Preview: The Predators are the ultimate homers. They're 10-2-2 at home, yet 3-9-2 on the road. The Wild is 6-5-4 on the road and has won two in a row. Overall, it has won five in a row and is 7-1-3 in its past 11. The Wild is 5-3-2 in its past 10 games in Nashville. Twelve of the past 21 contests between the teams (in which the Wild is 10-8-3) have been decided by one goal.
Wild-Nashville game preview
A look at Thursday's game between the Central Division rival.
December 15, 2016 at 1:31AM
Players to watch: Former Predator Devan Dubnyk is 7-0-2 in his past nine starts with a 1.62 goals-against average and .944 save percentage. He hasn't allowed more than three goals in a game this season and in only 10 of 129 starts with the Wild. LW Jason Zucker has 10 points in his past 10 games. LW Nino Niederreiter has 10 points in the past 11 games. C Mikko Koivu has five goals in the past 10 games and leads the Wild with 36 points in 38 career games vs. Nashville. … Predators G Pekka Rinne is 13-7-3 all-time vs. the Wild with a 2.32 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. D P.K. Subban has 11 points in seven career meetings, including a hat trick.
Numbers: The Wild's power play is 0-for-18 the past eight games; its penalty kill is 8-for-8 the past two games. … The Wild and Blackhawks are the only teams in the West with fewer than 10 regulation losses.
Injuries: Wild C Zac Dalpe (knee) is out. … Predators D Anthony Bitetto (hand) is out.
Michael Russo
about the writer
After four days off, Wild will play Canadiens on Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.
