Wild gameday
7 P.M. at NASHVILLE • FSN, 100.3-FM
Preview: The Wild, 2-3-3 in the second of back-to-backs, lost in Nashville last month for the first time since Oct. 8, 2013. It also stopped a nine-game point streak in December. The Wild is 5-2-2 in its past nine in Nashville and won three games there in the final six weeks of last season. The Predators are struggling. They're 0-4-1 in their past five (outscored 21-10), although they rallied for a point Thursday against Winnipeg, and are 1-5-2 since their last regulation win Dec. 28.
Players to watch: Predators D Roman Josi ranks sixth among NHL defensemen with 31 points. D Shea Weber is tied for fourth among NHL defensemen with 11 goals. Recently acquired C Ryan Johansen, whom the Wild coveted, has two goals and five points in four games since arriving from Columbus. RW James Neal leads the Preds with 16 goals. Wild C Mikko Koivu had 36 points in 37 games all-time vs. the Predators. G Darcy Kuemper, coming off a loss against New Jersey, is the likely starter. He was 4-0-2 in December.
Numbers: It's two of the NHL's worst 3-on-3 overtime teams; the Wild is 1-8 (one shootout loss), the Preds are 3-8 (2-1 in shootouts). … The Wild is 6-for-60 on the road on the power play (10 percent).
Injuries: Wild LW/RW Ryan Carter (hand) is out. Predators RW Gabriel Bourque (undisclosed) and LW Colin Wilson (lower body) are out.
MICHAEL RUSSO
