One year ago, Justin Fontaine didn't play in the Wild's first two playoff games at Colorado and was scratched in four of the Wild's 13 postseason games. Sunday, the former undrafted University of Minnesota Duluth winger scored his first game-winning playoff goal in the Wild's series clincher against the St. Louis Blues.

"It's exciting," said Fontaine, who is 27 but is only in his second NHL season. "I'm just growing as a player over the years, and you learn every game, and I'm still learning a lot. Whatever role I'm in, I'm going to embrace it. It's fun to be a part of it."

Fontaine said he has reminded scratched players such as Erik Haula, Jordan Schroeder, Ryan Carter and Nate Prosser that he was in their situation last postseason.

"It's important to keep everyone positive, to keep everyone as a team," Fontaine said. "You're away from the team, away from the guys when they're off and you're still skating. It's tough. But we've all gone through it. It's been something where we help each other out and help cope with it and then when you're needed you're ready to go."

Coach Mike Yeo has a lot of respect for Fontaine, a college and minor league scorer, in part because he brings offense to the fourth line. "He seems to make the smart play, the right play with the puck every time he gets it, and he's a threat," Yeo said.

Penalty-killer returns

Last season against St. Louis, Zach Parise broke a foot while killing a penalty when nailed by an Alex Steen slapshot. That injury led to Parise not killing a lot of penalties this season for the Wild. It was Parise's shorthanded goal Sunday against the Blues that got things started for the Wild.

"He's a great penalty-killer, and right now, we can't be just making decisions on trying to be safe," Yeo said. "We have to do what we have to do to win hockey games, and every moment is critical."

Cooke feeling best yet

Matt Cooke, who missed 31 games because of a sports hernia this season, was solid. He was physical, strong defensively against tough matchups and knocked Paul Stastny off the puck before Kevin Shattenkirk turned the puck over to Parise for his shorthanded goal.

"Tonight was probably the best I've felt so far," Cooke said. "I'm still trying to get back to 100 percent. The groin, just from surgery, I'm trying to strengthen it day by day and manage it. Today, I finally felt like I could go out and push freely without it being in the back of my mind."

Cooke was perturbed he got called for embellishment to even up a Barret Jackman hooking penalty. Cooke told referee Francois St. Laurent "can-openers were taken out two lockouts ago and he completely can-opens me, but that's just the way it is. I understand they don't want that to be the difference-maker in the game."

Granlund 'feisty'

Undersized Mikael Granlund, who blew by Vladimir Tarasenko for a second time in the series to set up a big goal, this time by Parise in the third period, didn't cower all series to the bigger, stronger Blues.

"He's not the biggest, but he's a strong guy," Parise said. "He's feisty. He doesn't back down, and he's a really good player."

Wild signs Bertschy

The Wild signed center Christoph Bertschy, a 2012 sixth-round pick, to a three-year, entry-level contract Sunday. The Swiss-born 21-year-old is expected to start next season with American Hockey League Iowa.

Bertschy scored 14 goals and 30 points and was plus-14 in 44 games with SC Bern in the Swiss League this past season.