Parise, Wild looking for hot start in Los Angeles

The Minnesota Wild open the 2021 season Thursday night in Los Angeles against the Kings.

If you’re saying to yourself, “Gee, it sure seems like Minnesota opens on the road a lot,” well, you’re right.

This is sixth consecutive season Minnesota has played its first game away from the Xcel Energy Center.

The last time the Wild opened against the Kings was in 2013 at home, a 3-2 shootout loss.

If you’re also wondering who might score Minnesota’s first goal this season, Zach Parise might be a good bet. Only Washington’s Alex Ovechkin, with 11, has more goals in season openers than the Wild’s veteran winger, who has 10 (including a hat trick against Colorado in 2015).

Parise also notched 25 goals last season, which also would make him a good bet.

Kevin Fiala, who tallied 23, also could be a good guess. Fiala tied his career high with 23 goals last season and was third in the NHL in goals after the All-Star break. He had 14 in just 19 games.

Or, hey, maybe it could be a defenseman. Minnesota was fourth in the NHL in goals by a blueliner last season with 43, led by newly anointed captain Jared Spurgeon, who had 12.

In fact, as a side note, the Wild have at least 40 goals from their d-men in each of the last four seasons – the longest such streak in the league.

Catch the first game of the season on FOX Sports North starting with Wild Live at 8 p.m.

Statistics courtesy Sportradar