Wild right wing Jason Pominville was named the NHL's 'First Star' of the Week this morning.

Pominville tied for the league lead in goals (4) and points (6), scoring in all three games to help the Wild (8-4-3, 19 points) earn four out of a possible six points. The 30-year-old native of Repentigny, Quebec, has scored in four consecutive games (6-2—8), his longest goal-scoring streak since Nov. 12-19, 2008 (4-2—6 in four games). He is tied for third in the NHL with 10 goals this season and also leads the Wild with 10 goals and 12 points, three game-winning goals and a +6 rating in 15 games.

Remember, he has dual citizenship and could compete for the U.S. in the Olympics. He wasn't invited to Olympic orientation camp in August, but as USA Hockey GM David Poile told me in this blog, Pominville “probably should have” been invited to camp. Poile said Pominville’s name came up Sunday during a five-hour meeting with management and he has been “put back on the board,” meaning he will be scouted all season.



“If he plays well enough, he’s back in the mix,” Poile said, although he added that the big reason why Pominville wasn’t included is that there are just several forwards on the potential depth chart with their “foot in the door.”

Other Wild notes:

C Mikael Granlund has a career-best 5-game point streak (seven points). LW Nino Niederreiter has 9 points in 15 games with Minnesota after 3 points in 64 games with the Islanders. G Josh Harding has given up 11 goals in 11 games and leads the NHL with a 1.10 goals-against average and .950 save percentage.

I'll be live in studio on KFAN at 9 a.m. Tuesday.