From the word go, Torey Krug-Matthew Kessel pairing has been a great match for Blues

"It's uncommon, but we also had a situation where it was like we were thrown into the fire, especially being a young guy like him," Krug said. "He's had to step up and play big minutes for us against top players too. We've had a lot of defensive zone starts, so he's been given a lot of responsibility and thrown into the fire. We've had to do it. Otherwise, the ship would sink a little bit. He's done a great job and it definitely doesn't always happen that way."

It's an understatement how well Krug and Kessel have played together, and they will be paired again on Saturday when the Blues (34-29-3) host the Minnesota Wild (33-27-7) in a crucial game with Western Conference wild card implications.

The numbers, however, don't always indicate as such, according to naturalstattrick.com which shows them playing together for 24 games. The Corsi-for percentage is 44.67 percent, and the Fenwick-for is 44.3 percent. Not great by normal standards, but what stands out is that the expected goals-against number is 13.57, but they've only been on the ice for eight against. It means they're shutting plays down before the puck ends up in the net, and there's the goaltending factor that is playing a role. They've only been on the ice for just six goals for but with the Blues not scoring much, they're helping keep the team in games with only eight goals against.

Regardless, the partnership is working, and it's elevating each individual's game.

"He can skate well and he's a big body," Krug said of Kessel. "I think the partners I've had success with in the past do a really good job at ending plays in the d-zone and I think a knack of his is to stop the cycle and if he ends the play, I'm able to get a puck and break us out and then all of the sudden, away we go. He's a big body that can skate well, think the game and he's been a pleasure to play with."

There's a feeling-out process, whether it's trial by error or it's an instant bang. There will be times when things don't go well, and there have been moments for Kessel, who was assigned to Springfield of the American Hockey League on Feb. 25 after a minus-3 game against the Detroit Red Wings. But overall, the process has been seamless, and Kessel seems to take the good with the bad with an even-keel attitude. After all, Kessel is still raw with only 26 NHL games played.

"That even happens to us as older guys," Krug said. "It's a learning curve in the league that you don't always have to make a play every time you have the puck and sometimes defensively you're going to be over-aggressive and things are going to happen that you just can't control and the puck's going to end up in your net. He's obviously very proud of playing in the d-zone. He's put a lot of pressure on himself to perform as well because all of us do. It is important over an 82-game season that the Tuesday game in February vs. in March playing for a wild card spot. Although those games seem different, they're all the same and they're worth two points. You've just got to understand that things happen. He's got a good head on his shoulders. He seems like a very mature kid."

Krug is more the aggressor that likes to jump into rush plays; Kessel is considered the safety net that will provide the extra security blanket.

"I think that's kind of what I've been doing since juniors and the way I've played that way," Kessel said. "I played with Ryan Johnson (Buffalo Sabres), who's on Buffalo, and Zac Jones (New York Rangers) mostly at UMass. I think that's the role I kind of feel most comfortable in and let them do their thing when they want and I'll kind of be that little safety back there."

Krug, however, sees Kessel as more than a safety net.

"For sure, but it's not like a sit back and be a safety net because he plays a very aggressive style," Krug said. "I think in the neutral zone, we're both very aggressive trying to end plays in that regard, defend the blue line, whether it's make them go offsides or make them dump the puck. I think he does a very good job of that. I think we both thing the game that way. I try and make plays; he's trying to get the puck in my hands to make those plays, so I think it's a good partnership."

In these situations, Krug can thrive because he was once in Kessel's shoes with the Boston Bruins, learning from the likes of Adam McQuaid and to an extent, Zdeno Chara, who mentored Charlie McAvoy. Krug was in that position helping mentor Brandon Carlo before departing as a free agent to come to St. Louis, and how it appears he gets to help Kessel forge his identity.

"I've played with guys in this league for a long time, whether it's the Adam McQuaids, who is older than me, or Brandon Carlo in Boston that was younger than me," Krug said. "I've watched 'Z' mentor Charlie McAvoy and the list goes on and on. You've seen the way that these relationships have developed. Now 'Faulker's doing it a little bit with Scotty [Perunovich] and he's had a good relationship with Scotty 'P' since he's gotten here. It's just part of the role and for teams to be successful, you have to have young players lean on older players.

"I think it's fun. The evolution of guys' careers. Obviously when you start off, you're worried about just extending your career and you're just worrying about your next contract and worried about what position you're going to be, the role you might have on the team. I think as you get established, you can take a deep breath and understand what the team needs. At certain points throughout your career, a team might need you to help out a young guy here and there and pull the direction of an organization in the right way. It's been fun, it's been interesting. Some of these guys, they probably watched when I was first coming in the league, they were 11 or 12 years old. I think it's very interesting in that regard."

What makes Krug a good partner? Kessel said it's all about the voice.

"He's a good communicator and obviously a very good player," Kessel said. "Being able to have a partner that talks well, I think that makes the game a lot easier out there, so it's been great to be able to play with him and I think we work well together."

Blues interim coach Drew Bannister said he feels 32-year-old Krug has done a solid job taking the 23-year-old Kessel under his wing and that he's not surprised how quickly they've connected.

"I think he does a great job with Matthew and they've had a lot of success together since we've put them together," Bannister said. "He's a veteran player, he's been through it before, he's been that young guy. The struggle that can be as a pro, becoming an NHL player, day to day. I think it's important having those guys like [Colton] Parayko and Faulk and Krug to be able to lead those younger guys.

"'Kess' I think going back two years ago, there was an adjustment for him of who he was as a player and and I think he's really bought into that the last 10 months, since Christmas time the previous year and coming into this year and I think he has a better understanding of what type of player he has to be on the ice to have success. Then it's just the consistency part and not getting used to the day to day grind of the NHL and the difference between the NHL and the players you're playing against. I think he's adapted very quickly, he's a smart hockey player, he knows his strengths to his game and he's been using them."

Krug will continue to talk, and Kessel seems willing to listen, and after signing a two-year, one-way contract on Wednesday, this could be a partnership that lasts, and after they allowed the process to initially play out and grow, the trajectory is moving the needle upwards.

"A little bit of you try and be organic and let it grow," Krug said. "I have a job as the older guy to let him just play his game and maybe I can help him along the way, and then after we get a few games under our belt, then maybe we discuss a few things that might help us as a partnership. I just thought it was pretty organic from the get-go. He plays pretty confident and you can see that right away and it's been fun.

"We talked as he got up that it was a great opportunity and for him to just play his game and be assertive. Being the older guy, you have to discuss things, little things here and there, maybe get to know each other a bit more."