Postgame Hat Trick: Wild 8, Blues 3

Wild.com's Dan Myers gives three takeaways from the Wild's 8-3 win against the St. Louis Blues at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Tuesday night:

1. So, this Zucker-Staal-Granlund line might be a thing.
The trio lit up the scoreboard once again, with the group combining for six goals and eight assists on the night, as Eric Staal tallied his 14th career hat trick and first since 2013.

Staal also chipped in a pair of assists for a five-point night, the fifth time his career he's done that ... not bad for the reigning First Star of the Week.
On Tuesday, the line combined for an astounding six goals and eight assists; an incredible game any way you slice it.
The group has managed to forge great chemistry in the three games it's been together. Since coach Bruce Boudreau put the line out for the first time last Friday against the New York Rangers, Staal, Granlund and Zucker have combined to score 11 goals and 15 assists.
IN THREE GAMES.
Overshadowed by the hat trick, Zucker also posted a five-point night, scoring once and dishing out four assists. Granlund scored two goals and had two assists.
2. Meanwhile, Ryan Suter sat back and piled up the helpers.
Zucker's early goal was a deflection of a Suter shot from the point. He then added assists on Staal's and Spurgeon's goals for three on the night.

Before a scoring change in the second period, Suter actually had four assists (Granlund's second of the game was originally credited to Staal, with Suter getting the second assist before a scoring change gave Granlund the goal and bumped Suter from the scoring).

Had the assist not been taken away, it would have marked a new career high for Suter. Instead, he had to settle for tying his career best. It was the 10th time in his career Suter tallied three points in a game.
3. The victory gives the Wild 79 points in the standings and a seven-point lead on the Blues as the teams finish up the February schedule.
It's quite the turn of events, as the Blues led the Wild by six points when February began. At the time, St. Louis was tied with Nashville for second place in the Central Division, three points behind division-leading Winnipeg.
As the calendar turns to March on Thursday, it's the Wild now in hot pursuit of the division leaders.
The Preds and Jets played against each other in Winnipeg on Tuesday, so at a minimum, Minnesota will gain ground on one of those clubs.
Perhaps most importantly, the Wild maintains its three-point edge on the Dallas Stars (the West's top wild card) and on the Blues, who are one point out of a potential playoff spot. Colorado, Minnesota's opponent on Friday in Denver, remains in the race, one point back of the Blues.
Related:
- Watch: Staal completes the hat trick - Spurgeon's slap shot finds twine