Minnesota (15-9-1) at Nashville (13-10-2) 8:00 p.m. EST
NASHVILLE, Tennessee (Ticker) -- The Minnesota Wild had a
momentary lapse of defensive skill, but that seems to have
passed.
The Wild will try to ride their defense to a win when they face
the Nashville Predators on Saturday.
Minnesota leads the NHL in least goals-allowed, surrendering
just 55 in 25 games. Their defense showed some holes on Monday
in a 6-5 loss to the Colorado Avalanche. It was the first time
that the Wild had yielded more than four goals in the game.
They came back with renewed vigor on Wednesday and zipped the
St. Louis Blues, 4-0. They kept up the defense but lost the
offense on Friday, falling, 2-1, to the Vancouver Canucks.
The loss to the Canucks marked the first time in the last seven
games that Minnesota failed to score at least three goals.
Mikko Koivu scored the lone goal against the Canucks, his 10th
of the season.
The Wild will have to come with consistency on both sides of the
puck if they hope to down the Predators, who have won two
straight, including a 3-2 win against Colorado on Thursday.
Nashville scored all its goals in the first period.
The Predators are 4-1-1 over their last six games due mainly to
an improved defensive effort. They have allowed seven goals
during the four wins.