ST. PAUL, Minn. -- When the Minnesota Wild reconvened this season for training camp, head coach Mike Yeo assessed a deep group of forwards that was lengthened by the arrival of high-scoring winger Thomas Vanek and expected growth from the team's stable of young forwards.
Nothing was set in stone for Yeo. As training camp unfolded, he fully expected to make changes to Minnesota's lines trying to find the right combination for the season.
To start, Yeo penciled in Zach Parise, Mikael Granlund and Jason Pominville together, more of a reflection of the previous season's strong finish than any strong feeling he couldn't split the trio. Changes were inevitable until Yeo realized he couldn't make a change.
Parise, Granlund and Pominville made any decision easy on the Wild coach.
"I didn't mix those guys up, and the simple fact, the simple reason for it was that they didn't really give me a choice," Yeo said.
There will be no changes to Minnesota's top line anytime soon after a dominating opening-night performance. The Wild beat the Colorado Avalanche 5-0 on Thursday night. Parise, Granlund and Pominville accounted for two goals together and held the puck in the offensive zone most of the night.
By the time Minnesota had set a team record with 48 shots on goal, Parise, Granlund and Pominville had accounted for 16 shots on goal.
"We have fun," Parise said. "Especially (Thursday) it was fun, but we have fun when we play together. Just the chances that we get together, the way we possess the puck. It's fun to play. We're always talking about different things, what's open and different plays on the ice. And when we're clicking, I think that's one of our strengths."
The constant pressure and cycling between Parise, Granlund and Pominville was even eye-opening to their teammates. Forward Ryan Carter, who had signed earlier this week, said he had to look away at times to avoid getting dizzy.
"It's a good problem to have," Carter said. "They're fast. They hold the puck. They give it up at the right time. They're moving their feet. It's a dangerous combination."
Parise had his 29th career 3-point game on Thursday night with a goal and two assists. He had nine shots on goal and was a career plus-4. Granlund finished with two assists and was a career-high plus-4.
Pominville carried over his preseason success, where he had three goals and five assists, with a goal and an assist on Thursday.
"We enjoy being out there together," Pominville said. "Our communication has been really good. Our puck control tonight was really good. We didn't give it away. We turned their back when we had chances and made plays when they were there. We got some and probably could have had a few more looks if we would have connected."
Yeo united the trio last season and they quickly became the team's top scoring line. In the playoffs, Parise led the team with four goals and 10 assists while playing much of the time with Granlund and Pominville. Pominville had two goals and seven assists, and Granlund chipped in four goals and three assists in the playoffs.
With time together, the communication and second-sense has grown between the three forwards.
"I think we know where we're going to be in certain situations," Pominville said. "We communicate on the bench. We talk in practice. We get a pretty good feel of what we want and what we need in certain situations. I think all three of us aren't the biggest guys and strongest guys physically, but if we move and create room ourselves and create chances, I thought (Thursday) was a good example of it."
Yeo doesn't want to tinker with the success or chemistry. Minnesota's second game of the season, Saturday at Colorado, will feature the same lineup.
A decision to not simply carry over last year's top line has Yeo looking to see how far Parise, Granlund and Pominville can go together.
"They looked even better than what they did last year," Yeo said. "That's a very confident group. They've got a lot of chemistry together and they read off each other very well, in all aspects of the game too. It's not just the offensive part of it. Defensively they read off each other very well and they communicate.
"They've got good chemistry right now. So, we'll just get out of the way and let them keep doing their thing."
Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
