Parise assists on goal in return to ice in Iowa

DES MOINES -- It took exactly two shifts and less than one minute of ice time for Zach Parise to make an impact in his first game of the 2017-18 season.
Parise, who underwent micodiscectomy surgery in October, was assigned to Iowa of the American Hockey League for a conditioning stint and played in his first AHL game in a dozen years on Thursday in Iowa's 6-3 loss to the Rockford Ice Hogs at Wells Fargo Arena. More than 7,400 fans -- Iowa's fourth-largest crowd of the season -- came out to see Minnesota's alternate captain in his first game action since April 22.
Playing on a line with Luke Kunin and Cal O'Reilly, Parise was called upon by Iowa coach Derek Lalonde to help answer an early goal by Rockford.

And answer they did.
Just 12 seconds into the shift, Parise forced a turnover in the offensive zone and didn't get all of a shot attempt. But the puck went right to Kunin, who rifled a shot past Ice Hogs goaltender Collin Delia, knotting the game at 1.

"It was ugly," Parise said. "It wasn't pretty. It was a fanned shot. I guess it worked out."
Parise's final stat line Thursday: 15 minutes, 26 seconds of ice time, one assist, one shot on goal and an even in the plus/minus, a plus-1 spoiled by a late empty-net goal by Rockford.
Most importantly for Parise -- and the Wild -- was the fact that he felt no worse for the wear following the game.
"Fine. Tired," Parise reported about 20 minutes after the contest's completion. "It was a lot of fun. It was fun playing with those guys, and the game was fun. It was good to get back into it."
Parise said it was exciting to get back into his pregame routine: getting a coffee, visualizing the game, flipping pucks during warmups.
Having not been on the ice for a game since last season's playoffs, those were some of the things he missed the most.

"It was great. You kind of remember as you go. It's the same thing after a summer hopping back into preseason," Parise said. "You kind of remember your routine that you felt worked and felt comfortable doing. And that's kind of how today was. It was kind of feeling it out and kind of remembering, 'Oh yeah. I always do this and do this.' Just figuring out the timing and the schedule before the game."
Parise was also on the ice for Iowa's second goal, a power-play tally by former University of Minnesota star Justin Kloos, starting the play along the left halfwall. Parise didn't figure into the scoring on the goal, earning the unofficial third assist.
In addition to the helper on Kunin's goal, Parise said rust contributed to some errant passes on other scoring chances.
"The first period was tough, the second period and the third period got a few more touches. I felt more and more comfortable," Parise said. "If I wasn't as rusty I feel like I could've got Luke about four goals. The passing was a little off too.
"I've said it all along, you can't replicate the games. I had [Minnesota assistant coach] Darby [Hendrickson] cross checking me for two weeks. It's a little different when you're out here and you have to make plays at higher pace and at top speed."

Game situations also tested the strength of his back in different ways. He recalled one toe pick in the first period, which he said moved his back in a way he hadn't experienced since the surgery.
"It went away right away so it was a good sign," Parise said.
From the bench, Iowa coach Derek Lalonde said he was pleased with the way Parise played, saying he thought it was exactly what he, Parise and the organization was looking for.
"He looked good. He looked sharp," Lalonde said. " He got] a lot of touches, he got a lot more confident as the game went on even without the puck. It looked like a really good step in the right direction."
When Parise returns to the NHL club in Minnesota is still unclear. He hinted that if he all is well on Friday -- he is expected on the ice for the Wild's morning skate before a game against the Nashville Predators -- that he could return next week, perhaps as soon as Tuesday when Minnesota begins a stretch of three of four games on home ice against the Florida Panthers.
Regardless, Parise's return to the NHL appears to be coming in the near future; good news for Minnesota as it preps to make a playoff push over the second half of the regular season.
"I feel like I can [help Minnesota down the stretch]. I'm hoping so," Parise said. "I know the guys are playing hard and right in the thick of things. It won't happen overnight, but I feel good and I know my game will get there."
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- [Parise looks forward to return - Wild assigns Parise to Iowa