Vanek scores — on the power play — to spark Wild's victory

Nov. 1, history was made.

After the Wild's power play and Thomas Vanek both went 0-for-October, the Wild killed two birds with one stone Saturday night when Vanek's first goal of the season was the Wild's first power-play goal 23 days in.

Late in the second period of a 4-1 win over the Dallas Stars, the Wild's streaky goal scorer, who entered with only 15 shots in nine games, stopped the Wild's franchise-record, nine-game power-play drought in its tracks at 0-for-28.

"We were due," coach Mike Yeo chuckled. "It definitely relieves a burden, there's no question."

Vanek's goal broke the seal because early in the third period, the Wild made it a multi-power-play game when Nino Niederreiter supplied a three-goal cushion.

"As you know, we struggle on the power play, so it was nice to break my streak and break our team's streak at the same time," Vanek said.

The Wild (7-3), the NHL's only unbeaten home team (5-0), took over the top spot in the Central Division. The fast, up-tempo team that always seems to have the puck outshot the supremely skilled Stars 30-20 and has outshot all 10 opponents this season 350-229.

The Wild ranks first in the NHL in fewest goals allowed (1.8) and shots allowed (22.9) per game and third in goals per game (3.4) and second in shots per game (35).

The Vanek goal was vintage Vanek — bouncing off a defender, subtly finding a soft spot in the slot and roofing a one-timer off a Zach Parise setup.

"That's where he's made a pretty good career," Parise said.

Afterward, Vanek didn't smile or raise his arms. He celebrated with a simple shake of his head.

"I'm not much of a celebrator unless it's a real big goal, but just more of a relief than anything," Vanek said. "Even though it didn't look like much, it felt great."

It was Vanek's 278th career goal. He entered as the team leader with seven assists, but the Wild didn't acquire him to be Pierre-Marc Bouchard.

"He's like any goal scorer. He might have gone through a real cold stretch, but he might score 15 in the next 10 games," said Stars coach Lindy Ruff, Vanek's longtime Buffalo Sabres coach.

Finally, there will be no more talk of the Wild's scoreless power play and no more talk of a goalless Vanek.

"You guys can talk about something else now," Parise kidded.

In a game the Wild got defensemen Jonas Brodin and Christian Folin back, but played without injured defenseman Jared Spurgeon and forwards Matt Cooke and Ryan Carter, the Wild took a 3-1 lead into the third after a scoreless first.

Mikael Granlund, Matt Dumba and Vanek all scored their first goals in the second. Parise played a part in all three, setting the screen on Granlund's goal and assisting on the other two.

The Wild is the NHL's best second-period team, outscoring opponents 17-5.

Granlund, playing his 100th game, got things started 4:21 in courtesy of a gift-wrapped, poorly-placed Jordie Benn clear. The Wild then began to dominate before Dumba slid along the blue line and scored his second career goal against Dallas.

Vernon Fiddler answered eight seconds later against Darcy Kuemper, who improved to 6-2 with 19 saves, but Vanek's goal made it 3-1.

The Wild impressively shut out the star-studded Jamie Benn-Jason Spezza-Tyler Seguin line, which entered with 38 points in 10 games. Benn, Dallas' captain, took three, what he called, "stupid penalties."

The Wild power play made Benn and the Stars pay, but the Wild's fourth-ranked penalty kill put the Wild in position to win. It went 4-for-4, including what Yeo called a "huge, huge 5-on-3 kill" in a scoreless first.

"Their skill on that team is unbelievable," Vanek said. "Our PK's been real strong [all season], goaltending out. It was our turn to add to that on the PP, and tonight we did that."