Wild remain goal-challenged in 2-1 loss to Predators

Respectable defense plus little to no offense equaled another close loss for the Wild, this time 2-1 to the Predators on Tuesday at Bridgestone Arena to extend their struggles against their Central Division rival.

Not only have the Wild dropped four of their last six vs. the Predators and nine of 11, but they fell to 1-6-2 during their past nine trips to Nashville.

"We gotta do something for the guys in net," Marcus Foligno told reporters in Nashville. "They're doing a really good job. Our D-zone's been a lot better. We gotta start finding more pucks and put pucks away."

How the Wild lost: The Predators scored twice in 44 seconds during the first period, an efficient head start that was enough to outlast the visitors.

Goaltender Juuse Saros made 32 saves, improving to 5-1 in his career against the Wild.

Former Wild forward Nino Niederreiter snuck in uncontested to send a rising backhander by goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at 11:20 before Matt Duchene converted on the power play with a one-timer after assisting on Niederreiter's goal. Ryan Johansen set up both Nashville tallies.

Duchene's finish was the first power play goal given up by the Wild in five games, snapping a spotless 16-for-16 run by the penalty kill. But the unit rebounded, stopping the next three tries for the Predators to go 4-for-5.

Turning point: Duchene's goal stung the Wild.

That meant they would need to score at least three goals to move ahead of Nashville, a rare feat of late; only once in the Wild's previous five games did they net more than three.

They had a plum opportunity on the power play before the first period ended, getting a four-minute look after Brandon Duhaime was high-sticked in his return from injury, but the team failed to capitalize.

"It just seems like we're a little bit tense, not intense, but a little bit tense right now, and we're just not making the plays," coach Dean Evason said. "When the shot's there, we're not seeing it or putting it through to the net. So, it has to get better.

"We'll obviously have a good look at it tonight and decide if there's personnel changes or if it's something that we're doing systematically."

Just 32 seconds into the period, Frederick Gaudreau slipped a shot through Saros for his second goal in as many games. Kirill Kaprizov and Mats Zuccarello each picked up assists to push their individual point streaks to four games.

With their deficit cut in half, the Wild went to the power play.

But like before, the unit didn't provide the lift the team needed and ended the night 0-for-5 to go goalless in three straight games (0-for-10) after an impressive debut.

"Those are power plays we gotta capitalize on," Foligno said. "Those are game changers. Those win you games or make it close."

What it means: The Wild have played well on the road this season, winning more than twice as many games away as they have at home, but Nashville is a tough stop for them.

More pressing for the Wild is a lengthy homestand that kicks off on Thursday, and the team's performance at Xcel Energy Center has been a work in progress.

This seven-game stint is a chance to build some momentum, but that'll be a challenge if the Wild don't start to generate more goals.

After defense and goaltending were on the hot seat early, now it's the offense's turn, with this decline coinciding with the turnaround in their own zone.

Over their past six games, the Wild have eight goals and were shut out twice while surrendering 10 regulation goals to go 2-3-1.

"It's funny because you work on one thing and then it kind of gets corrected and then another pops up," Evason said. "But that's what the season's for. That's what 82 games are for, and we're going to continue to grind at it."