7 p.m. at Nashville • Bridgestone Arena • FSN, 100.3-FM
Predators in ill-timed mini-slump
Preview: The Predators are 1-3 against the Wild this season, with the memory of their last loss to their Central Division rival still fresh. The Wild defeated Nashville 4-1 on Saturday at Xcel, and the Preds' 5-4 shootout loss Sunday at Winnipeg dropped them to 0-2-1 in their past three games. Though the Wild lost to Boston 2-1 in overtime Sunday, it is on a five-game point streak (3-0-2); it also is playing well away from home, with a 7-3 road record since Feb. 6 that includes victories in its past two.
Players to watch: F Mikael Granlund has three goals and three assists against Nashville this season, including a hat trick in a 4-2 victory on Dec. 29. F Zach Parise has three goals and an assist in his past five games, and 11 points in his past 15. Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne leads the NHL with eight shutouts this season.
Numbers: The Wild scored 14 goals in three games this season against the Predators, who have given up the second-fewest goals (192) in the Western Conference. … The Wild is 7-5-2 in its past 14 games at Bridgestone Arena.
Injuries: Wild D Jared Spurgeon (right hamstring tear) and F Luke Kunin (left ACL tear) are out. Nashville C Calle Jarnkrok (upper body) is out, and D Alexei Emelin (upper body), F Austin Watson (upper body) and D Yannick Weber (undisclosed) are day-to-day.
Rachel Blount
