Kevin Fiala took a break from filling the net with pucks, but the Wild didn't stop churning out goals.
Fiala just changed positions in the production line.
"I try to pass, too, sometimes," he said with a smile.
Whether he's been the playmaker or finisher, the outcome recently has been the same: Fiala has been a factory for goals, helping propel the Wild to one of its most impressive stretches of the season.
After his record-setting, five-assist performance Friday in the 6-3 rout of the Kraken at Xcel Energy Center, Fiala led the NHL in goals (nine), assists (12) and points (21) since April 8 while the Wild went 7-0-2 to post a franchise high in wins (50) and points (107).
This tear has already sealed his best season in the league, and Fiala is on the brink of adding another milestone when the Wild visits Nashville — Fiala's former team — on Sunday.
But a flashy uptick isn't all the 25-year-old winger has accomplished.
He's also turned into the multi-dimensional talent he's wanted to become.