Niederreiter, Zucker provide punch as Wild dumps Florida

SUNRISE, FLA. – Maybe the marquee names on the Wild are changing.

The public addresser at BB&T Center welcomed "Nino Niederreiter, Zach Parise and the Minnesota Wild" to South Florida minutes before puck-drop Monday night.

Niederreiter? Even goalie Niklas Backstrom was like, "What's going on here?"

Hey, Niederreiter soon would become the Wild's first player to hit double-digit goals this season, showing why he was included with the Wild's highest-paid forward by scoring the eventual game-winner in a 4-1 victory on a pretty backhand roof-job off a breakaway.

In front of a scarce crowd announced at 8,426, Niederreiter would be one-upped only by Jason Zucker, who is tied with Parise as the Wild's second-leading goal scorer with eight. Zucker, playing on a line with captain Mikko Koivu, scored two goals for the second time this season on a career-high nine shots.

Zucker especially keeps impressing teammates with his hustle (demonstrated with two more negated icings), defensive improvement and physicality.

"His work ethic right now is another step of wherever he's been," said Koivu, who assisted on both Zucker's goals. "I think he's playing his best hockey — not just the points and goals, but overall. If he keeps doing that, he's going to be a great player."

Parise scored an empty-netter and Backstrom, who blew a 3-0 third-period lead in his last outing, made 16 of his 29 saves in the third period as the Wild closed the three-game road trip with a 2-1 record.

"He looked right on it right from the start," coach Mike Yeo said.

The Wild, which has allowed a league-low seven first-period goals, showed why in the opening 20. It had the puck seemingly every second, and after six previous scoreless road first periods, it was refreshing to see a few goals. In fact, the Wild's two first-period goals equaled its total in the previous 12 road games.

"They were all over [us]," Florida's Nick Bjugstad said. "They were on top of pucks, and they were supporting each other. We just couldn't find a way to get the offense going."

The newly formed Thomas Vanek-Koivu-Zucker line got things started when Koivu made a strong play along the board to take the puck from Jimmy Hayes. Koivu spotted Zucker alone to the left of Roberto Luongo and hit him for a quick strike by Zucker.

"With the forecheck, especially the start of the game, especially on the road, it's very important to get the momentum early on and if possible get the lead as well," Koivu said.

Later, after a Willie Mitchell mishap right to Niederreiter, the big forward, who works hard each offseason on power skating, exploded in acceleration en route to a terrific top-shelf goal.

Nine of Niederreiter's 10 goals have come in the past 13 games.

"I'm confident, but I'm not going to be overconfident," said Niederreiter, who was robbed of goal No. 11 in the third.

Shawn Thornton's goal tensed the Wild's collar in the second, but Zucker got the oh-so-critical two-goal lead back when Koivu's forecheck on a Nate Prosser dump-in forced another turnover, this time by Erik Gudbranson. Koivu was hit by the puck, scooped it up and fed Zucker, who tiptoed the goal line toward Luongo. He scored a beauty top-shelf backhander off the far post and under the bar.

"That line was dangerous every time they were on the ice," Yeo said. "They could have had easily two or three or more points tonight, so that's encouraging. Mikko was really going, too. You could tell that he definitely had some life going back with Zuck."

For Zucker, he has scored three goals in the past three games after none in the previous 10.

"We've seen a real development in the player," said Yeo, who was thrilled with the Wild's effort. "The battle level right from the start, the guys were very engaged. For a good part of the game, our game looked the way it was supposed to look."