said of the new rule. "But Mikko and me have been doing good on faceoffs, and the way we are in the neutral zone, I think it's hard for teams to penetrate our zone easily."
Key players miss out on optional practice
The Wild held an optional practice Tuesday.
Defenseman Brent Burns ("lower body") and right wing Antti Miettinen ("upper body") didn't practice, but Lemaire said he thought both would be able to play tonight.
If Burns can't play, Tomas Mojzis will get the nod because Erik Reitz stayed in the Twin Cities because of flu-like symptoms.
Gaborik made the trip to get treatment and will miss his sixth game tonight.
"I didn't even know he was on the trip," said Lemaire, sounding frustrated. "He's out of the picture because he's not practicing with us.
"I was surprised to see him today. I thought he would practice, but he didn't practice."
Despite being without Marian Gaborik, who continues to nurse a "lower body" injury, the Wild keeps on rolling along.
Heading into tonight's game against the Dallas Stars, the Wild is the NHL's most disciplined team (8.7 penalty minutes a game), has the NHL's third-lowest goals-against average (1.97) and is the NHL's only team without a regulation loss (6-0-1).
"I don't think anybody expected us to start the season this well," center Eric Belanger said.
The biggest key to success has been the Wild's 22-for-22 penalty kill. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Wild is the first NHL team to go the first seven games of the season without allowing a power-play goal since the 1962-63 Toronto Maple Leafs.
The last teams to go longer to begin a season without yielding a power-play goal were Detroit (eight games) and Montreal (10 games) in the 1955-56 season.
"It's probably one of those things that you want to think about," Mikko Koivu said, grinning.
Despite different personnel, the Wild's penalty kill the past three seasons has finished first, second and second, respectively.
Coach Jacques Lemaire dodged any credit Tuesday, saying, "we've got the right guys to do the job."
Belanger said the players "play the system well and read each other really good."
"You would think it would be harder for us to kill penalties because all faceoffs are in the defensive zone," Belanger said of the new rule. "But Mikko and me have been doing good on faceoffs, and the way we are in the neutral zone, I think it's hard for teams to penetrate our zone easily."
Key players miss out on optional practice
The Wild held an optional practice Tuesday.
Defenseman Brent Burns ("lower body") and right wing Antti Miettinen ("upper body") didn't practice, but Lemaire said he thought both would be able to play tonight.
If Burns can't play, Tomas Mojzis will get the nod because Erik Reitz stayed in the Twin Cities because of flu-like symptoms.
Gaborik made the trip to get treatment and will miss his sixth game tonight.
"I didn't even know he was on the trip," said Lemaire, sounding frustrated. "He's out of the picture because he's not practicing with us.
"I was surprised to see him today. I thought he would practice, but he didn't practice."
