1 p.m. at Nashville • Bridgestone Arena • FSN, 100.3-FM
Wild-Nashville game preview
April 1, 2017 at 6:20AM
![Joel Eriksson Ek(14) tries to get away with the puck.]At the Xcel Energy Center in a game between the Wild and Ottawa.Richard Tsong-Taatarii/richard.tsong-taatarii@startribune.com](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/HPNDEP5UXY34F3KP2QCPXYMCYM.jpg?&w=712)
Preview: The Wild closed out a 4-10-2 month Thursday with a 5-1 pounding of Ottawa. The Wild is 3-1 vs. the Preds this season, 2-0 in Nashville. A win Saturday in Nashville makes it more likely the Blues wil be the Wild's first-round playoff opponent; a loss strengthens the Predators' chances of being Minnesota's first-round matchup.
Players to watch: Center Joel Eriksson Ek has scored in his first NHL, AHL and SHL (Sweden) games this season and first game back to the NHL. Predators C Filip Forsberg is tied for 17th in the NHL with 30 goals. .
Numbers: Since the All-Star break, the Predators are tied for second in the NHL with 89 goals and ranks fourth with 3.18 goals per game.
Injuries: Wild LW Zach Parise (upper body) is probable. Predators D Yannick Weber (lower body) and RW Craig Smith (upper body) are questionable.
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After letting 135-footer bounce in early, Fleury steadied himself in 5-3 victory.
