Following Saturday's 1-0 win over D.C. United at RFK Stadium, the Chicago Fire currently rest in second place in the Eastern Conference, trailing only Toronto FC. After 12 matches played, the Fire's 21 points earned is among the hottest starts for the team since joining the league in the 1998 season. In fact, 21 points matches the club's highest-ever total for points through 12 games, achieved five times in Fire history, most recently in 2009.

Additionally, the Men In Red hadn't won six of its first dozen matches to open a season since 2008. That win total is second-best through 12 games only to the seven wins of the double-winning 1998 squad, who were victorious seven times. However, that mark was set when shootouts were used to resolve tied games, and one of the wins came via a shootout.

Here's how the 2017 version of the Fire stack up in club history through a season's first 12 games:

YEAR RECORD (W-L-D) POINTS 1998 7-5-0* 21 2017 6-3-3 21 2003 6-3-3 21 2001 6-3-3 21 2009 5-1-6 21 2008 6-5-1 19 2005 6-5-1 19 2000 6-5-1 19

*One win recorded via shootout

Head coach Veljko Paunovic and co. will look to keep things rolling when they welcome 2016 Supporters' Shield winners and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup champions FC Dallas to Toyota Park on Thursday night (7:30 pm CT, CSN Chicago | TICKETS).