Wild's Zach Parise named the NHL's First Star of the Week

UPDATED

The Wild welcomes the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday and looks to extend its winning streak to six games.

The Wild has beaten Chicago in four straight this season and in its last six, in fact.

Zach Parise was named the NHL's First Star of the Week today. St. Louis' Brian Elliott was named Second Star and Pittsburgh's Phil Kessel Third.

FIRST STAR – ZACH PARISE, LW, MINNESOTA WILD

Parise paced the NHL with five goals and shared the League lead with seven points in three contests to help the Wild (37-28-11, 85 points) extend their winning streak to a season-high five games and move back into the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. He posted one assist in a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings March 22. Parise then registered 3-1—4, including his fifth career hat trick and League-leading third of the season, in a 6-2 triumph over the Calgary Flames March 24. He closed the week with a pair of goals, including the winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Colorado Avalanche March 26. The 31-year-old Minneapolis native paces the Wild with 24 goals in 65 games this season (24-25—49), his eighth career and third straight 20-goal campaign.

The honor comes after he broke out of a two-goal in 25-game slump.

His first of two goals against Colorado came after he stole Mikkel Boedker's pass and buried a Mikael Granlund pass after Granlund faked a shot.

"I've gotten a few of those freebies from him and I'm always very appreciative of those," Parise said. "I owe Granny a lot, I really do. He's set me up for a lot of good chances. When I play with him, I feel once or twice a game he's giving me a really good opportunity and as a winger, you enjoy playing with centermen like that."

John Torchetti said Parise has played a complete game the last three or four games.

"You knew it was coming," Torchetti said. "His work ethic is way above the bar."

Torchetti talked about how good his leadership has been lately in the locker room. Parise also bought the team dinner Friday night in Denver.

As you can see below, Jason Zucker took Jones' spot in Monday's practice. Zucker has been scratched the past two games, so we'll see if Zucker gets in against Chicago even if Jones plays.

Ryan Carter (shoulder) practiced for the first time today. He won't play Tuesday.

The Wild has won 14 games in 21 games under Torchetti, tied for first in the NHL, and has scored 68 goals, tied for second in the NHL since Feb. 15.

Obviously, Nashville can do the Wild a big favor tonight by beating Colorado in regulation.

The Wild feels good about the spot it's in, but Torchetti said right now it's all about getting better.

In his mind, "We're still chasing until you're in."

That's it for me.

I'll be on KFAN on Tuesday at 10:15 a.m. and Sirius XM Radio on Tuesday at 12:20 pm.

On Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Tom Reid's, Jim Souhan and I will be co-hosting our podcast. Jim has graciously invited several of the Russo Twitter parody account, which should be, ugh, fun.

Also, on Thursday from 3 p.m.-6:30 p.m., I'll be filling in for Dan Barreiro on KFAN. I hope to have several special guests.