After slow start, hyped Wild have begun to match high expectations as Parise, Suter hit stride

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Wild were the talk of the NHL last summer when they signed free agents Zach Parise and Ryan Suter to identical 13-year, $98 million contracts.

Then came the lockout, putting that star power and contending potential on ice for several months.

Once the season started, the Wild and their new acquisitions were still trying to find their way. But after sputtering through the first few weeks, the Wild have hit their stride. Their 2-0 win over San Jose on Saturday was their fifth in a row. All five victories have been by two goals or more, the first such streak in franchise history.

The Wild are 14-5-1 in their last 20 games.