Gameday: Wild at Nashville

Last update: January 4, 2008 - 10:47 PM

Preview: The Wild, a winner of three of four including a 6-3 victory over Dallas on Thursday, begins a four-game road trip against the Predators. The Wild won the first two games with Nashville, including a 4-3 road victory Nov. 24 on Branko Radivojevic's late winner.

Players to watch: RW Pierre-Marc Bouchard, who has 15 points in the past 10 games, has five multipoint games in his past eight and is coming off a three-point game (the Wild is 10-0 all-time when Bouchard scores three or more). D Brent Burns has matched his career high with 25 points and has 11 in his past 10 games. RW Marian Gaborik has 14 goals and 22 points in his past 18 games. LW Mark Parrish has three goals in his past four games. Predators C Jason Arnott has 12 points in his past nine games.

Numbers: The Wild has the NHL's second-best road power play and is 16 for its past 53 overall (30.1 percent). ... The Wild is 28-3-2 when Gaborik scores two or more goals. ... G Niklas Backstrom is 4-0 against Nashville with a 2.20 goals-against average and .938 save percentage.

Injuries: Predators RW Martin Erat (back spasms) is questionable and RW Steve Sullivan (back) and D Shea Weber (leg) are out. Wild C Mikko Koivu (leg) and LW Derek Boogaard (back) are out.

MICHAEL RUSSO

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