Zach Parise took the Xcel Energy Center ice for a playoff game Saturday night, returning from inaction to join his hometown team in the twilight of his career. It would have been heartwarming if not for facts.
Fact: Parise was a minus-2 as the Wild lost 4-0 to Vegas, which leads the first-round playoff series, three games to one.
Fact: Parise, making a prorated $13 million a year with four years remaining on his contract, and who fared well on the power play this year, was used on the fourth line and did not receive time on the power play.
Fact: Parise was benched for three of the final four regular-season games and the first three games of this series despite being healthy and his team needing a player with his particular set of skills.