Wild sharp in season-opening games

Two games isn't a large sample size, so coach Mike Yeo was his usual levelheaded self after the Wild executed a second consecutive shutout over the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday to open its 2014-15 campaign.

But in each victory against the lethal offensive attack that can be the defending Central Division champs, the Wild provided plenty of reasons to be optimistic about this season.

• At age 24, Darcy Kuemper became the youngest goalie in NHL history to post back-to-back shutouts to open a season by stopping 46 shots.

• The Wild's defensemen, particularly the top four of Ryan Suter, Jonas Brodin, Marco Scandella and Jared Spurgeon, were sensational and a big reason the Wild and San Jose Sharks became the fifth and sixth teams since 1943-44 — and first two since 2005-06 — to open a season with consecutive shutouts.

• The Wild, led by Zach Parise's two goals and 19 shots, got goals from seven different players and outstanding play from young forwards Mikael Granlund, Charlie Coyle, Nino Niederreiter, Erik Haula and Jason Zucker.

• The Wild's penalty kill, ranked 27th in the NHL last season, was perfect against last year's fifth-best power play, limiting Colorado to two shots on seven scoreless power plays, including a 2-minute 6-on-4 late in Saturday's game.

The biggest thing Yeo was pleased about as the Wild entered a quiet week before resuming the schedule Friday in Anaheim?

"I'm pleased with what our guys put in and the focus they were able to have."

In the season's first 15 days, the Wild plays four games. So as Parise said all training camp, good outcomes Thursday and Saturday were essential because optically, the Wild will soon be looking up the standings no matter what it did against the Avalanche.

"By the time we're done with these two weeks, some teams may have four or five more games than us," Spurgeon said. "It's a strange schedule."

In the two games against the Avs, the Wild showed it can dominate a game from start to finish (Thursday's home opener) and engage in a hard-fought, intense game full of adversity (Saturday's Avalanche home opener).

Saturday's game was so fast-paced, it was shocking the game was played in mid-October as opposed to mid-April. The Wild also overcame borderline dirty plays by the Avalanche (Erik Johnson's 5-minute elbowing major the chief one, although he wasn't suspended Saturday), not scoring on six power plays (including the major and an eight-shot barrage in the first period), great goaltending from Semyon Varlamov and a dubious waved-off goal by an official that erased an initial two-goal lead.

Most impressive was Kuem- per, who came into a hostile environment, was tested much more than Thursday and didn't flounder in a 30-save effort.

"There was little bit more work, but our structure was still there," Kuemper said. "It allows me to read the plays well because our structure leaves the play real predictable. That just allows me to play with confidence."

Kuemper signed a two-year, $2.5 million contract on the eve of training camp. If he becomes the Wild's No. 1 this season, it'll be a bargain deal for the team. Yeo loves the poise Kuemper plays with. He controls rebounds, freezes pucks when the Wild's in trouble and plays the puck well.

At 6-5, he also is big and sturdy when opponents attack the goalmouth.

"I prepared all summer hopefully to earn the first few starts and prove myself," Kuemper said. "I think the work in the summer's paid off, but then again playing behind these guys has been pretty easy.