Zach Parise is worth every penny, isn't he? His hat trick in the third period helped lift the Wild in the season opener as they beat the Avalanche 5-4.
It didn't start well for the Wild. After Parise hit the post on a breakaway, the Avalanche took advantage of two power plays in the first period to storm out to a 3-0 lead after one. Jerome Iginla continued his prowess against the Wild after hist goal. Erik Johnson, fresh off a new 7-year $42 million deal, scored from the point off a slap shot that beat Devan Dubnyk.