Wild's Stewart shows speed to go with size in scoring against former team
ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Chris Stewart was robbed of a chance to compete in the playoffs last season when the St. Louis Blues sent him to Buffalo in a midseason trade. Back in a playoff chase, Stewart is enjoying his time with the Minnesota Wild and taking it out on his former team.
Stewart scored his 14th goal of the season, and third in 10 games with Minnesota, to open the scoring as the Wild beat St. Louis 6-3 on Saturday, the second win in eight days for Minnesota in a preview of a possible playoff matchup.
"I think always," Stewart said of any extra motivation he has playing the Blues. "I think anytime you play a former team. I think it's an easy one to get up for, especially this time of year and for how tight the standings are."
The player St. Louis felt it could part with last season as it pushed toward the playoffs is helping the Wild's run to the postseason.
Stewart, a free agent at the end of the season, has three goals and three assists in 10 games with Minnesota.
"He's been awesome," forward Zach Parise said of Stewart. "Not only the scoring, I think just his presence; his physical presence. That goes a long way. We play against some pretty big teams with big D-men and tough teams and you need guys like that. His presence alone makes a big difference in the room and on the ice."
Stewart's size and physicality were a draw when the Wild acquired the big forward from the Buffalo Sabres at the trade deadline. He demonstrated Saturday he's got some quick feet to go with his 6-foot-2, 231-pound frame.
Blues forward Jaden Schwartz controlled the puck behind the Minnesota goal and passed the puck into the slot. No St. Louis player was there on the receiving end. Stewart tipped the puck past, and then outraced, Blues defenseman Carl Gunnarsson for a breakaway.
Stewart's surprising burst also kept defenseman Alex Pietrangelo from cutting off the angle. Stewart faked a slap shot before sliding the puck between goaltender Brian Elliott's legs.
"Even though I am a big body, a power forward, I really pride myself on the ability to move my feet," Stewart said. "When I'm doing that, I'm at my best."
Yeo said the goal, while just the first in a six-goal outburst, helped Minnesota overcome a "sleepy" start.
Games such as Saturday against St. Louis are why Stewart was brought to the Wild. He provides a big body and a physical presence, something which has been lacking at times in Minnesota. Stewart has even had two fights as a member of the Wild.
"You've seen playing against heavy and hard teams that he can be a leader in that type of game; and other people do follow suit," Yeo said, adding: "He's got a real good understanding of what his identity is, and obviously he's a leader in that regard, making sure he's going out and playing physical, making sure he's strong on the puck. I've been real pleased with his game, at both ends of the ice.
"It's not perfect. We still have to keep working with him to try to get it to another level, but real pleased with the way he's gone so far."
Stewart, who spent part of four seasons with the Blues, said the goal "felt great" while smiling. He might have been downplaying the significance on the outside.
Being traded last year never sat quite right with Stewart. He was moved as St. Louis traded for goaltender Ryan Miller. Stewart went from a likely playoff team to the worst team in the league. The Blues ended up being upset by the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round of the playoffs.
Saturday, he did talk about the difficulty of the trade last year.
"At that time we were a Stanley Cup-caliber team, so you definitely had your hopes up," Stewart said. "I think just going to Buffalo with the situation that was going on there, I think is a little more salt in the wound. But I'm here now, I'm happy. It's great. I'm on a winning team and we have a chance to potentially play in the playoffs and I'm looking forward to it."
Follow Brian Hall on Twitter
