7 Best Minnesota Wild Numbers Of The Week

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Our weekly round-up of the seven best Minnesota Wild numbers of the week.

Feb 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) makes a save during the first period against the Dallas Stars at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

1. The Wild’s First #1 Star of the Month

This week the NHL named Devan Dubnyk the league’s number one star of the month for February. With that honor he becomes the first member of the Minnesota Wild to earn a star of the month recognition.

It’s a little sad to realize that this team hasn’t produced a performance worth that honor ever and the player who finally did it has barely been with the team for a month, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Feb 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Nino Niederreiter (22) celebrates a goal scored by forward Mikko Koivu (9) in front of Dallas Stars goalie Jhonas Enroth (1) during the third period at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Stars 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

2. First Swiss Born Player To Cross 20 Goals

In his last five games, Nino Niederreiter has scored three goals, including a two-goal performance against Nashville on Thursday. Those two goals brought his season total to 21 and made him the first Swiss-born player to cross the 20-goal threshold.

Feb 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk (40) and defenseman Matt Dumba (55) defend an attempt on goal by Colorado Avalanche left wing Cody McLeod (55) in the second period at the Pepsi Center. The Wild defeated the Avalanche 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

3. 21 Straight Starts

With a start on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche, Devan Dubnyk tied the team record for 20 consecutive starts by a goaltender. He of course ties Niklas Backstrom, who the Wild rode in a similar fashion a number of seasons.

After Tuesday’s start against the Senators, Dubnyk is the sole owner of that record at 21 consecutive starts and counting.

Feb 28, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Minnesota Wild left wing Erik Haula (56) scores past Colorado Avalanche goalie Semyon Varlamov (1) in the first period at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

4. Erik Haula’s 100th Game

In Thursday’s game against Nashville, Erik Haula played his 100th NHL game. He grabbed a goal and an assist in that game. He grabbed a goal and an assist in the next game too, a win over the struggling Colorado Avalanche.

Jan 27, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Minnesota Wild right winger Justin Fontaine (14) celebrates the goal by Minnesota Wild right winger Nino Niederreiter (22) in the first period against the Edmonton Oilers at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Chris LaFrance-USA TODAY Sports

5. Fontaine: 9 Points In 8 Games

Justin Fontaine is pretty easily the most underrated player on the Wild. We’re talking underrated in almost every metric you can think of. He’s very, very, very quietly having a great year.

He’s been less quiet since Valentine’s Day though. In the eight games following Valentine’s Day (all with the exclusion of Tuesday’s Senators game) he has nine points. That’s four goals and five assists in eight games for a guy who had four goals and nine assists in the 44 prior games this season.

Feb 22, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise (11) celebrates his goal with defenseman Christian Folin (5) during the third period against the Dallas Stars at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild defeated the Stars 6-2. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

6. 20 Above 50% CF%

The Wild have 20 players with positive possession (5-on-5 close) since January 15 when their current run began.

Chris Stewart (1 game, 70.8%), Jordan Leopold (1 game, 61.5%), Jared Spurgeon (15 games, 60%), Jason Zucker (10 games, 58.5%), Ryan Carter (10 games, 56.8%), Jason Pominville (21 games, 56.5%), Jordan Schroeder (13 games, 54.7%), Mikko Koivu (21 games, 54.6%), Zach Parise (21 games, 54.5%), Mikael Granlund (17 games, 54.5%), Marco Scandella (19 games, 54.4%), Matt Dumba (19 games, 54.2%), Justin Fontaine (17 games, 53.1%), Nino Niederreiter (21 games, 51.9%), Erik Haula (19 games, 50.9%), Ryan Suter (19 games, 50.7%), Christian Folin (11 games, 50.3%), Jonas Brodin (21 games, 50.1%), Charlie Coyle (21 games, 50%), and Jonathon Blum (1 game, 50%).

That leaves just seven players on the roster who are under 50% CF% during that period. Four of those seven have played fewer than 10 games (including Sean Bergenheim who is at 49% and has played just three games in a Wild sweater) and only four of them are on the current active roster. Those seven include (in descending order) Bergenheim, Thomas Vanek, Stephane Veilleux, Kyle Brodziak, Nate Prosser, Matt Cooke, and Brett Sutter.

Mar 3, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba (55) scores on Ottawa Senators goalie Andrew Hammond (30) during the second period at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Marilyn Indahl-USA TODAY Sports

7. Dumba’s First Multi-Goal Game

In Tuesday’s win over Ottawa, Matt Dumba grabbed the first multi-goal game of his career. He’s the third rookie defenseman in Wild history to post a multi-goal game, joining Kurtis Foster and Filip Kuba.

Next: Chris Stewart Should Spend Some Time With Charlie Coyle

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