wild gameday
1 P.M. VS. NASHVILLE • Xcel Energy Center • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: Nashville is off to its best 40-game start. The Predators are atop the NHL standings with 58 points. Nashville has gone 7-1-2 in its past 10 games; the Wild has two victories in its past 11.
Players to watch: Nashville G Pekka Rinne leads the NHL with 27 victories and is third in goals-against average (2.00). … Predators C Filip Forsberg tops NHL rookies in goals (14). … With a goal and an assist Thursday, RW Jason Pominville leads the Wild in scoring (nine goals, 23 assists).
Numbers: The Predators' defensemen have 10 goals the past five games. … The Wild has 13 power-play goals in 15 games.
Injuries: Wild D Keith Ballard (concussion/facial fractures), C Mikael Granlund (wrist) and G Darcy Kuemper (lower body) are out; D Marco Scandella (upper body) is day-to-day. Nashville D Ryan Ellis (lower body), LW James Neal (lower body) and LW Erik Nystrom (upper body) are out.
RACHEL BLOUNT
