Minnesota Wild Three Stars of the Week

Third Star- Erik Haula

Jan 13, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Erik Haula (56) skates with the puck against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Penguins won 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Finnesotan had a pretty solid week last week, with a goal and two assists. Haula notched a give and go assist on Justin Fontaine’s goal towards the tail end of the savage beating the Penguins gave the Wild last Tuesday. Then in the Thursday game against Buffalo, Haula’s breakaway speed was in full effect as he grabbed the puck shorthanded and tore down the ice, eventually resulting in a Kyle Brodziak short-handed goal. To cap off the drubbing of the hapless Sabres, Haula fired a laser Power Play goal top shelf for just his fourth goal of the season.

While he’s had a very disappointing season on the whole, his heating up could be a key to the Wild’s second half surge they’ll need to make the playoffs. Haula has been a coveted asset on the Penalty Kill so far this season, and while that’s nice and all, many Wild fans have been expecting the former Gopher to tap into his blazing speed a little more to create some scoring, like he did with the Brodziak shorty. Hopefully this week is a sign of things to come, and Haula can get back to the success he had in the playoffs last year, producing some scoring for the Wild.