Besides the fact that Chris Stewart has helped solidify the Wild lines and brought consistency to the top three lines in particular, the bruising forward continues to give the Wild more confidence playing against physically imposing teams such as the St. Louis Blues.

Facing the team that dealt him to Buffalo at last season's trade deadline, Stewart scored a breakaway goal in the Wild's 6-3 victory Saturday at Xcel Energy Center and for the second time in a week was credited by teammates for keeping the physically imposing Blues in check.

"He's been awesome," Zach Parise said. "I think not only his production … his presence, his physical presence, that goes along way. We play against some pretty big teams, with big D-men, and tough teams. You need guys like that. His presence alone makes a big difference in the room and on the ice."

Coach Mike Yeo said Stewart has a "real good understanding of what his identity is" and Saturday was another game where you "need your big boys to play a big game."

Stewart's arrival March 2 from Buffalo also has enabled Yeo for the most part to consistently go with the same three, sometimes four lines. Stewart has been cemented with captain Mikko Koivu, and after trying players like Thomas Vanek, Sean Bergenheim and Nino Niederreiter on that line, Yeo has settled on Niederreiter.

That has pushed Vanek to the third line with Charlie Coyle and Justin Fontaine, and Vanek, now consistently playing left wing, has points in seven consecutive games.

"It's nice that I've found a couple teammates," Vanek said. "We've got some chemistry and we're staying together. It helps having a line you can practice with and talk to and then stay together and find some chemistry. I think it shows."

In the meantime, Stewart was happy to score against his ex-team, the Wild's second win against St. Louis in a week.

"Anytime you play a former team, it's an easy one to get up for, especially this time of year with how tight the standings are," he said.

Rooting on his Mavericks

Blues captain David Backes attended his alma mater Minnesota State Mankato's practice at Xcel Energy Center on Friday — one day before the Mavericks played Michigan Tech in the WCHA Final Five title game.

"It's pretty exciting to see where that program has come. I never sniffed a Final Five, and they're a No. 1 seed," Backes said. "It's pretty cool to see them here. Brings back a lot of great memories.."

Backes couldn't stay for the game because the Blues flew to Detroit for a game Sunday. Eleven former WCHA players were in the Wild-Blues lineup before Saturday's WCHA championship, plus seven other former WCHA players were either scratched or injured.

Scouting the Swedes

Rickard Gronborg, assistant coach of Sweden's team for the world championships and a former defenseman at St. Cloud State, attended Saturday's game to watch the Wild's Jonas Brodin (winning goal, assist, plus-3) and the Blues' Patrik Berglund and Carl Gunnarsson (left the game injured) in case the players are available for the world championships in early May.

Unfortunately for Gronborg, Christian Folin was scratched. If the Wild doesn't make the playoffs or loses out in the first round, Folin might have a chance.

"Right now we're just gathering information. He took the long route," Gronborg said. "He's a guy that has never been on our radar, but he is now. He's a fun story. We'll see who's available at the end of the NHL season."