Mats Zuccarello has hat trick as Wild top Chicago 4-1, extend win streak

Ryan Hartman is close to getting back in the lineup, a return from a lengthy injury absence that will give the Wild an intriguing option up the middle.

Hartman had dazzling chemistry with Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello last season, with all three delivering career-best performances including 34 goals and 31 assists from Hartman.

But coach Dean Evason said the team would be "silly" to split up the current top line that's being centered by Sam Steel, a trio that just delivered its most dominating performance of the season in a 4-1 rout of the Blackhawks on Friday in front of 18,501 at Xcel Energy Center to help the Wild win their fourth in a row and sixth straight at home.

"All three work hard, on the puck, aggressive, create chances for each other," Zuccarello said. "That's what we try to achieve every game."

Consider their latest impact:

"He's got a skill set that can play there," Evason said. "But he's got a grit level the same as Hartzy has, right? That's what fits there. You see even when Zuccy and Kirill are making passes to each other, he's the one that's going to the net. He's the one that's doing — not doing all the dirty work because they're all competing — but he's the one that's playing more straight line, which the two of them need."

Zuccarello tallied his first goal 4 minutes, 54 seconds into the opening period when he polished off a slick passing sequence between his linemates.

The goal pushed Zuccarello's point streak to nine games, one shy of his career record set last season; during this tear, Zuccarello's racked up 14 points.

"I hope he have every game points," Kaprizov said.

And break Kaprizov's franchise-record, 14-game point streak set just last week?

"I hope so," Kaprizov said. "We'll see."

Kaprizov's assist marked the 11th consecutive game he's snagged at least a point at home.

He's tied with Jason Pominville (2014-15) for the second-longest run in team history; Marian Gaborik's 14-game blitz in 2007-08 is the record.

Then 8:32 into the second, it was Zuccarello who set up Kaprizov for his team-leading 18th goal on a shot that eventually trickled into the net behind Blackhawks goalie Petr Mrazek.

Steel also was involved in the play and since lining up Kaprizov and Zuccarello, he has eight of his 11 points.

"He's a great player," Kaprizov said. "He's helping us always. He's so fast. Good player."

With 43 seconds left in the period, Zuccarello converted on the power play into a yawning cage with Mrazek out of position.

His next goal, No. 13 on the season, also came into an empty net since Mrazek was on the bench when Zuccarello buried the rebound off a Kaprizov hurl from the Wild's zone.

"I just try to shoot in net or I don't know maybe pass for him," Kaprizov said.

Zuccarello's last hat trick came Oct. 30, 2015, against Toronto.

He's the first Norwegian-born player in NHL history with multiple hat tricks and the oldest (35 years, 106 days) to score one in Wild history.

"Good teammates that set me up," Zuccarello said.

Mrazek ended up making 18 saves for Chicago; Jonathan Toews spoiled Marc-Andre Fleury's shutout bid on the power play at 8:27 of the third. Fleury had 29 saves, and the Blackhawks finished 1-for-5 with the man advantage; the Wild were 1-for-2.

During their four-game win streak, which matches their season high, the Wild have allowed just three goals.

As for their six straight wins at home, that's the longest active streak in the NHL, a run that began after the Wild had Steel start working with Kaprizov and Zuccarello.

"I'm just trying to keep it simple," Steel said. "Win battles. Get them the puck."