Minnesota Wild tames Western Conference with fast start

Few might have thought before the season started that the biggest game the Blackhawks play this week would be against the Minnesota Wild and not the San Jose Sharks.

But it’s the surprising Wild with the best record in the NHL at 20-7-3 thanks to a seven-game winning streak. They play at Winnipeg tonight before hosting the Hawks on Wednesday in a Western Conference showdown.

The Hawks trail Minnesota by 3 points in the standings.

“I think they’ve probably surprised the whole league and the NHL when they began the season the way they have with a great start,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “The way they’re playing on the road (10-3-2), the winning streak they’ve got going now, where they are at the top of the league, is pretty remarkable.

“You’ve got to commend them on how they’re playing. They’ve got a lot of energy, a lot of speed, they’ve got a lot of youthful exuberance that’s translating into simplicity. They’re not scoring a lot, but they’re checking well and playing a team game. We have to be ready when we go in there because it’s a very important game.”

Minnesota is third in the NHL in defense with a 2.06 team goals-against average thanks in large part to goalies Niklas Backstrom, Josh Harding and Matt Hackett.

Underrated center Mikko Koivu has 26 points, while hard-working center Kyle Brodziak has 10 goals.

“I wouldn’t say I’m surprised,” said Andrew Brunette, who left Minnesota after three seasons to sign with the Hawks as a free agent last July. “They’ve had a rough couple years and had some changes and shored some things up.

“They’re getting great goaltending every night and it’s a good group of players that are going to play hard and play for 60 minutes.”

Smith to Rockford:Rookie winger Ben Smith was assigned to Rockford on Monday after appearing in only seven games.Smith was minus-6 with 1 goal playing mostly on the third and fourth lines. He got only 5:48 of ice time in Sunday#146;s win over the Sharks but made several turnovers that didn#146;t help his chances.With Smith gone it paves the way for Bryan Bickell#146;s return to the lineup after five games as a healthy scratch.Starring Patrick Kane:The day-in-the-life series #147;NHL 36#148; by NHL Original Productions debuts Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. on Versus with the Hawks#146; Patrick Kane as the series#146; first subject.Cameras followed Kane around last week for 36 hours at home and away from the rink for the 30-minute documentary.The program will be followed on Versus by the telecast of the Hawks#146; game at Minnesota at 6:30 p.m.Tip-ins:The NHL decided Monday not to suspend San Jose center Andrew Desjardins for boarding Sami Lepisto in the first period Sunday. Desjardins was instead fined $2,500. ... Goalie Ray Emery has stopped 103 of 109 shots in his last five appearances.